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.