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Forum Index: DISCUSSION: Dock Talk:
Ken Read's ACUP pitch for Newport 		Team McLube

 
 


The Publisher
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Dec 23, 2010, 12:23 PM

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Ken Read's ACUP pitch for Newport Log-In to Post/Reply
Ken Read is a resident of Newport and is the CEO and Skipper of PUMA Ocean Racing - a sailing team built to participate in the Volvo Ocean Race. He is also the Vice President of North Sails Group LLC. Here he shares his excitement on the possibility of the America’s Cup coming to his town:

Rhode Island needs the America’s Cup, and has the opportunity within its grasp to do so. An amazing last minute organizational effort between many different state and private organizations has made Rhode Island a front runner in the race to be the venue for the 2013 America’s Cup.

At first glance it would appear that I am the most biased person in the state to write an editorial in support of the America’s Cup coming to Rhode Island. I grew up in this area, and have sailed on Narragansett Bay my whole life. I moved to Newport in the infamous summer of 1983 and witnessed firsthand the removal of the America’s Cup from our shores. Since then I have had the good fortune to be a part of dozens of world class sailboat racing teams including skippering Dennis Conner’s America’s Cup bids on two separate occasions.

Over the past three years I have served as the CEO and Skipper of PUMA Ocean Racing, the Volvo Ocean Race entry of the sports-lifestyle company PUMA. The Volvo Ocean Race is considered as one of the big three sailing events in the world, along with the Olympics and the America’s Cup.

I am proud to say that PUMA Ocean Racing is the second largest professional sailboat racing team in the United States, second only in size and success to BMW-Oracle Racing, the holder of the America’s Cup. Like all professional teams we had a choice on where we wanted to organize, train and build our program. We chose Rhode Island.

Why did we choose Rhode Island?
First of all, Rhode Island has a marine trade industry that helped us create a racing program that can successfully compete against the best in the world.

Secondly, we can keep the construction, design and engineering of our programs major components literally within driving distance of our waterfront base, located at the Newport Shipyard since 2007.

And finally, we are a five-minute sail from some of the best sailing grounds in the world that we use for training, testing and racing.

What does this all mean to the State of Rhode Island? Thanks to these three major attributes PUMA Ocean Racing has spent over 20 million dollars in Rhode Island in the past three years. This sum has covered the fundamental components’ of a program our size such as design and engineering, boat and mast construction, sails, rigging, housing, and food. Not to mention the influx of cash that our employees and their families spend to live their daily lives. And this is money that represents a few cents on the dollar compared to what the America’s Cup would bring to the region.

My point takes a twist though, and I sincerely hope that our governmental leaders and citizens understand a second crucial point. The decision to spend money on infrastructure to lure the America’s Cup has very little to do with the sport of sailing as a whole, and has everything to do with good business.

As a state, we have to think of the America’s Cup as a huge business opportunity. It is easy to wax poetically about the nostalgia and the history surrounding the America’s Cup and Newport. But this is simply not the key point. The key point is this event has a proven track record of bringing an influx of cash and jobs, positively influencing the overall business climate. The America’s Cup is an event that can utilize the region’s most precious resource, Narragansett Bay, and in turn (but not limited to) bolster the statewide tourism and marine industries. All huge employers statewide. It’s not about a boat race. It’s about an international event!

Also keep in mind that a majority of the money spent by the projected 10 teams who may participate in the 2013 America’s Cup is spent outside of Newport but within the confines of Rhode Island and Southeastern New England. This is really a regional shot to the economy, focusing on Rhode Island. Again using PUMA Ocean Racing as an example, over 70% of the money spent in Rhode Island over the past three years has been outside of Newport.

Major international events bring people to our state and create jobs; blue and white collar jobs. The infrastructure that needs to be created to host this particular event can quickly become the states aquatic convention center, and will not be “purpose built” for The Cup alone. This is the kind of opportunity we, as Rhode Islanders, are looking for to help create something special. And to hand our economy a massive shot in the arm.

Every day I read about how the business climate needs a boost in this state. We need jobs. And the last time I looked, the only way to grow is to invest. What is being suggested is a small investment that assures a title wave of tourism and marine trade business with proven positive financial results that this state desperately needs.

