RIMTA names Kirby<br> Boater of the Year

ROME KIRBY, a native Rhode Islander who was a member of the winning America's Cup crew, Oracle Team US, was crowned the John H. Chafee 2014 Boater of the Year by the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association during the Providence Boat Show. Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit, left, the 2013 Boater of the Year, presented the award to Kirby. Also pictured is Wendy Mackie, right, CEO of RIMTA. / COURTESY JOE ANDRADE
ROME KIRBY, a native Rhode Islander who was a member of the winning America's Cup crew, Oracle Team US, was crowned the John H. Chafee 2014 Boater of the Year by the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association during the Providence Boat Show. Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit, left, the 2013 Boater of the Year, presented the award to Kirby. Also pictured is Wendy Mackie, right, CEO of RIMTA. / COURTESY JOE ANDRADE

PROVIDENCE – In front of a packed crowd on the opening day of the Providence Boat Show on Jan. 31, the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association crowned Newport native Rome Kirby 2014 John H. Chafee Boater of the Year.
Kirby – who at age 24 has already been an America’s Cup winner with Oracle Team USA and has competed in the grueling Volvo Ocean Race – is recognized not only for the talent and focus that have made him a world-class champion at a young age, but also for being an inspirational figure to all the young Rhode Island sailors who will come in his wake. Kirby started racing at age 7 at his local public-access sailing facility, Sail Newport.
“We are thrilled to present Rome Kirby with our annual Boater of the Year award,” said RIMTA CEO Wendy Mackie. “He has brought the limelight of the America’s Cup back to the Ocean State, and he reminds all of us – especially other young people – that we live in a unique state with the facilities and expertise to help young sailors reach their world-class potential.”
The 21st Annual Providence Boat Show ran from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
In accepting the award, Kirby thanked his parents, who were in the audience, and he also thanked Brad Read, executive director of Sail Newport, and the Sail Newport team.
“A huge thanks to Brad and everyone at Sail Newport,” said Kirby. “Without them, I can honestly say that I would not be up here right now.” Kirby talked of how he spent his youth at their facility, and joked that the Sail Newport staff was probably sick of him by the time he reached 18.
With the help of TV sailing commentator Andy Green, who emceed the presentation, Rome Kirby fielded questions from the audience – especially those about the amazing turnaround performance of the Oracle Team in last year’s America’s Cup when they won eight straight races to defend the Cup.
“To sail on those boats and not make a mistake from 8-1 down, that is impressive…It was a pretty cool thing to be a part of,” said Kirby.
As the latest Boater of the Year, Rome Kirby joins the ranks of legendary talents who are past recipients of this award – including the late Ted Hood, Sr., Halsey Herreshoff, and Ken Read.
The Volvo Ocean Race, which had a booth at the Providence Boat Show, will be stopping at Newport in the spring of 2015. The Newport stopover is the only U.S. stop on this 39,000-mile round-the-world odyssey.

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