Shane Flynn, owner of Wayfarer Marine and Cabot Lyman, owner of Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding have teamed up and are adding a new regatta for sail and power to the August schedule. The Penobscot Bay Rendezvous, August 18-21st promises to be the regatta of the season. The expected fleet of at least 100 yachts ranging from super yachts, to classics to performance racers, Picnic Boats and lobster yachts will gather in Rockland Harbor for Thursday night and will move to Camden Harbor for the following two nights. Local windjammers are also expected to participate. The Maine Windjammer Association’s fleet of 13 is celebrating 75 years of offering the “windjamming” experience to paying guests. The Penobscot Bay Rendezvous is a celebration of boating and boatbuilding.
The three day event for sail and power will not only feature daily races for sailboats and a poker run and Photo Pursuit event for powerboats but the participants will have access to both world-renowned boatyards and will be hosted each night at a different exclusive venue.
“Penobscot Bay is such an incredibly beautiful body of water with islands, mountains and the most charming coastal towns and it offers some of the most spectacular sailing and boating. Yacht clubs and boaters from away come here every summer to enjoy this place, Cabot and I thought why shouldn’t we organize a regatta to highlight the Penobscot Bay experience,” explained Flynn.
On Thursday, Lyman-Morse will open their doors to participants for behind the scene tours of Lyman-Morse’s boatbuilding facility in Thomaston, Maine. Over the years Lyman-Morse has launched such magnificent yachts such as the
C. Raymond Hunt designed 94′ MV Electra to the Setzer-designed 84′ MV Acadia and 80’ Magpie to a custom S&S designed 52′ SV Fairweather to sportfisherman to catamarans to racing sleds, picnic boats and daysailers. That night the Lyman family will host the fleet at a welcoming dinner at the yard (Cabot’s son Drew runs the service business). Transportation has been arranged to shuttle guests to and from Rockland to Thomaston’s events.
Ted Smith, the regatta’s Primary Race Officer and Marc Lorraine, Camden Yacht Club’s Fleet Captain will officiate the weekend’s on the water activities. Three-days worth of fun and scenic courses and exciting and competitive racing will be offered. There will be a class and level of intensity to fit every sailor. With PHRF Racing Divisions, Cruising Division, DH/SH Division, as well as Multi-hull and One Design Divisions being offered. Bucket Rules and Jim Teeters Bucket Ratings will apply for the super yacht division.  The NOR and SI instructions can be found at www.penobscotbayrendezvous.com Local one design classes are encouraged to sign-up; a six boat fleet will qualify for their own start.
On Friday, the power and motor yachts will take off on a Photo Pursuit. This is not a race, rather each powerboat will be given a list of well-known Penobscot Bay landmarks or features to photograph. Extra points will be given to photographs of wildlife. The event will combine the navigation skills and creativity of our power fleet. A panel of professional photographers and other distinguished Judges will judge the work.  Awards for the top three shots of each destination will be presented at Sunday’s Awards Ceremony.
Sailboat racing will be on a variety of windward-leeward and/or “around the buoys” courses set in Western Penobscot Bay. The fleet of power and sail will end up in beautiful Camden Harbor at the end of the day. The Camden Yacht Club, the regatta’s sponsoring yacht club will host the gathering for cocktails Friday night. Awards will be given out for those who have distinguished themselves that day. Our marine photographers’ and the Power Pursuit’s images will be shown. Guests will then have the evening at their leisure to explore and dine in beautiful Camden, Maine.
Wayfarer Marine will host Saturday and Sunday’s events, in Camden.  All participants are invited to take advantage of behind the scenes access to the talented crew of this world class, full service yard.  Current projects display the skills available, as repair and refit continue on a range of boats from a 126′ Winteringham steam yacht and two classic Fifes, to a Farr 72 and Swan 46.
Saturday’s on-the-water events will include some dramatic racing off Camden Harbor. The power fleet will continue the Photo Pursuit to North Haven and Rockport. Saturday night’s dinner dance at Wayfarer will surely be a highlight of the weekend. Again special recognition will be awarded to those who have distinguished themselves. Fireworks will cap off the night.
On Sunday, after a final day of racing and after the powerboats have completed a Poker Run that will take them to Lincolnville Beach, Islesboro, Camden and other points, the Awards Ceremony at Wayfarer Marine will wrap up the weekend. Of course serious awards will be given for achievements on the racecourse and the winners of the Photo Pursuit will also be announced but in keeping with the tenor of the weekend special awards of distinction will be given. Everyone is sure to leave the weekend with great memories, new experiences and plans to return next year whether they have come from the next harbor over, from the Caribbean or other points.Â
The all-inclusive fee of $360 covers all events (3 breakfasts, 2 dinners, cocktail party at CYC and Sundays award ceremony) and racing for 2 people. $180 for each additional person. Mooring, dockage and launch service is extra. Registration is open now. The event is limited to 500 people. For more information go to:Â www.penobscotbayrendezvous.com
The Penobscot Bay Rendezvous Committee is a group commitment to excellence by the following people and their organizations:
- Shane Flynn, Director. Owner Wayfarer Marine, Camden ME
- Cabot Lyman -Director, Owner Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, Thomaston, ME
- Marnie Read – Event Organizer
- Ted Smith – Primary Race Officer
- Marc Lorraine  – Fleet Captain, Camden Yacht Club
Directors
- Tom Babbitt – Camden Yacht Club
- Dan Bookham – Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce
- Ben Cashen- Wayfarer Marine
- Mackenzie Cronin -Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding
- John Hanson, Publisher, Owner Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Magazine
- Susan Howland – Wayfarer Marine
- Aaron  Lincoln – Schooner Olad
- Drew Lyman – Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding
- Jon Watkins – Wayfarer Marine
- Sandy Welte – Camden Yacht Club
