2023 -- H 5529

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING BRAD READ ON HIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY AS THE EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR OF SAIL NEWPORT, INC.

     Introduced By: Representatives Abney, Carson, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Kennedy, Tanzi, Fenton-Fung, Ajello, and Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Brad Read, the Executive Director of Sail Newport, grew up in Seekonk and

sailed out of the Barrington Yacht Club as a youngster. He was a three-time College Sailing All-

American from Boston University and was named the 1986 Collegiate Sailor of the Year. In his

distinguished sailing career, he is an 8-time World or North American champion as a helmsman

and has won a dozen East Coast and National Championships; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Read has worked as an afterguard on numerous racing yachts and also

worked as the one-design sales and service manager at North Sails Media. He is a frequent guest

speaker and interviewee with the local and trade press, and has served as a Guest Editor for

Sailing World Magazine since 1994; and

     WHEREAS, For the last twenty-five years, Mr. Read served as the Executive Director of

Sail Newport, where he guides and directs the nonprofit organization that is dedicated to ensuring

public access to the sport of sailing by providing custom programs for schools and municipal

organizations, all for adults and youngsters benefit; and

     WHEREAS, Under Director Read’s leadership, Sail Newport also manages numerous

local, regional and international regattas. He led the team that won the Newport and Rhode Island

bid to bring the Volvo Ocean Race to Newport in 2015, with Newport being the only North

American stop in that race. Thanks to the overwhelming success of the race in Newport, it made a

return visit here for the 2017-2018 race; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Read’s additional accomplishments include raising funding for Sail

Newport’s scholarship and financial aid programs for community families, and thanks to his

tireless work ethic and sterling reputation for integrity, Sail Newport was recently selected to be a

recipient of a $500,000 grant from the Van Beuren Charitable Foundation, which will support a

new education and recreation facility at Fort Adams State Park; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

congratulates Brad Read on his 25th Anniversary as the Executive Director of Sail Newport. We

thank him for all he has done for the sport of sailing, and all he has contributed to the economic

vibrancy of both Newport and the State of Rhode Island. We wish him many more successful

years at the helm of Sail Newport; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Brad Read, Executive Director of Sail

Newport, Inc.

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