RHODES 19, FLEET 35 - News

The 2008 sailing season for Fleet 35, starts off in May and sails on through October. Thursday evenings are the staple for racing, but there are many additional regatta events on weekends.

This year starts off on a sad beginning. Fleet Captain Bob Taber, who provided countless hours of dedication to the Rhodes 19 Fleet, has passed on. He and his wife Alicia had sailed together on BUTTERFLY for many years and they both will always be remembered to the waters of Upper Narragansett Bay.

Fleet Captain Bob Taber grew up in the surrounding waters and as a child; he lived in an old Riverside, Rhode Island neighborhood that overlooked the Providence River (called Pomham Terrace). Pomham Terrace also overlooked two small rock-based islands that were not necessarily out of reach, but often difficult to access. Bob had been climbing around RuthÕs Island (the closest island to shore) many times during his long life in Riverside, but only recently had the opportunity to go out to Pomham Rock, where an old lighthouse structure stood.

NTYC Past Commodore Stephen Allen (who was also the last lighthouse keeper of Pomham Rock Lighthouse) along with Bob Taber and a few other Fleet 35 pirates, made a boat trip out to the lighthouse. The forty-foot tall lighthouse originally went into operation on December 1, 1871 (with a sixth-order Fresnel lens) showing a fixed red light at a height of sixty-nine feet above the water The lighthouse had always intrigued Bob Taber and he was delighted to finally get a chance to wander around he island, go inside the lighthouse and climb up into the light-tower.

Several years ago, Fleet 35 had already organized a Rhodes 19 race that provided Pomham Rock Lighthouse as the northern-most turning-mark. It was designated the Pomham Rock Lighthouse Regatta. This regatta will continue as The Bob Taber Memorial Pomham Rock Lighthouse Race. This race will always require a little risk and require careful reading of US Sailing RRS D Rule 4. 

Godfrey (Unk) Allen has also left us and with that, he leaves a legacy to Fleet 35 that will be always be remembered. The Fleet was first commissioned under the spiritual guidance of Unk Allen and most of the sailors in the Fleet have been influenced by Unk in some fashion. There were few people that didn't go to Unk, when something broke (boat parts or any issues of life's little collisions). Unk Allen owned Narragansett Terrace Boat Yard, until about 1988 and provided one of the best playgrounds that a young sailor could ever realize.

Unk was the last founding and charter member of Narragansett Terrace Yacht Club. In addition to being a Past Commodore; Unk was also the NTYC Fleet Captain for 50 years. NTYC has provided a solid base for Fleet 35 sailors and were it not for Unk's dedication, valuable time and influence we would be left to only play golf or some other dry sport.

The Unk Allen Trophy is the only endurance race that sends Fleet 35 around Prudence Island for 21 miles (should there be a Rhodes 19 that could sail a straight line). It remains an endurance race for the single reason that: Unk always went the distance for us.

Check the sailing calendar for schedules and races. Don't hesitate to contact Fleet 35 if you have one of those vintage Rhodes 19s or if you want to join in on some of the best sailing fun in Upper Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Rhodes 19, Fleet 35 distributes an e-Newsletter to all full members and associate members who may have an interest in not only the sailing season, but an interest in those (sometimes not so official) sailing seminars that are held over the winter months (Local venues only).

The e-Newsletters are blind-copied, without outside advertisements and traditionally very informal. Should you decide you would like to be included on the e-mailings; please contact Rhodes19-Fleet35@cox.net.