ROCKLAND – The 57th Maine Lobster Festival rolled out the red crustaceans Wednesday like they were going out of style.

In less than an hour, more than 1,000 pounds of the delectable Maine favorites were sold, and the waiting line – packed with lobster lovers of all ages – stretched from the main eating tent to the information booth.

Festival officials say they hope to break the 26,000-pound record set last year during the next five days.

Single lobster dinners complete with a 11/4-pound lobster, butter, roll and chips are selling for $12. Twin dinners are $20 and triple-hitters are $29.

The setting for the festival is Harbor and Buoy parks in the heart of downtown Rockland. The place was crawling with people Wednesday, which is Hometown Day when admission is free.

There are special attractions each day, like the Sea Goddess Coronation, which was Wednesday night, and headline entertainer Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder tonight. Some activities are ongoing, such as various crafts tents, art exhibits, games, contests and food vendors galore.

Genevieve “Gen” Desaulniers, 17, of Rockland was crowned the 2004 Sea Goddess during the coronation. She received the crown and a $2,500 cash prize.

Sailors dressed in starched, white uniforms escorted the 20 young women on stage for the annual competition.

Desaulniers, a 2004 graduate of Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., is the daughter of Paul and Jane Desaulniers of Rockland.

First runner-up Megan Lindsay Watts, 18, of Tenants Harbor was named Crown Princess, and Leah Ann Nickerson, 17, of South Thomaston was chosen as Miss Congeniality.

During part of the festival, visitors can tour the USS Boone, a 453-foot Navy frigate, whose homeport is Mayport, Fla. The ship will host tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Friday.

On Friday, the 295-foot U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle, from his home port in New London, Conn., will sail into Rockland Harbor, where it will dock at the Coast Guard pier. Tours are from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Other featured evening entertainment includes rocker Rick Derringer on Friday and SHeDAISY on Saturday.

On Sunday, a do-not-miss event is The William Atwood Great International Lobster Crate Race, in which contestants attempt to scurry across 50 lobster crates strung across the harbor. The object of the race is to traverse as many crates as possible without falling in the water.