Gary Jobson, world famous sailor and TV sailing commentator, spoke at the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club last week to a packed house of members and friends of sailing. Jobson is best known for his sailing in several America's Cup races and as the award-winning principal commentator for the last five America’s Cup events on both ESPN and NBC. Jobson spoke on behalf of US Sailing.

He opened his illustrated lecture with stories about major sailing events, including many of his own experiences. One such story was about sailing in New York Harbor against the Australians. In one race he ducked behind Ellis Island and Liberty Island to avoid surging tides to take victory from sure defeat. Two years later in the same race against the same foe, the Aussies tried to emulate Jobson’s previous course and suddenly found themselves blocked by a new bridge that had been built in the intervening years. Again Jobson won.

Jobson saluted Tim Hodgdon and the folks at Hodgdon Yachts for their part in making the sport of sailing an ever increasing world sport and cited the quality and caliber of Maine boat builders. Earlier in the day BHYC had arranged for Jobson to visit the Hodgdon yard and to see Comanche under construction.

A world premiere preview of a major documentary film of Ted Turner and the infamous 1979 Fastnet race closed the exciting and once in a lifetime program. Jobson has produced this film, which will air on ESPN at sometime in the future. In this 605-mile race, a major storm arose which caused the loss of 18 lives, and of the 306 yachts who started the race, only 86 finished. Turner and the American crew won the race handily.

Jobson closed with an observation that we here in Maine were privileged to live and sailing the most beautiful waters of the world.