Once again the 2005 Boon Island race scheduled for 26 June 2005 did not happen. Once again there was no wind. Although all eleven registered boats made an attempt to make Boon Island it was obvious that at the midway point of the 7 hour time limit the lead boat did not even have the Island in sight. Once again we had to cancel the race.
The rescheduled date of 27 August brought much hope as the end of August is predictably a breezier time. Six AYC boats and four visiting boats made for a full line at that start. However, once again the wind although predicted out of the Southwest was minimal at best. Bob Scribner on Clairrann, single handedly offered a perfect start. All boats were off (on a slow start) to Boon Island. Despite the forecast of 5-10 in the AM with wind building to 10-15 in the PM there was little to no wind in sight.
With Boon Island dead up wind a slow tacking duel was underway. At 1440, (four hours into a seven hour time limited race), the fleet stretched from within 1000 yards off Wells beach to 6 miles due south of Wells. No boats were anywhere near Boon Island. By 1530 the lead boat Soulmate found a breeze and rounded the Island and was now headed to the finish line. All other skippers, were looking at their watches and calling their wives to ask them to postpone dinner. By 1630 three boats had dropped out and soon there would be two more to call it quits for the day and motor back to the dinner table.
With the time limit fast approaching the wind did cooperate and blew up to 10+, but never offered the full 15 as forecasted. Five boats persevered and finished the race with the last boat across the finish line at 1933 hrs. Corrected times and final results are as follows:
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Soulmate Shadow Irish Mist Blu Dawn Patrol
Chris Kean, Portland Bob Steeves, Saco Fred White, G R Beach Jack Somers, AYC Peter Hatch, AYC
5:15:00 5:54:48 6:27:00 6:28:04 7:29:48
Many thanks to Bob Scribner for assuming committee boat responsibilities and starting the race.
again the 2005 Boon Island race scheduled for 26 June 2005 did not happen. Once again there was no wind. Although all eleven registered boats made an attempt to make Boon Island it was obvious that at the midway point of the 7 hour time limit the lead boat did not even have the Island in sight. Once again we had to cancel the race.
Island dead up wind a slow tacking duel was underway. At 1440, (four hours into a seven hour time limited race), the fleet stretched from within 1000 yards off Wells beach to 6 miles due south of Wells. No boats were anywhere near Boon Island. By 1530 the lead boat Soulmate found a breeze and rounded the Island and was now headed to the finish line. All other skippers, were looking at their watches and calling their wives to ask them to postpone dinner. By 1630 three boats had dropped out and soon there would be two more to call it quits for the day and motor back to the dinner table.
