SET STRAIGHT IN MARBLEHEAD

I sail and race a Swan 38, Blue Pigeon, out of Marblehead, Massachusetts. I’m also a member of Marblehead’s Harbors and Waters Board that oversees the harbormaster’s department. I read with interest your editorial in the April issue (“Around the Sound”). I think your comments about the Marblehead Harbormaster were based on faulty information, and so I wanted to correct the record. The incident that you related regarding stopping a pickup race between Lasers was an action by the Salem harbor department. They were following the Massachusetts guidelines at the time. Mark Souza, Marblehead’s harbormaster, was very proactive in developing commonsense COVID-19 safety rules that permitted Marblehead sailing regattas to occur earlier in the 2020 season than most other areas. This led to Wednesday-night racing, offshore racing and one-design racing, all beginning in mid-july.

Souza’s leadership in working with all the Marblehead yacht clubs and sailing associations was appreciated by all. I’m sure that if you talked to any of the Marblehead race committees, they would confirm these positive results. I share your frustration with 2020’s racing season. But Mark Souza was part of the solution, not the problem. He deserves praise, not criticism, for his professional management in 2020 that resulted in a safe and enjoyable sailing season.

John C. Doub Via email