Governor-elect Chaffee, you have an opportunity make a difference on day 1 of your term. Remember, this isn’t about a sailboat race. This is about investing in good business. For all of Rhode Island.


JPNH
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Dec 23, 2010, 6:54 PM

Post #2 of 7 (4520 views)
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Re: [The Publisher] Ken Read's ACUP pitch for Newport [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
Great pitch Kenny.... I was working in Newport (for the Aussies no less) during "the infamous summer of 1983". It was an exciting time. To bringing back the Cup to Newport would be nothing short of amazing, only it would be Bigger and Better. The ecnomic impact would not only be felt throughout Rhode Island but well beyond. Since we are blessed with one of the premier sailing venues in the World, let's not fritter away this Golden opportunity.


tmanco
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Dec 24, 2010, 8:49 AM

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Re: [The Publisher] Ken Read's ACUP pitch for Newport [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
As nostalgic it would be to have the Cup in Newport it wouldn't work as well as Miami. Newport has no large, easily accessible required for the Cup class Cat boats and their hard wing sails. Imagine trying to drive a wing or its parts to Ft. Adams. Heck Its difficult enough to drive there in a car with a trailer of Opti's behind you. Sailing can only (realistically) occur in late spring thru early fall. Newport has no large, close international airport or a large shipping port. MIAMI makes a much better venue for the event: year round sailing, large areas for base facilities downtown, viewing from the beach/condos/small boats minutes from the dock. Huge port and large international airport for the MAJORITY of EUROPEAN teams and fans. It's a better venue than SF by far. As for the 'American' V70 campaign, I believe you were the only American onboard. Same goes for Oracle....get nationality back in the event (like the Olympics) and the Cup might get some attention, other than a one line scroll at the bottom of ESPN.


The Publisher
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Dec 24, 2010, 2:37 PM

Post #4 of 7 (4155 views)
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Re: [tmanco] Ken Read's ACUP pitch for Newport [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
In Reply To
As nostalgic it would be to have the Cup in Newport it wouldn't work as well as Miami. Newport has no large, easily accessible required for the Cup class Cat boats and their hard wing sails. Imagine trying to drive a wing or its parts to Ft. Adams. Heck Its difficult enough to drive there in a car with a trailer of Opti's behind you. Sailing can only (realistically) occur in late spring thru early fall. Newport has no large, close international airport or a large shipping port. MIAMI makes a much better venue for the event: year round sailing, large areas for base facilities downtown, viewing from the beach/condos/small boats minutes from the dock. Huge port and large international airport for the MAJORITY of EUROPEAN teams and fans. It's a better venue than SF by far. As for the 'American' V70 campaign, I believe you were the only American onboard. Same goes for Oracle....get nationality back in the event (like the Olympics) and the Cup might get some attention, other than a one line scroll at the bottom of ESPN.
Hate to say it, but Miami is not one of the venues being considered. While it is a great choice for the Volvo Ocean Race which will arrive in the spring, the America's Cup occurs in the summer when Miami is, er, not great. Hot. Humid. Thunder and Lightning. Unstable winds. Miami might be an option during its winter, but the Deed of Gift requires a Northern Hemisphere venue to be held mid year.

- Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt


sailwatcher
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Dec 24, 2010, 4:04 PM

Post #5 of 7 (4145 views)
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Re: [The Publisher] Ken Read's ACUP pitch for Newport [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
As a former Floridian (Tampa Bay), I agree about the weather conditions. It would just be insanely uncomfortable to watch for many of us, much less actually compete in.

As far as Newport goes, yes, it's quite small, but it's only, what, 30 miles outside Providence? Makes it a suburb. Sure, T.F. Green Airport could be bigger. But Boston is also really close. Less than an hour away, IIRC. I used to live in Vermont, near the other end of Mass., so I don't know that part of New England too well.

So, now that we've duly clarified Miami is not relevant, what are the plusses and minuses of RI versus the Bay Area? Personally, I live in Southern California, but I don't care. Seems like I've heard of various traffic priority issues that could make SF Bay not so great. But then I've never been to RI, so I can't really speak to RI more than I just did.


The Publisher
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Jan 2, 2011, 4:51 PM

Post #6 of 7 (3609 views)
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Re: [The Publisher] Ken Read's ACUP pitch for Newport [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
From Brad Read, Sail Newport Executive Director:
Over the last few months, Rhode Island has once again proved that it is a preferred site to host world-class marine events such as the America's Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race.

