Spirit seeks a skipper

Lindsay Sandham

It is rare for most people to have the opportunity to race a 78-foot

Maxi Turbo Sled against some of the biggest names in sailing. Yet, no

one has put up the $30,000 minimum bid for this once-in-a-lifetime

chance.

An online auction to sail the Scout Spirit, a racing boat donated

to the Newport Sea Base in December, in the First Team Real Estate

Invitational Regatta will close April 15. The regatta, which will

benefit Hoag Hospital, is scheduled for May 20 to 22.

“I don’t think we have any bids so far,” said Jay Swigart, event

co-chair. “Which surprises me honestly -- it’s a chance to sail a

boat that you usually can’t sail.”

The winning bidder will be able to fill up to five spots on the

boat during the race, so a group of five interested sailors could put

up $6,000 apiece in a group bid.

Scout Spirit, which was donated by former Securities and Exchange

Commission Chairman Richard C. Breeden, is used in the most advanced

sailing classes offered at the Sea Base.

Previously named Bright Star, and before that Zephyrus IV, the

Newport Sea Base Sailing Committee voted to rename the boat in honor

of the organization that owns and operates the facility, the Boy

Scouts of America.

While looking for boats to use in the regatta, Swigart came across

the Scout Spirit and approached Newport Sea Base Executive Director

Catherine Malm.

He said Malm was more than happy to donate the use of the boat,

but she also came up with the idea for the auction, which would raise

money for the Sea Base as well as Hoag’s Heart and Vascular

Institute.

Event sponsorships -- $25,000 to purchase a boat for the weekend

and put a group or company’s name and logo on the yacht’s exterior --

have been selling well, organizers said.

“It is only $5,000 more to actually sail the boat yourself,”

Swigart said. “Here’s a chance to actually drive one of these boats.

We’re hoping that someone will recognize this opportunity for what it

is -- a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Ian J. Vickers, Sailing Chair of the Executive Sailing Committee

at Newport Sea Base, said that up to five positions are being

auctioned off, including the helmsman position.

“That’s the person that’s got the wheel in their hand,” he said.

“They’re the one with the gas pedal in their fingers, so to speak.”

The rest of the crew would be members of the Sea Base, and Vickers

said they are hoping to get some of their students on board as well.

“They’re going to be racing against some of the biggest names in

sailing,” Swigart said. “This racing is going to be very intense.”

He said if the auction closes without bids, the Newport Sea Base

would still race the Scout Spirit as a sponsor yacht.

Vickers said the Sea Base is delighted to be part of an event that

benefits Hoag.

“They [Hoag] are our neighbor, we’re glad to help them,” he said.

“They’ve stepped forward and helped us before, and Hoag just does so

much for this area.”