NICE LETTER FROM AN OLD FRIEND

Leeds Mitchell Writes to 'Butt about the UBS Trophy







LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com)



* From Leeds Mitchell, Barrington, RI: This past week, I had the opportunity to watch the UBS races in Newport, RI in two venues. On Tuesday and Thursday, we watched from Fort Adams, Saturday, we had the pleasure of being aboard Ticonderoga, an experience in itself.



Having been a spectator and sightseeing boat operator at Cup races in Newport before "the loss," I could experience the difference, and what a difference it was. Where else in international yacht racing would you have the R/C on the VHF keeping the spectators up to date on the action? Where else could you watch the races from land, close enough to see the faces of the crew? Where else would you have a fleet of patrol boats professionally run and with a positive attitude not yelling at you, but asking you to observe the limits of travel near the competitors? Where else would you have professional commentators on AM radio, in a boat near the competitors, and on site at Fort Adams, providing commentary, humor, advice, and entertainment? We had it all here in Newport, even with unfettered access to the boats and crew at Newport Shipyard. Gone are the beefy guards, (except when the Cup was on display), gone was the elitist attitude towards all except the inner circle.



Anyone connected with the organization and execution of this event deserve more accolades than available for quite possibly changing sailboat racing from merely a competition between boats to a true, existing, engrossing spectator sport. These folks have shown that our sport of sailboat racing can be, and should be, something for all to enjoy. I can't wait for the next event run by them. I'll be there.