[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15736-15737]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        AMERICA'S CUP INDUCTION

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, this Saturday I will attend the 17th 
annual America's Cup Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Newport, RI. 
Today, I would like to congratulate this year's inductees: Simon 
Daubney, Warwick Fleury, Murray Jones, Dean Phipps, Mike Drummond, and 
Halsey Herreshoff. I would also like to say a few words about Rhode 
Island's connection with sailing and with the America's Cup.
  I should call special attention to the Rhode Islander being honored, 
Halsey

[[Page 15737]]

Herreshoff. Halsey has made numerous contributions to the sailing 
world. His four defenses of the America's Cup and his legendary naval 
designs continue the long and proud history of the Herreshoff family. 
His grandfather, Nat ``the wizard of Bristol'' Herreshoff, designed 27 
years of defenders of the America's Cup, and that tradition was passed 
down through his father to Halsey. Halsey Herreshoff is the editor of 
the classic ``The Sailor's Handbook'' and has served his community as 
the Bristol town administrator for 8 years. He continues his service as 
president of the Herreshoff Marine Museum and as a member of the 
Bristol Town Council. He is a friend, a public servant, and a great 
sailor, and I congratulate him on this honor.
  In 1930, Newport hosted its first America's Cup race. For many 
decades, Newport and the America's Cup were so closely identified as to 
be virtually indistinguishable. Our excellent sailing waters and winds, 
our beautiful venue, our legendary hospitality, and a long string of 
successful defenses kept this link firmly forged.
  It is thus no coincidence that this ceremony is held in Newport or 
that the America's Cup Hall of Fame resides in Rhode Island. People 
across the country closely associate our great Ocean State with our 
sailing culture. And nothing is more responsible for that association 
than our long connection with the America's Cup. Newport hosted the Cup 
for over 50 years; its departure in 1983 left our State without one of 
its most cherished icons.
  For Rhode Island, the Cup represented more than the pride of years of 
successful defenses: the Cup was a huge boost to our economy. San 
Francisco, the site of the next race, estimates that the competition 
will bring $1.4 billion in additional revenue, and a 2007 study 
estimated that Newport could see a $886 million boost if we were the 
host site. Imagine what that investment would do for Rhode Island with 
our nearly 12 percent unemployment rate. The Cup brings millions of 
dollars in construction, hospitality, boat maintenance, and media 
jobs--jobs our State sorely needs.
  While the Cup may no longer be held in our Ocean State, Rhode Island 
continues its love for sailing and remains a great host site for 
national and international races. Efforts are underway to bring some of 
the America's Cup qualifying races to Newport--efforts I 
enthusiastically support. It would be heartening to see the Cup come 
full circle, to what we still consider its true home.

                          ____________________