Tug o' War
You won't want to miss the display of floating horsepower in Portland Harbor this month.
By Dean Abramson
"Like corralling a bunch of wild horses" is how Merle Hallett describes his job as coordinator of the MS Tugboat Muster, an annual event whereby tugs of all sizes and shapes gather in Portland Harbor and compete for nothing more than bragging rights. The busman's holiday, scheduled for August 19 this year, includes a parade, race, and an impressive head-to-head competition. "The tugboat industry is a fairly competitive one, but this is the one day the Hatfields and McCoys put their weapons away and have a good time," explains Gregg Hartley, owner of Hartley Marine Services in Boothbay Harbor.
