Windjammer Days 2025

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 2:00pm

LISA KRISTOFF

Contest winner Abby Baker of Brunswick. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Abby Baker seconds before raising her winning hand. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Soon to be second place winner Irene Hardesty, of South Bristol, Maine, mid competition. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Soon to be second place winner Irene Hardesty of South Bristol mid competition. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Irene Hardesty. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

The contest commences. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Andrew Fabin of Northampton, Massachusetts ate his way to third. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Abby Baker and family post-win. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Andrew Fabin post-contest. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Josh Laufenberg, aka Squidman! LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Starting to go down a bit harder. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Contest winner Abby Baker of Brunswick. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Abby Baker seconds before raising her winning hand. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Soon to be second place winner Irene Hardesty of South Bristol mid competition. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Irene Hardesty. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

The contest commences. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Andrew Fabin of Northampton, Massachusetts ate his way to third. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Abby Baker and family post-win. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Andrew Fabin post-contest. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Josh Laufenberg, aka Squidman! LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Starting to go down a bit harder. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

The lobster eating contest is one of the most popular events of Windjammer Days, just as it was during the region's former Fishermen's Festival. The contest drew a huge crowd Wednesday, June 25 for the high noon competition. And, for the first time in many years, a woman took the prize.

2025 winner Abby Baker of Brunswick was ecstatic over the win. In a post-contest interview, Baker said what she didn't anticipate was the spray of tomale upon cracking the first lobster body. Other than that, she said laughing, "I've been training for this for almost 40 years! But, eating the tails was a challenge."

Coming in second was Irene Hardesty of South Bristol. She comes from a family of lobster fishers. Placing third, from Northhampton, Massachusetts, was Andrew Fabin.

Emcee Doug Gimbel kept the spectators laughing with his commentary and amusing observations.

For her win, Baker got a $100 cash prize and, albeit hurried, a twin lobster special.