“Althea,” a Bruckmann 47′ is home for the Read’s adventure. Follow along.
Dear Sail Newport Community!
2023 has been a fantastic year (40th anniversary year!!) of events, programs and regattas at Sail Newport. From the Ocean Race Stopover in May through October, your team at SN has provided unique sailing experiences and promoted the public’s access to sailing more than at any time in our 40-year history.
Sail Newport’s wonderful group of department managers who lead these efforts are second to none in the industry, and knowing this has allowed me to consider a sabbatical to do a bit of sailing of my own.
About two years ago, my wife Cara and I contemplated doing a bit more long-range cruising on our cruising boat “Althea.” We had a five-year plan: Possibly bring the boat to Maine for a Fall Cruise, perhaps bring the boat down to the Chesapeake for some time gunkholing there, and in 5 or so years, maybe make a trip to the Caribbean.
But then, in the Summer of 2022 we lost a very dear friend in Will Jeffers. Will and his wife, Laura Jeffers, have been friends of ours for over 35 years. I sailed thousands of hours with Will on J/24s, J/22s, Lightnings, and all sorts of vessels! Will’s passing really struck a chord with us (We aren’t getting any younger) and we decided right then and there to look into making a trip south during the winter of ‘23-’24.
So, in the Summer of ‘22, I reached out to the Sail Newport Executive Board to start the discussion around my taking a sabbatical in the fall of ‘23 through Spring of ‘24.
Cara and I plan to cruise our Bruckmann 47’ during our time away. I believe that this will not only help recharge my batteries but will keep me connected to the sailing world and will allow me to see our sport and my role in it from a different angle. With the support of the staff, exec. board, and board of Sail Newport, we are heading out soon for our winter cruise.
Throughout our voyage, Cara and I will be visiting various islands in the central and western Caribbean. During our cruising, we will visit sailing associations to discover the approaches that the different locales have in increasing participation in boating. As part of my time away, I will report in, through Sail Newport channels, the state of sailing in each of the ports of call that we will visit on “Althea.”
It has been a daunting process of preparing “Althea” and ourselves for this adventure. Projects have included reconfiguring the boat; replenishing and upgrading safety gear and systems; and taking safety at sea courses. Also, an unexpected lightning strike in the middle of the summer (which knocked out several navigational and other electronic systems) has been a ton of work! With the help of the incredible Rhode Island network of marine experts, we are together and are ready to go!
On a personal note, I love this organization and what it means to our community. I am proud of our accomplishments and look forward to leading this team for years to come. Our management structure at SN is collaborative and we have a very solid group of professionals now who can manage their departments at a high level. Without this skilled team, I would never have considered this sabbatical!
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Follow “Althea” on the tracker!
