Jeff Eaton of Deer Isle/Stonington won Fastest Working Lobster Boat at the Charlie Begin Memorial Lobster Boat Races in Boothbay Harbor Saturday, June 17. Eaton pushed his boat, La Belle Vita, to 40.2 mph for the title. 

Andrew Taylor of Southport, who won the title in 2021 and 2022, won Fastest Working Lobster Boat in Boothbay Harbor with a speed of 49 mph in Blue Eyed Girl. Taylor did not compete in the overall Fastest Working Lobster Boat but won second place in the Diesel Free for All. Jeremy Beal won first in the free for all in Maria’s Nightmare going 57.5 mph.  

According to Jon Johansen, president of Maine Lobster Boat Racing, 38 boats competed in the opening race of the season. He said the furthest racer, Ryan Lemieux on his new boat Obsession, came from Cutler. Johansen also said there were a few changes this year; organizers had to combine a few races, so some people were competing in different classes than past years. 

“It’s always a good race,” he said. “It always brings people ... It’s always a good time. They really like that race.”

Below are the results 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) Will Clifford (24.7 mph) 

2) Nugget, Annabelle Kimball 

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

1) Andry Correa, 2) Scream Time, Nathan Vintinner, 3) Zippin Too, Jacob Noyes, 4) Zippin’, David Noyes, 5) Miss Diane III, Jason Farrin, and 6) Nugget, Cameron Murphy 

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

1) Casco Miss, Dave Johnston (44 mph) 

Race 4 –Fastest Working Lobster Boat – Boothbay Harbor

1) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor (49 mph), 2) Beluga, John Albaum, and 3) Evangeline, Caleb Knapp 

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 

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. 

No entrants 

DIESEL POWERED WORK BOATS 24 FEET AND UP 

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

No entrants 

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) Last Design, Roy Fagonde (26.9 mph) and 2) Miss Attitude, Adam Kimball 

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

1) Whiskey Girl II, Mark Davis (24.7 mph) and 2) Rich Endeavor, Colyn Rich 

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

1) Audrey May, Randy Durkee (34 mph) and 2) Guilty Pleasure, Jake Dugas 

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

1) Faith Melle, Winfred Alley, Jr. (35.6 mph) 

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

No entrants 

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

1) Melynda M., Willie Coombs, 2) Tuna Wishing, Jason West, and 3) First Team, Travis Otis 

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

1) Lil’ Lisa Marie, Gary Genthner (39.3 mph) and 2) Misty, Chris Smith 

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

1) Mean Kathleen, Sean Clements 

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

1) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor (45 mph), 2) La Belle Vita, Jeff Eaton, and 3) Regency, Zach Donnell 

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

1) Maria’s Nightmare, Jeremy Beal (48.3 mph) 

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

1) Sea Urchin, Alan Knowlton and  2) Pull ‘n Pray, Justin Papkee 

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

1) Kimberly Ann, Eric Beal (32.9 mph) and 2) Alexsa Rose, Matt Shepard 

Race 24 – Diesel Class N – 40 feet and over; 751 hp and over: 

1) Natalie E., Dana Beal (38.5 mph), 2) Obsession, Ryan Lemieux, 3) Five Stars, Chip Johnson, 4) 4 Ladies, Tom Clemons, and 5) Anxiety, Heron Arey 

Race 25. Class O. Non-working boats, any length, any horsepower 

No entrants 

Race 26 - Wooden Boats (A) Any hp, up to 35 feet 11 inches). 

No entrants 

Race 27 - Wooden Boats (B) Any hp, 36 feet and over). 

1) Evangeline, Caleb Knapp 

Race 28 - Gasoline Free for All: 

1) Brown Eyed Girl, Jim Koehling 

Race 29 - Diesel Free for All: 

1) Maria’s Nightmare, Jeremy Beal (57.5 mph), 2) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor, 3) La Belle Vita, Jeff Eaton, 4) Mean Kathleen, Sean Clements, 5) Five Stars, Chip Johnson, 6) Alexsa Rose, Matt Shepard, 7) 4 Ladies, Tom Clemons, and 8) Regency, Zach Donnell 

Race 30 - Fastest Working Lobster Boat: 

1) La Belle Vita, Jeff Eaton (40.2 mph) and 2) First Team, Travis Otis