Richard Carter

"I learned to sail in Cataumet during my youth, and see now that the many coves, currents, and interesting contour to the land, made it a great environment. After tinkering with our family Catboat, it was the Arrowhead, which was built locally at Red Brook Harbor in the forties, which caught my attention. It's narrow beam, which was typical for a dinghy of the era, meant it would snap into a heel in a hurry. But it was precisely the boat's sensitivity that enabled one to "tune in". I would spend hours exploring the area and refining the sailing, and always enjoyed making the sunset dash past Basset's, all the while tangling with the current and knowing the knats would come out soon. When I started to race the Arrowhead it soon became clear that Alden Sr., who lived across Hospital Cove, was the main rival in town. A whole string of alternating red and blue flags on a rafter prove it to this day. Later on when I was competing in the Fastnet, the long race of England's Admirals Cup, I always enjoyed that Sandy Weld, another Cataumet resident, was teamed up. I always liked that at least two of us from Cataumet could take on the best competition there was, and with luck and skill chalk up two Fastnet victories. As it turned out, that was also when I started my career as a yacht designer."

"More recently, after serving on the Nahant School Committee for a couple of years, I have been involved and am enthusiastic about the installation of the only Kindergarten Computer Lab in the Commonwealth. It sure is exciting keeping up with technology. In addition, I have been trying to overcome writers-bloc, and put together a book on the history of Doughton, England. Finally, my son Eliot and I have seen to it that the family Oday Widgeon, Gray Ghost, will be ready for next Spring with new seats and other improvements. See you on the water." RC