Jeremy Beal of Jonesport won two top races at the Charlie Begin Memorial Lobster Boat Races in Boothbay Harbor Saturday, June 15. Beal took first place in the Fastest Working Lobster Boat and Diesel Free For All races. He reached a top speed of 58.5 mph in his boat, Maria’s Nightmare II, beating second place in the working boat race by almost 20 mph. Last year, Beal also won the free for all. 

Jeff Eaton of Deer Isle/Stonington, last year’s winner of the fastest working boat race, followed in La Belle Vita. He won second place in both the free for all and fastest working boat race going 43 mph and 41.3 mph, respectively. Reigning local champion Andrew Taylor won Boothbay’s Fastest Working Lobster Boat race in Blue Eyed Girl going 43.1 mph. He won the title in 2021, 2022 and 2023. 

Jon Johansen, president of Maine Lobster Boat Racing, said around 44 boats competed in the opening race of the season. That’s about six more than last year and a good turnout, according to Johansen, who said many boats aren't in the water yet. In addition, he said the weather finally cooperated this year after the last three years’ competitions were in torrential downpours. The races continued in Rockland on June 16, and nine more are scheduled through August.  

Below are the results from the Boothbay race as provided by Johansen: 

WORK BOATS UNDER 24 FEET 

Race 1 – CLASS A Skiffs 16-feet and under with outboards up to 30 hp, Operator 18 years and younger: 

1) Jenily, Jennifer and Emily Noyes (29.6 mph) 

Race 2 – CLASS B Inboards, outboards or outdrives, 31 to 90 hp: 

1) no boat name available, Andy Correa (46.5 mph) 

2) Screen Time, Mason Vintinner 

3) Miss Diane III, Ron Barrett (34 mph) 

4) Trouble, Regan Anderson 

Race 3 –CLASS C Inboards, outboards or outdrive 91 hp and up: 

1) Zippah’, David Noyes (49.7 mph) 

2) White Knuckle, Jacob Noyes 

3) Delusional, Ron Pottle 

4) Casco Miss, Dave Johnston 

5) In Too Deep, Ashton McLellan 

Race 4 –Fastest Working Lobster Boat – Boothbay 

1) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor (43.1 mph) 

2) Shoals Run, Andrew Hallinan 

GAS POWERED WORK BOATS 24 FEET AND UP  

Race 5 – Gasoline Class A – 4 & 6 cylinder 24 feet and over: 

No entrants 

Race 6 - Gasoline Class B - V-8 up to 375 cid, 24 feet and up: 

No entrants 

Race 7 - Gasoline Class C - V8, 376 to 525 cid, 28 feet and over: 

1) Brown Eyed Girl, Jim Koehling (36 mph) 

2) Wanda Lou, Tony Eugley (21 mph) 

Race 8 - Gasoline Class D - V-8, 376 to 540 cid, 28 feet and over. 

No entrants 

Race 9 - Gasoline Class E - V-8, Over 525cid, 28 feet and over, superchargers/Turbos. 

1) Lynn Marie, Steve Johnson (50 mph) 

DIESEL POWERED WORK BOATS 24 FEET AND UP 

Race 10 - Diesel Class A - Up to 235 hp, 24 to 31 feet:  

1) Queen’s Lady, Gary Hatch 

Race 11 - Diesel Class B - Up to 235 hp, 32 feet and over: 

No entrants 

Race 12 - Diesel Class C - 236 to 335 hp, 24 to 33 feet: 

1) Wound Up, John Albaum 

Race 13 - Diesel Class D - 236 to 335 hp, 34 feet over: 

1) Whiskey Girl II, Mark Davis 

Race 14 - Diesel Class E - 336 to 435 hp, 24 to 33 feet:  

1) Audrey May, Randy Durkee (38.8 mph) 

Race 15 - Diesel Class F - 336 to 435 hp, 34 feet and over: 

1) Faith Melle, Winfred Alley, Jr. (40.2 mph) 

Race 16 - Diesel Class G - 436 to 550 hp, 28 to 35 feet: 

1) My Turn, Mariena Beal (42.5 mph) 

2) Semper Fi, Ari Meehan 

3) Shoals Run, Andrew Hallinan 

Race 17 - Diesel Class H - 436 to 550 hp, 36 feet and over: 