A little over two weeks ago, Oracle came to Rhode Island because of our commitment to creating the infrastructure needed to host the America's Cup World Series. They gave us a new task: to mobilize an effort to show that Rhode Island could host the Selection Series Cup events, and the America's Cup Match of 2013. The Rhode Island America's Cup Organizing Committee reacted immediately. Rhode Island's marine industry, our hospitality industry, and our political elements became directly involved. We proved that we were not only viable, but a preferred site for the third-largest sporting event in the World.

Today's decision by Oracle Racing to host the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco instead of Rhode Island does not deter us from the effort to augment the facilities at Sail Newport and Fort Adams State Park. Instead, it reinforces the need for these assets so that we may offer more opportunities for the public to enjoy Narragansett Bay and to experience the global marine events that Rhode Island attracts.

The work we have done with our engineering team, our cost analysis, and our market research reinforces our commitment to this game for the long haul. Sail Newport and Rhode Island remain committed to being the premier East Coast venue for global marine events. We look forward to working with the the incoming Rhode Island Governor and Legislators as we continue to move forward with the improvements to Fort Adams and to the marine facilities at Fort Adams State Park.


The Publisher
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Jan 3, 2011, 5:14 PM

Post #7 of 7 (3585 views)
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Re: [The Publisher] Ken Read's ACUP pitch for Newport [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
WE GOT PLAYED
By Herb McCormick, yachting journalist

Here in Rhode Island, like last year, and the one before that, it's been an exceptionally crummy year. In his Saturday column for the Providence Journal, the state's biggest paper, sportswriter Bill Reynolds summed it up thusly: "Let's see: high unemployment (about 12% and climbing), the Central Falls school disaster, everyone talking about moving to North Carolina, fear and loathing everywhere you go in R.I. Slink out the door, 2010."

I grew up here, in Newport, and my dad's longtime bookie, Nickie C at the old Cliff Walk Manor, would've wished the year farewell in similar fashion with his favorite expression: "Don't let the screen door hit you in the ass on the way out."

So when the news came down late on New Year's Eve that the America's Cup had been awarded to San Francisco after an 11th hour bid by the state to lure it to Newport, it seemed like the inevitable capper to a crappy year. As I watched the new flash on the tube a single word leapt to mind: "Perfect."

A more accurate analysis was put forth in the "comments" section of the online story in the next morning's ProJo. It was the first in a long string of like-minded assessments from folks who don't happen to live by the water and who saw through the sham from the outset. I can't remember if it was Vinnie from Cranston or Paulie from Pawtucket or Rocco from Woonsocket but it doesn't really matter. Vinnie or Rocco or whoever it was absolutely nailed it: "We got played."

Yo, Vinnie. Truth, brother.

Over the holidays I watched an old Charlie Brown Christmas special with my daughter. I love the fact that the "adults" never actually speak...you know they're saying something by the single, repeated, droning note of an oboe or something: "Wah, wah, wah..."

A lot of good people put a lot of effort into trying to bring the Cup "home," and though I tried to tell everyone who brought it up that there was an EXTREMELY strong possibility that we were being used as a negotiating tool for the ongoing talks in San Fran (not to mention the fact that finding the money that was being bandied about in a state on the brink of insolvement was going to be, um, tricky), optimism was high. There is little hope in RI at the moment (ironically, "Hope" is the state's motto), and the possibility of a flood of jobs and tourists and development was strong ju-ju. Like, man, we needed this. Bad.

And in the aftermath of the decision, a lot of politicians and an Oracle spokesman were quoted about how close we'd come, and how cool that was, and what little doucats we might get tossed our way if this or that might happen down the road. But it all sounded like a lecture to Linus to me: "Wah, wah, wah, wah, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah." Noise. More noise. Endless noise.

Anyway, congratulations San Francisco. You'll put on a hell of a regatta in the prettiest city on the planet. Honestly, when we first heard that the Cup was coming to Northern California, we were overjoyed.

Then, suddenly and dramatically, we were part of the discussion, and we allowed ourselves the luxury of dreaming, hoping against hope we weren't in the crossfires of shysters and soundbites.

But here in hapless Little Rhody, the song remains the same. We got played.


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