THE FINAL TACK
It is with deep sadness that the sailing community of Rhode Island and beyond mourns the loss of long-time sailor and Sea Sprite aficionado Herb Browne, age 92, of Bristol, Rhode Island.
Herb didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He spent his early years living in South Providence, a tough, rough and tumble place. It wasn’t until he moved to the Edgewood section of Providence that he was introduced to sailing. He took to it like the proverbial fish to water, cutting his teeth sailing Beetle Cats, one of the popular wooden one-designs of the day. Later in life, after serving in the military in Korea and after living throughout the United States, he and his wife, Christine, ended up settling in Bristol, RI. There, he quickly became engrossed in the sailing community and from 1977 to 1979 he served as Commodore of the historic Bristol Yacht Club.
Herb always had an eye for beautiful boats. During his time in Bristol, he witnessed the birth and evolution of fiberglass sailing yachts. At one point, the largest fiberglass boat at the Bristol Yacht Club was a 30 foot, Pearson Coaster, owned by his friend, Joe Kinder. Herb’s heart, however, was always centered on racing in one-design boats. At the time, Pearson Ensigns and locally built Sea Sprites were the dominate one-design racing classes on Narragansett Bay. That’s when Herb fell in love with a 23-foot Sea Sprite day sailer, designed by Carl Alberg. As we all know, there’s nothing like the sweet lines of an Alberg design.
Herb was an acknowledge master of one-design Sea Sprite sailing in the region, campaigning his blue-hulled beauty named Scot Free. As all sailboat racers know, having a crack crew comprises 50% or more of a skipper’s success. Herb had two of the best young sailors one could hope for, son Robbie Browne and friend, Carter Skemp. Herb would relish telling stories about skippering Scot Free. Robbie and Carter would do everything else from sail trim to tactics.
Herb modestly insisted that his job was easy…just drive the boat.
Eventually, Herb found it too taxing to be jumping around in the cockpit of his Sea Sprite. It was then he transferred to a Marshall Cat. He never lost his love affair with his Sea Sprite, however. In his later years, Herb and I, along with our wives, would sit on the Adirondack chairs on the shoreline of the Bristol Yacht Club. We would watch the boats sail through the mooring field while reminiscing about all the sailing characters we had met over our lifetimes. Whenever a Sea Sprite under sail would pass into view, Herb would become animated and turn to me an say, “Bob, look at that boat. Look how beautiful she is.” Herb was right; there’s nothing quite as beautiful as a Sea Sprite under sail beating to weather.
Herb’s insights into the Class and his knowledge about class development will be sorely missed as will his smile and wry story telling. His absence leaves a gaping hole in our minds and hearts.
May he eternally sail on a lifted tack with a warm steady breeze.
Bob Rude
Sea Sprite Association Board Member
SS # 785 – Oasis