[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 25778]]

                         HONORING DUSTY RHODES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN JOSEPH MOAKLEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 31, 2000

  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the director of Sail 
Boston 2000, Dusty Rhodes.
  It has been estimated that between seven and eight million people 
visited Boston during Sail Boston 2000. It was a remarkably well 
planned and well-executed international tall ship event. From the 
pageantry of the Opening Ceremony at Rowes Wharf to the spectacular 
Parade of Sail out Boston Harbor for the start of the race to Halifax, 
Boston was at her very best. Residents and tourists alike thrilled to 
the majesty of the ships and warmly welcomed the young crews to the 
historic Port of Boston. The presence of the tall ships in July was a 
nostalgic reminder of our city's great maritime heritage and a 
celebration of the rebirth of our magnificent harbor.
  Boston was the only Official Race Port in the United States for the 
International and American Sail Training Associations' Tall Ships 2000 
Race of the Century. An event of this magnitude requires precise 
planning and extraordinary effort, and the appropriate credit should be 
given to the person who was most responsible for bringing the ships to 
the port and organizing Sail Boston 2000, the largest event ever held 
in the history of New England. Her name is Dusty Rhodes.
  Eight years ago, immediately following her success in producing Sail 
Boston 92, Dusty, as President of Conventures, Inc. flew to London to 
attend the Annual International Sail Training (ISTA) Race Committee 
Conference. Although not on any agenda, she lobbied committee members, 
ISTA officials, ship captains, diplomats, and governmental officials, 
promoting Boston as a potential Race Port for the year 2000.
  Energetically and tirelessly (and pregnant), she fought for Boston. 
It was just the beginning of her persistent and often frustrating 
attempts to have Boston officially designated for the Tall Ships 2000 
Race. Dusty returned each year, from 1993 to 1997 continuing her 
mission and, I will add, all at her own expense.
  In 1996 the International Race Committee selected Boston as a result 
of her efforts. OPSAIL then entered the competition for the first time 
attempting to have New York designated as the Official Race Port in 
place of Boston. Race Ports were required to pay a port fee to ISTA 
under the Race Committee Rules. New York refused and Dusty Rhodes 
committed her own funds to assure Boston's involvement. These funds, 
like many others which accrued during the planning process of Sail 
Boston, were totally at risk, but Dusty's belief in the potential of 
this millennium tall ship event made her even more determined. She took 
that risk and, when the dust settled, Boston had been selected and the 
OPSAIL, New York/Boston battle began.
  Sail Boston was a huge success, from a maritime as well as a 
financial point of view for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Hotels, 
restaurants, tour boats and retail establishments all benefited 
substantially from the millions of people who came to Boston for the 
return of the Tall Ships. Thanks to Dusty Rhodes and her efforts on 
behalf of the City, Boston will continue its prominence as a 
destination point for national and international tourism. In a 1992 
Boston Globe article, she was referred to as ``the Unsinkable Dusty 
Rhodes.'' With all the obstacles thrown in her way, Dusty has proved to 
be just that, and we all can thank her for making the Summer of 2000 a 
most memorable one.

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