R A C E
W E E K
Cliff Payne Everyone at Race Week ends up on Payne’s Dock at one point or another. Whether you keep your boat there for the week, visit the Coastal Queen (a Race Week fixture and unofficial headquarters of the J/44 Class), or as most do, enjoy a mudslide and the music of Walter McDonough at Mahogany Shoals, you’ve certainly been greeted by Cliff Payne. Cliff has been described as the “Sure, No Problem Guy.” His team of dock personnel, including his son Sands, handles yachts of all sizes with ease – all the while ensuring that the equipment for Race Week has a spot on the dock, competitor and sponsor trailers have room, and every other need is met. Nick Langone, the Storm Trysail Club’s Race Week On-the-Water Chairman, has spent a lot of time running RC logistics from Payne’s. “There’s not one thing I ever asked for that he couldn’t accommodate,” Nick said. “He’s been an amazing friend to the Storm Trysail Club.” Race Week boats have stayed at Payne’s Dock since 1965 and Cliff’s father Frank, Cliff and Sands have had a hand in making their stay relaxed and memorable. The Storck family has been at every Race Week since 1967 and, during the years that John Storck, Jr. was Chairman of Race Week, even used Payne’s as a combined RC headquarters and crew accommodations aboard Tonic, Charlie Terry’s 50-foot Hatteras. “Cliff has been so supportive of Block Island Race Week, no matter what,” noted John. “He and Sands are very, very gracious people and when they say they’ll do something, you can count on them.”
S P O T L I G H T Over the years, the Storm Trysail Club has counted on Cliff to provide space and support for Race Week headquarters, large fleets of race boats and support vessels, thousands of crew, as well as the vast equipment requirements of the Race Committee logistics center as the event has grown – he’s even provided shuttle service to and from the ferry terminal. Before the Storm Trysail Club managed to bring large trucks onto the ferry to ship over all of the necessary equipment for Race Week, Cliff would run back and forth to the ferry dock with his pick-up truck until everything had its proper place on the dock or aboard a specific boat. Storck’s son, Erik, has been visiting Block with his dad since age three, and his only memories are of staying at Payne’s. “When we pulled up this year – without calling or radioing ahead – Cliff was there to greet us and was sure to let us know that we had plenty of water where we were docking,” said Erik. “He made sure of it because two years ago we’d run aground. I was blown away that with all the boats he deals with, he’d remembered that.” “One of the best things about Cliff is that he’s laid back and comfortable around everyone and always makes everyone feel comfortable too,” said Erik. “My father mentioned that I was doing an Olympic trial, which I would never have thought to tell him as we tied up our boat this year. As I tossed a tangled line to Cliff, he said, ‘And he’s good at macramé, too, John!’” Cliff does business the old fashioned way. If you need something – and the needs of Race Week are many – just call. You’ll surely hear “No Problem.”
ROBERT OATLEY V I N E YA R D S
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Block Island Race Week
robertoatley.com Storm Trysail Club 2011 Block Island Race Week News • Tuesday 15