I walked down the dock to meet our crew last night and was initially greeted with the broad smile and hearty laughter of a long-standing (I try not to use the word “old” any more) friend, Geordie Shaver. Soon realizing that he was this week’s “fill in” on bow it became clear that this was not going to be any ordinary night of sailing. As he quickly noted “I have come out of retirement just to race on the 11.” True or not, this was just the start of what proceeded to be a series of very jocular comments from this infamous Emmy Winning and America’s Cup Sailor that kept us all in stitches through to the end of dinner.

As we sailed off the mooring I pulled out the latest boat maintenance project, the addition of a new ensign and staff. After a bit of debate about whether it was big enough, its long-awaited presence firmly fastened to the stern made Andy Green our UK born funny accented Skipper gleam with pride. “I should really get my naturalization process under way” he said.  He then more formally introduced me to his 16-year-old nephew Josh who lives in the UK and came to visit his Uncle Andy for a few days. Josh was eager to help and we all soon came to learn that his father is the “Shadow Secretary” in the Labor Party and could in fact be the next Mayor of London.  “Hah” I thought, “what a cast of characters we have tonight.”

From left: Joe Bardenheier, Geordie Shaver, Josh “The Brit”, John Howland, Andy Green

As we got out to the starting line with the other boats it seemed as if everyone was in an especially good mood. Maybe it was just because this was the only spot with respite from the scorching heat on land, but there appeared to be a greater exchange of waves and “hellos” among the boats than other evenings. I started to realize, as I looked around at this group of fine friends, that I had known and sailed with and against many of them for over 40 years. It included Jr. Sailing and High School competitors, College Teammates and others with whom I have shared the waters and crossed tacks with from New England to England on little boats and big in Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. Here was a group of sailors who collectively share an immense list of Regional, National and World Championship wins, all gathered Wednesday night on the beautiful waters of The Narragansett Bay to share in their passion while racing an elegant one-design sailboat designed 60 years ago. I thought “Wow this is Special.”

As John Howland led our contemplation on the value of going right towards Jamestown or left to the Navy War College, I couldn’t help but think of my father who decided to move his young family to Newport in 1970. After completing a tour in Vietnam as a Surgeon, the Navy gave him the choice of finishing his medical residency in San Diego CA or Newport RI. Born and bred in St. Louis Missouri, he and my mother had very little exposure to the ocean and had never sailed, but they soon understood its wonderful merits. My father became close friends with the infamous local sailing legend Dr. Charley Shoemaker and with free use of the Navy Shields he fell in love with the sport and proceeded to fashion our lives around its enjoyment. “It all started 51 years ago right here,” I thought. Thanks Dad!

On our way to Harbour Court for a team dinner I decided to stop by Ida Lewis YC where I had a wonderful conversation with the crew of #160 whom we had “battled it out” for the top spot in the last two weeks, unfortunately not prevailing either time. As we discussed which side was advantaged and the merits of gybing soon after rounding the weather mark or not, I caught up with crew member Paul Foley who immediately “apologized” for tearing my dry suit with his mast, which had lashed my back as he flipped his Interclub Dinghy to windward while we were frostbiting on the Connecticut River in 25+ knots of wind over 30 years ago, “I think for a brief moment before we all wiped out, that was the fastest one of those things has ever gone,” he said laughing.

Just then the gun for colors boomed and as we stood in silence as the American Flag was slowly lowered and the cooling Southwest wind blew dew into our faces, I couldn’t help but think, “This has got to be one of the most Glorious places on earth.”

Joe Bardenheier  – Apollo 11