The past will come alive as some of the best known race boats of bygone eras return to Wolfeboro, for our sixth Wolfeboro Vintage Race Boat Regatta. Wolfeboro is now a major stop on the APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit, and this summer's regatta expands to 4 full days, and includes over 70 vintage race boats running demonstration laps on a 1 mile oval course on beautiful Wolfeboro Bay.
Visit the Regatta Webpage for the most up-to-date information and application
 
In addition to seeing and hearing these unique and beautiful vintage boats run, spectators are invited to view them close-up in the pit area, at the Wolfeboro Town Docks between 9 and 4, on both Friday and Saturday. And to keep the spectators informed of all the action, Dick Delsener will be our “Voice of Wolfeboro” this September, backed up by Marv Hart. Dick was superb with his “roving mike” and lots of driver and fan interviews.
 
Like vintage car racing, there are actually people out there who run their vintage race boats on APBA (American Power Boat Association) sanctioned race courses, and participate in a very active APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit. These vintage regattas are run under the rules and regulations of the Vintage & Historic Division of the American Power Boat Association (APBA). This is pretty serious stuff, complete with surveyed race courses, safety inspections, drivers meetings, crane launching and demonstration heats usually of 5 or 6 laps. We do have fun, but safety is our main concern, and our APBA Vintage & Historic Division has a great record of running safe events
 
Our Wolfeboro vintage regatta is held every other year, alternating with Clayton, and we are becoming well known for our "flat water" and lots of water time. In fact, we run vintage heats every half hour for two full days. So if you want to see lots of vintage race boats running at speed, come to Wolfeboro. Please be aware that we use the Wolfeboro public docks and parking areas, our local permit limits the boat count, so this is an invitational event, open to legal APBA Vintage & Historic race boats. We want to run large heats of all vintage classes, including outboards, large hydros, small hydros, runabouts, flatbottoms, skiffs, gold cuppers, and large triple cockpit runabouts. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to Bill John John1948@metrocast.net  Participants should try to arrive on Wednesday, because all the fun will begin on Wednesday afternoon with a cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee, with our magnificent triple cockpit runabouts followed by a reception at our NH Boat Museum. This will be a special treat for all of our early arrivers.
 
Thursday will be a full day of APBA safety inspections, registrations, Driver/Rider Clinic, boat rides, R/C model boat racing, good friends and great food - a vintage gathering. Thursday will also be a major media day, as the press and public are invited to photograph the beautiful vintage race boats and talk the the owners and crew. Plan on a full day on Thursday at the Wolfetrap, to prepare for two full days of vintage action at the Wolfeboro public docks on Friday and Saturday.
 
On Friday and Saturday we will be running vintage heats all day long on our 1 mile course, moved a bit this year, to provide better spectator viewing from the Wolfeboro docks. As a special attraction, and to recreate the history of power boat racing on Wolfeboro Bay back in the 1920’s and 1930’s, the opening and closing ceremonies on Friday and Saturday will feature a heat of vintage triple cockpit runabouts. There will also be a large contingent of vintage outboard racers, along with the many classes of vintage inboard runabouts, hydros and Gold Cup race boats. We have also added a second crane this year to handle the hydroplanes, which must be launched/retrieved for each heat. The crane and constant launching of the hydros provide for stunning visuals, and we already have nine fire breathing Grand Prix Hydroplanes registered. The Wolfeboro Public docks will, of course, be open to the public to view the vintage Gold Cup boats, Jersey Speed Skiffs, Speedsters and outboards, and to watch the action close up. The sights and sounds from the Wolfeboro docks will be just magnificent, don't miss this exciting event - it only happens every two years.
 
