On Wednesday, January 12, 2011, the 122 year-old club suffered a devastating fire. During a stormy blizzard firefighters from six communities valiantly struggled to protect the clubhouse. In the predawn hours 15 fire engines fought valiantly to save the 1908 building, which was the club's 2nd clubhouse. Fireboats even travelled miles in the storm to fight the fire from the water side. Unfortunately, this special building on Narragansett Bay burned to the pilings and the building and all of its contents are completely lost.
The club's Commodore Lanphear has posted a letter to the membership, which ensures a rebuild and a thriving commitment to continue operating from it's current campus. It's a strong and moving letter and you can read it here. Only the future will tell what the new clubhouse will look
like, but here is a photo of the grand shingled house in Cranston.
Who would have thought that a wooden boat admirer would be early to the online magazine game? Luckily for us, Bill Prince publishes his Classic Yachting Magazine on a regular basis and if you're a (free) subscriber, it gets delivered to an inbox near you. Sign up via this link, which also takes you to the current issue. It's a perfect escape from all this snow. Thanks, Bill!
