OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS ABOUT HULL # 1
In regatta
parking lots, around beer kegs and other places where Lightning sailors have
been known to congregate, we’ve heard what seems some misinformation making
the rounds concerning our Class’s purchase and subsequent donation of
Lightning #1 to Mystic Seaport Museum. Just this weekend, someone told me
they’d heard we were going to paint flames on the side of it, put in a 4
spreader carbon spar and loan the boat to J. Lo and Ben to
elope in. Things were getting somewhat out of hand, so to clear this up,
here's some straight scoop.
Perception:
The ILCA paid more for Lightning #1 than we should have.
Fact:
We paid Jack Ryan his asking price. Granted, his asking price was probably more
expensive than any Lightning ever sold, but then again he had the one-of-a kind
item for which he’d been turning down lower offers for years. It was clear he
wasn’t going to accept a lower offer.
Perception:
The ILCA loaned Sandy and Mary Huntsman interest free, money to purchase # 1 and
donate it to Mystic.
Fact:
When the boat was purchased, the Huntsmans (Mary was President at the time)
personally guaranteed the $26,000.00 payment to
Jack Ryan. All the money donated was contributed to the ILCA,
not to Sandy and Mary. As a result, these contributions were and are
tax-deductible. Subsequently, all payments to Jack Ryan were made by the ILCA.
The boat was purchased by the ILCA and donated to Mystic by the ILCA. Jim Carson
signed over the certificate to The Mystic Museum as an officer of the Class. The
Executive Committee did make a decision to fund the last $6,936.05 of the money
owed to Jack Ryan when the last payment was due. But the Class did not make any
loans to Sandy and Mary, who have agreed to make good any of this amount that is
not funded out of donations by August 1, 2004, a date selected and voted by the
Governing Board in Cedar Point. To date, $6005.00
is still outstanding.
Perception:
Reports about the purchase and donation of Lightning #1 have been
somewhat vague. Didn’t we have all our I’s dotted and our T’s crossed?
Reality:
Yes, some of the early reports have been vague. That’s largely because the
‘how this is going to really work’ hadn’t yet been fully determined when
the Huntsman’s made their original purchase guarantee. Everyone at the Olin
Stevens retrospective during the summer of 2001 was very concerned that #1
wouldn’t survive another trip over the highway
back to Mr. Ryan’s home in Illinois. They acted to preserve the irreplaceable
first. Following agreement on the purchase guarantee, the boat was left in
Mystic and negotiations about permanent display began. Sometimes opportunities
outpace logistics. What’s clear now is what’s most important: The boat has
been donated and will be preserved.
Perception:
The boat isn’t being displayed the way we were promised.
Reality:
Right now the boat isn’t being displayed mast up, indoors the way it will
ultimately. Mystic’s current physical plant expansion effort will make the
boat’s display much more impressive. Those of us disappointed that the boat
wasn’t set up on day one simply needs to be more patient. Mystic has funding
challenges too and it will improve over time.
Did all logistics
surrounding the purchase and donation of the boat result in the perfect set up?
Probably not, but it did end up with the boat protected and has also ended up
with the ILCA looking well in the eyes of the Mystic Museum and the sailing
community.
Perception:
Purchasing the boat had a negative impact on the Class’s ability to fundraise
for other causes.
Reality:
It’s doubtful. People who donated funds specifically to the #1 appeal, may not
have made their customary donations to other ILCA funds. But they might have
added to donations because protecting hull #1 seemed important to them. Or,
perhaps they don’t normally donate at all and did specifically to preserve #1.
Who can say?
Overall, the
Executive Committee believes saving #1 was an incredibly valuable initiative and
one befitting the ILCA. The Lightning Class often accomplishes things other
Classes could never even attempt. Class members and officers alike, are
volunteers, so sometimes we get a bit farther out over our skis than we might
like, but by and large our hearts are in the right place. So, right now, we’ve
got a significant part of our historic legacy in the right place. Out of a
garage in Illinois and into one of the most noteworthy maritime museums in the
country.
We owe so much
this time to the efforts of Sandy and Mary. They have spent literally hundreds
of hours and thousands of dollars of their own money… putting together special
#1 stationary…having half models made up as thank you gifts for supporters of
the initiative…pulling the trigger on the original purchase…making the
ultimate display of our heritage possible. I don’t think we’ll ever be able
to thank them enough.
If anyone has any
further questions or comments about this issue, just drop me a line.
Good sailing or
stay warm depending as the case may be.
Bill Faude
Member, ILCA Executive Committee, Past President, ILCA
(New email address: bfaude@digitas.com)
