Seventeen yachts, ranging from 34 to 60 feet, started in light winds and rain on July 23, in the second running of The Corinthians Stonington to Boothbay Harbor Race. This is an event of The Corinthians Association, in cooperation with the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club and the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club.
The first competitor to finish, and winner of The Corinthian Nantucket Lightship Trophy, was the Class 40 Dragon, an extreme 40-footer with a square-top mainsail and water ballast tanks, sailed double-handed by owner Mike Hennessy and crew.
First place in the ORR class was Corinthian Geoff Beringer’s C&C 38 Gadzooks. The overall winner in the PHRF class was Jay Harris’ Columbia 50 Herme.
The New England Offshore Racing Trophy, awarded to the boat with the best combined scores between the 2009 Marion-Bermuda Race and the 2010 Lobster Run, was won by David Caso’s Cherubini 44 Silhouette (eighth overall in the 2009 Marion-Bermuda). The next closest competitor was Bob Fleno’s Island Packet 40 Thai Hot, less than four hours behind them.
The Women’s Ocean Racing Trophy, to be awarded to the yacht with the best finish captained or predominately crewed by women, was taken by Tracy McRoberts’ Cardinal 46 Black Mallard; and The Ray Peterson Memorial Trophy for the top Swan finisher was captured by Chris Culver’s NYYC Swan 42 Blazer.
This second running of the event proved as interesting as the first. Said one crewmember, “I found it every bit as difficult as any Bermuda Race I’ve done, but it has a unique set of challenges, particularly with the weather systems and currents involved.”
The race featured strong squalls early on, then a 12-hour dead calm in heavy fog at the south end of the Nantucket Shoals. The participants were also treated to frequent sightings of pods of whales and schools of Bluefin tuna.
Already known to racers as “The Lobster Run,” the event featured first-class pre- and post-race parties, complemented by race beverage sponsor Gosling’s Rums, as well as beer sponsors Cisco Brewers and Cottrell’s Brewing Co. in Stonington, and Allagash Brewing Co. in Boothbay Harbor. The top three winners were presented with huge live lobsters at the awards ceremony. The race media sponsor is Points East magazine.
For full results, visit the race website at: www.stoningtontoboothbayharbor.com.
The accompanying photos were taken by Aaron Scharf and Nick Mace.