There are also social events open to drivers, crews and the public on Friday and Saturday evenings, featuring big screen video of all the action on the course that day. We will be at the Wolfeboro Inn on Friday evening for a huge celebration, and at the Wolfetrap on Saturday evening for another huge celebration, awards, and final Regatta wrap up. Please come join us, reservations are required and tickets may be purchased by contacting our Registrar - Gerri Prusko at  603-267-9075 or  gprusko@bookwormcorp.com

So mark your calendars and come join all the excitement and fun at our 2009 Wolfeboro Vintage Race Boat Regatta on September 17-19, 2009. The opening and closing ceremonies will feature our elegant triple cockpit runabouts, and we will be running vintage heats on beautiful Wolfeboro Bay all day Friday and Saturday.

View the Flybys on the Winnipesaukee Belle
Get right into the heat of the action with a special viewing out on the water and inside the demonstration course.   For a $10 donation to NHBM, guests may enjoy the views  on board the Winnipesaukee Belle.  Generously donated by the Wolfeboro Inn, you will be able to really feel  and see the power behind these race boats. The Winnipesaukee Belle is a 70-foot replica turn-of-the-century paddle boat that will provide one hour cruises out to the center of activity twice a day – once in the morning and once in the afternoon - on both Friday and Saturday. Stop by the Regatta Registration Booth at the gazebo in Cate Park to purchase your tickets.

Vintage Race Boat Rides
For a donation to the NH Boat Museum at the $100 level, a number of the vintage race boat drivers will be giving rides in demonstration heats on the course. The times for these rides are 12:30 PM and 3:55 PM weather permitting. Racing life jackets and helmets are mandatory and will be supplied. The ride boats will be designated on the docks with signage, and ride tickets can be obtained at the Regatta Registration Booth at the docks.

Volunteers Needed
Also, please be aware that an event of this size takes well over 100 volunteers. So please consider volunteering a little time and come join all the fun at this grand celebration of vintage race boats. We also need lots of patrol/picket boats to keep the spectator boats away from the course, and would love to have a whole fleet of ACBS wooden boats surrounding the course on beautiful  Wolfeboro Bay.

For reservations/tickets to social events - contact Gerri Prusko at  603-267-9075
or email: gprusko@vintagebookworm.com

Visit the Regatta Webpage for the most up-to-date information and application, or contact
Bill John, Race Committee
Vintage Race Boat Shop
603-569-5824 (shop phone)
John1948@metrocast.net

Host Motel - located on Route 109/North Main Street 1/2 mile north of the Wolfeboro Town docks
Wolfeboro Inn
Tel: 603-569-3016 • 800-451-2389
PO Box 1270
90 North Main Street
Wolfeboro, NH 03894-1270
Website: www.wolfeboroinn.com
email: info@wolfeboroinn.com

The Lakeview Inn
Tel: 603-569-1335
200 North Main Street, Rt. 109
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
Fax: (603) 569-9426
Website: www.lakeviewinn.net
Email: lakeviewinn@earthlink.net

Tuc-Me-Inn
Tel:603-569-5702
PO Box 657 / 118 North Main Street
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
Website:www.tucmeinn.com
email: info@tucmeinn.com
7 rooms, $139-$179/night plus tax
Walking Distance to docks
Wes and Linda Matchett

Topsides Bed & Breakfast
10% Discount for Regatta Participants
Tel:603-569-3834
209 South Main Street
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
Website:www.topsidesbb.com
email:stay@topsidesbb.com

Afton Inn Bed & Breakfast
Tel: 603-569-4262
Out of State:800-569-0866
Fax:603-569-4726
PO Box 302 / 32 Waumbeck Road
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
Website: www.aftoninn.com
email:aftoninn@aol.com

Lake Motel
Tel: 603-569-1100
280 South Main Street
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
Fax: 603-569-1258
Website:www.thelakemotel.com
email:info@thelakemotel.com

Click here for MapQuest
Directions for travelers from the West and South:
90 East - New York Thruway
90 East - Mass Pike
290 North/East
495 North/East
93 North to Concord, NH
393 East to Epson Circle
28 North to Alton Circle
28 North to Wolfeboro
Look for signs to Regatta Headquarters - at Wolfeboro public docks.