Greg Stewart, Matt, and I arrived here in Newport just in time for a new dusting of snow in Joe Loughborough’s yard, where Dorade has spent the winter. Hannah, Nick, Shae Weston and a team of painters and carpenters have been working on several projects simultaneously, most documented here in other blog entries and in these photos. Saturday night we joined a crowd of well wishers at the New York Yacht Club at Harbour Court for the unveiling of a model of Dorade, built by Rob Napier, which will be installed in the club’s famous model room in New York City later this week. It was definitely a banner occasion, as we were honored to have Olin’s son Sam Stephens, daughter-in-law Carol Stephens, grandson Olin Stephens IV and his wife in attendance. We peppered them with questions about Olin and Rod, and were delighted when they agreed to come visit Dorade in the shed on Sunday, signing a newly crafted cutting board for the galley with good luck wishes for the upcoming Transatlantic Race. We look forward to having them down to Newport again when it warms up and the boat is back in the water, so they can experience her in all her glory!
