If you want to rub elbows with a bunch of blue bloods and their toys, the place to be this weekend is Boothbay Harbor.
The Classic Yacht Owners Association will be racing dozens of expensive boats around the harbor.
The race is part of what’s known as the Classic Yacht Challenge Series.
To qualify for the series, boats must compete in at least five races in a minimum of three regattas, including one event outside their home district.
The competition July 18 and 19 is called the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge, where dozens of fancy, expensive boats will race around Boothbay.
“Of course, Boothbay is about more than great racing,” says Sail-World.com.
“The regatta is equally well known for its outstanding shoreside hospitality, highlighted by the Saturday evening Dock Party featuring fresh Maine seafood, cold beverages, and plenty of post-race storytelling.”
We always enjoy this regatta, lots of real nice yachts. Hopefully the weather will give them plenty of wind. Hodgdon Yachts might even have one of the boats the built in the race.
Do we detect a little bit of class envy there Ted ?
60 Fancy Yachts ?
Ah ok, if you say so.
In addition to beautiful classic boats there are also many family boats, small boats, new boats, and old boats,wooden boats, fiberglass boats, someone’s grandfathers’ boat etc. Not everything is “fancy” nor owned by a ‘blue blood’. Most racers arrived in Toyotas, Fords, and Chevys. I did.
Sailboat racing along the Coast of Maine is a long standing activity that has helped defines our State. There are many summer programs that put families, children,and community members on the water enjoying sailing.
Perhaps a more indepth knowledge of the sport prior to writing this article snubbing members of your reader base would have been benificial and certainly provided a much more interesting piece. However, thank you for the free event announcement. I invite you to attend the Parade of Sail in BBH Sunday morning with hundreds of others to see for yourself.
Jeff Hamilton
President-Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing Association