1) Melynda M., Willie Coombs (35.5 mph) 

2) Fallen Angel, Brodie Eaton 

3) First Team, Travis Otis (17 mph) 

Race 18 - Diesel Class I - 551 to 700 hp, 28 to 35 feet: 

1) Lil’ Lisa Marie, Gary Genthner (42.3 mph) 

2) Misty, Chris Smith (38 mph) 

3) Happy Hour, Kyle Drapper (26 mph) 

Race 19 - Diesel Class J – 551 to 700 hp, 36 feet and over: 

1) Mean Kathleen, Sean Clemons (38.3 mph) 

2) Quickstep, Kevin Glover (26.5 mph) 

3) Delusional, Jake Dugas 

Race 20 - Diesel Class K – 701 to 900 hp, 28 feet and over: 

1) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor (48.2 mph) 

2) La Belle Vita, Jeff Eaton (47 mph) 

3) Shootin’ Star, Stephen Osgood 

4) Regency, Zach Donnell 

Race 21 – Diesel Class L – 901 hp, 28 feet and over: 

1) Maria’s Nightmare II, Jeremy Beal (52.4 mph) 

2) All Set, Lief Albertson (42 mph) 

Race 22 – Diesel Class M(A) – 40 feet and over, up to 500 hp: 

1) Sea Breeze, Richard Hildings (24.6 mph) 

2) Sea Urchin, Alan Knowlton 

3) Pull ‘n Pray, Justin Papkee 

Race 23 – Diesel Class M(B) – 40 feet and over, 501 to 750 hp: 

1) Kimberly Ann, Eric Beal (38.9 mph) 

2) Alexsa Rose, Matt Shepard (37 mph) 

3) Temptation, Wayne Clemons (33 mph) 

4) Rolling Stone, Allen Dugas 

Race 24 – Diesel Class N(A) – 40 feet and over; 751 to 1,000 hp: 

1) Obsession, Ryan Lemieux (41,1 mph) 

2) Natalie E., Dana Beal (40.1 mph) 

3) Pier Pressure, James West 

Race 25 – Diesel Class N(B) – 40 feet and over; 1,001 hp and over: 

1) Fifth Generation, Mack Kelley (35.3 mph) 

2) 4 Ladies, Tom Clemons (33.3 mph) 

Race 26. Class O. Non-working boats, any length, any horsepower 

No entrants 

Race 27 - Wooden Boats (A) Any hp, up to 35 feet 11 inches). 

1) Queen’s Lady, Gary Hatch (22 mph) 

Race 28 - Wooden Boats (B) Any hp, 36 feet and over). 

1) Delusional, Jake Dugas (24 mph) 

2) Rolling Stone, Allen Dugas (21 mph) 

Race 29 - Gasoline Free for All: 

1) Brown Eyed Girl, Jim Koehling (36 mph) 

2) Wanda Lou, Tony Eugley (22 mph) 

Race 30 - Diesel Free for All: 

Heat I 

1) Maria’s Nightmare II, Jeremy Beal (57.4 mph) 

2) La Belle Vita, Jeff Eaton (43.4 mph) 

3) Whiskey Girl II, Mark Davis 

4) Happy Hour, Kyle Drapper 

Heat II 

1) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor (43.6 mph) 

2) Kimberly Ann, Eric Beal (38.1 mph) 

3) Mean Kathleen, Sean Clemon (31 mph)s 

4) Fifth Generation, Mack Kelley 

5) Alexsa Rose, Matt Shepard 

6) 4 Ladies, Tom Clemons 

Finals 

1) Maria’s Nightmare II, Jeremy Beal (47 mph) 

2) La Belle Vita, Jeff Eaton (43 mph) 

3) Kimberly Ann, Eric Beal (38 mph) 

4) Mean Kathleen, Sean Clemons 

5) Whiskey Girl II, Mark Davis 

(DNF) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor 

Race 31 - Fastest Working Lobster Boat: 

1) Maria’s Nightmare II, Jeremy Beal (58.5 mph) 

2) La Belle Vita, Jeff Eaton (41.3 mph) 

3) Brown Eyed Girl, Jim Koehling (31 mph)