FGN Sailboat Racing Team | 2025 Eggemoggin Reach Regatta
During the last week of July, FGN’s sales and marketing team participated in the annual Eggemoggin Reach Regatta in Brooklin, Maine, widely regarded as the world’s largest wooden sailboat race. The three-day event included two “feeder” races and culminated in the iconic Eggemoggin Reach Race, this year featuring 75 classic wooden sailboats.
The FGN team sailed Celia, a 1950 Sparkman & Stephens-designed 40-foot sloop, owned and helmed by FGN president Rob Parrish. On the first day, racing from Castine to Camden, Celia excelled in light winds and overcame tactical challenges to finish in second place. The following day, navigating the renowned Stonington Thoroughfare course, the team faced equipment issues and finished in the bottom half of their class.
On the third day, during the Eggemoggin Reach Race, Celia shone. The crew capitalized on variable winds found on the southern side of the first leg and “ghosted” past most of the fleet to round the first mark among the leaders. On the upwind leg to Halibut Rock, Celia extended her lead, outpacing all boats in her class. During the reaching leg back up Blue Hill Bay, she maintained speeds over seven knots, holding her own against larger, inherently faster boats. And on the final spinnaker leg to Woodenboat Harbor, the crew expertly managed the freshening sou’westerly breeze, crossing the finish line first in class.
Celia
However, Celia’s 1950 design carries a challenging handicap. As the wind strengthened late in the race, some in her class made up enough time to pass FGN on corrected time, ultimately placing Celia in fourth place. Despite this, Rob Parrish praised the team’s performance: “We sailed a great race with a crew that was hitting on all cylinders on day three. It was a fantastic experience, and we’re bringing back a stronger sense of teamwork to the office.”
The renowned Eggemoggin Reach Regatta party—locally called the “Woodstock of Sailboat Racing”—was a highlight, filled with great music, food, and drinks. While FGN didn’t claim any trophies this year, much fun was had by all. As the party wound down, FGN Vice President of Sales Dan Brunstetter was already planning for 2026, rallying the crew with visions of future victories.
Everyone at FGN looks forward to the team competing again in next year’s Eggemoggin Reach Regatta!
