Friendship Sloop Races
From the Waldoboro Newspaper of July 27, 1961

        More than 5,000 persons, including many summer visitors, crowded the wharves and shores of Friendship Harbor Saturday to witness revival of sloop racing.  Countless others were on hand taking in the various activities on the program and observing the beauty of the town.
        A light northwest wind blew up as the race started shortly after 10 a.m., but soon gave way to calm.  As the tide changed a southwest breeze accompanied the fleet to the finish line where Roger Duncan of Concord, Mass. and Newagen, went over first with Eastward, a 32-footer.  This occurred about four and one-half hours after the start of the race.  Eastward was built by James Chadwick at Pemaquid in 1956.
        Jonathan Lambert skippered the second boat to finish, Mary Anne, owned by John Dallett, New York and Cushing.  It arrived nine minutes after Eastward.  Next in line was Ellie T., owned and operated by Roger Thorpe, Bath.
        There were 14 entrants.
        Many outboards, inboard, cruisers and sailing craft took advantage of the water to follow the race.
        When corrected time was announced in the Old Timers' Division, Voyager, owned by Bernard MacKenzie, Scituate, Mass., finished first in that division which included boats built before 1915.  The other division was termed replicas, boats built after 1915.

Awarded Governor's Trophy

        MacKenzie was presented by Gov. John H. Reed a special governor's trophy.  The boat owner thought up the homecoming day.
        Second place in the Old Timers' Division went to Amity, owned by J.R. Wiggins, Washington, D.C.; third, Golden Eagle, owned by William Haskell, Marblehead, Mass.
        A reversed course was needed when five buoys, which the larger sloops were scheduled to pick up at varying distances offshore, disappeared in deep water.
        Due to heavy traffic offshore many lobster buoys disappeared, as well, when cut by propeller blades of various craft, operators of which were bent on keeping up with the progress of the race.

Order of Finish

        The order of finish and elapsed times for the 17-mile course follow:
            Eastward, Roger Duncan, Concord, Mass. and Newagen - 4:31:10
            Mary Anne, Capt. John Dollett, New York and Cushing - 4:38:50
            Ellie T., Roger Thorpe, Bath - 4:47:10
            Voyager, Bernard MacKenzie, Scituate, Mass., 4:58:20
            Amity, J.R. Wiggins, Washington, D.C. and Brooklin - 5:02:06
            Jolly Buccaneer, Richard Swanson, Rockport, Mass. - 5:02:06
            Blackjack - 5:02:40
            Vida Mia, Ted Brown, Kittery - 5:05:55
            Golden Eagle, William Haskell, Marblehead, Mass. - 5:07:12
            Tannis II, Douglas Randall, Quincy, Mass. - 5:09:55
            LAigle D'Or, John Adams, Marblehead, Mass. - 5:20:45
            Sadie M, Jarrison Prindle, Castine - 5:22:08
            Wilbur Morse, C. Wilfred Brann, August and Friendship - 5:24:40
            Wanderer - 5:33

        Friday's "Welcome Lights" ceremony was another splendid feature on the program.
        "One more in a chain of events peculiar to our state," said Governor Reed at Saturday's presentation of awards continuing: "that will continue from year to year.
        'It is a wonderful recognition of the skill of Maine craftsmen to rise to an occasion in Friendship to production of the Friendship Sloop as an economical working boat for fishermen by Wilbur Morse showing them how to beat a depression" he added.

Turning Back

        Joseph Richards of Key Biscayne, Fla, termed "The love of the Friendship Sloop a curious manifestation of turning back - in this day of slide rule and electronic brain - to a simple machine that can contend with the imponderable, nature can provide."
        Wilbur Snow, former Connecticut governor, who is a Spruce Head summer visitor, read during the presentation of awards one of his poems, telling of a July 4 Friendship Sloop race.  He read by picking up one of the head table candles in the hall which was dimly lighted.
        Rep. Ralph Winchenpaw presented Gov. Reed a certificate making him an honorary member of the Friendship Sloop Society.  It was drawn up by Mrs. Ella Armstrong Wales.
        Lisbon Falls editor John Gould was master of ceremonies and Commodore Charles Nickerson of the Edgewood Yacht Club at Cranston, R.I. described the handicapping and announced the trophy winners.
        Miss Eda Lawry, granddaughter of famed builder Morse, was at the head table as were Herald Jones, Carlton Simmons and Frank Foster of the town's sloop day committee.