Robert Johnson of Harpswell won Fastest Working Lobster Boat at the Charlie Begin Memorial Lobster Boat Races in Boothbay Harbor June 14. The day’s races marked the start of the 2025 Maine Lobster Boat Race season.  

Johnson reached a top speed of 48.7 miles per hour on Miss Ava Elaine, formerly Starlight Express II, to win the race. Jeff Eaton, the 2024 fastest working boat winner, took second with La Belle Vita. Jim Koehling took third with Brown Eyed Girl.  

Johnson and Eaton also respectively took first and second in the Diesel Free for All, and Andrew Taylor of Southport took third with Blue Eyed Girl. Taylor, the reigning local champion, again won Boothbay’s Fastest Working Lobster Boat, although he was the sole competitor this year. 

Jon Johansen, president of Maine Lobster Boat Racing, said 53 boats competed in this year’s season opener, nine more than last year. However, he said the gasoline boats were scarce, except for the notable exception of Brown Eyed Girl. 

According to Johansen, competitors came from as far south as Haverhill, Massachusetts and as far north as Cutler. 

“People love to come to this race,” he said, later adding, “It was a great day. It turned out really nice.” 

The Maine Lobster Boat Races continued in Rockland June 15; 12 total races are scheduled through August.  

Below are the results 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) Nugget, Carmine Papkee (14.2 mph) 

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

1) ---, Andy Correa (43.5 mph) 

2) Screen Time, Mason Vintinner 

3) Miss Diane III, Ron Barrett 

4) Nugget, Cameron Murphy 

5) Kay’s Mini Tug, David Johnston 

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

1) White Knuckle, Jacob Noyes (46.4 mph) 

2) Daddy Didn’t Buy It, Nathaniel Robinson 

3) Zippah’, David Noyes 

4) Bottoms Up, Tyler Childers 

5) Kimberly Ann, Mason Raiano (35 mph) 

Race 4 –Fastest Working Lobster Boat – Boothbay 

1) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor 

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. 

1) Foolish Pleasure, Mark Freeman (42.4 mph) 

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:  

1) Capt. EM, Richard Hildings (22.5 mph) 

2) Kathy Lynn, Martin Page 

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

1) C-Girl, Cole Poland (18 mph) 

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

1) Leah Morgan, Mike Gillispie (33.9 mph) 

2) Saving Grace, Mike Dassatt (28 mph) 

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 (39.5 mph) 

2) Amy Kathren, Mason Vintinner 

3) Guilty Pleasure, Jake Dugas 

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

1) Faith Melle, Winfred Alley, Jr. 

2) Ms. Rose, Ed Torosian 

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

1) My Turn, Mariena Beal (40.6 mph) 

2) Split Second, David Osgood 

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

1) Melynda M., Willie Coombs (35.3 mph) 

2) Fallen Angel, Brodie Eaton (25 mph) 

3) First Team, Travis Otis (20 mph) 

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

1) Lil’ Lisa Marie, Gary Genthner (42.4 mph) 

2) Misty, Chris Smith 

DSQ) Happy Hour, Kyle Drapper 

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

1) Mean Kathleen, Sean Clemons (39 mph) 

2) Quickstep, Kevin Glover 

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

1) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor (49.5 mph) 

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

3) Shootin’ Star, Stephen Osgood (43 mph) 

4) Regency, Zach Donnell 

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

1) Miss Ava Elaine, Robert Johnson 

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

1) Gramp’s Legacy, Lebaron Libby (29.2 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 (41.7 mph) 

2) Alexsa Rose, Matt Shepard 

2) Five Star, Chip Johnson 

4) Master Mason, David Vintinner 

5) Lettie A, Eben Wilson 

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

1) Obsession, Ryan Lemieux (43.9 mph) 

2) Natalie E., Dana Beal 

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

1) Pier Pressure, James West 

2) 4 Ladies, Tom Clemons 

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). 

No entrants 

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

1) Sari Ann I, Ann Johansen 

Race 29 - Gasoline Free for All: 

1) Foolish Pleasure, Mark Freeman (47.7 mph) 

2) Brown Eyed Girl, Jim Koehling (35 mph) 

Race 30 - Diesel Free for All: 

1) Miss Ava Elaine, Robert Johnson (48.8 mph) 

2) La Belle Vita, Jeff Eaton 

3) Blue Eyed Girl, Andrew Taylor 

4) Shootin’ Star, Stephen Osgood 

5) Mean Kathleen, Sean Clemons 

6) Five Star, Chip Johnson 

7) Alexsa Rose, Matt Shepard 

8) 4 Ladies, Tom Clemons 

9) Fallen Angel, Brodie Eaton 

10) Whiskey Girl II, Mark Davis 

Race 31 - Fastest Working Lobster Boat: 

1) Miss Ava Elaine, Robert Johnson (48.7 mph) 

2) La Belle Vita, Jeff Eaton 

3) Brown Eyed Girl, Jim Koehling