On August 18, Portland, Maine, hosted the last of the summer's Maine lobster boat races. The competition runs the gamut from ethanol-powered, flat-bottomed pure racing machines to a floating tiki bar. Don't miss the fireboat, flaming engine, tug muster and full-throttle races.

For a full roundup, read Michael Crowley's Around the Yards Northeast article "Lobstermen race for more than prizes" on page 36 of the November issue.

 

Start the slideshow >>

 

01 FirstTeamarrow-right-circle

Travis and Keith Otis of Searsport, Maine, have the First Team tied up and ready to head out into Casco Bay for Portland's lobster boat races.

 

 

arrow-left-circlearrow-right-circle

 The KonTiki Bar — Hate Me Rose gets dressed up for the races.

 

 

arrow-left-circle03 FoolishPleasurearrow-right-circle

Launching Galen Alley's Foolish Pleasure, a fiberglass version of the wooden Lorna R. They both have relatively flat bottoms and ethanol engines.

 

 

arrow-left-circle04 JeremyChandlerarrow-right-circle

Jeremy Chandler, skipper of the Lorna R and Galen Alley's cousin, gets ready for the race, sporting his Foolish Pleasure team t-shirt.

 

 

arrow-left-circle05 SternCoucharrow-right-circle

Off to the races! What? Your sternman doesn't have a couch?

 

 

arrow-left-circle06 OpenSkiffsarrow-right-circle

Open skiffs coming down the line!

 

 

arrow-left-circle07 LornaRExtinguishedarrow-right-circle

Emergency crews and good Samaritans respond
when an oil leak sparks a fire in the wheelhouse of the wooden Lorna R during her first race. Skipper Jeremy Chandler quickly extinguishes it and gets back in line to win a second race.

 

 

arrow-left-circle08 StretchVetarrow-right-circle

The Stretched-Vet cruises down the raceway.

 

 

arrow-left-circle09 Radararrow-right-circle

Race organizers point the radar gun aboard the Bailey & Bella.

 

 

arrow-left-circle10 4Girlsarrow-right-circle

Skipper Tom Clemons of the 4 Girls comes out on deck to check in with First Team skipper Travis Otis after a tight field and a close race in the Diesel Free-For-All. Watch the video here.

Even more photos and videos on the next slide.

 

 

  

More Photos and Videos

 

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

 

Launching Galen Alley's Foolish Pleasure (a fiberglass version of the wooden Lorna R) and revving her ethanol engine.

The Lorna R takes her first race

Whistlin Dixie wins

Lorna R wins the wooden boat race

Foolish Pleasure takes a race

The all-diesel race is a close call

The all-diesel race is a close call

Have you listened to this article via the audio player?

If so, send us your feedback around what we can do to improve this feature or further develop it. If not, check it out and let us know what you think via email or on social media.

A collection of stories from guest authors.

Join the Conversation