SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

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Local businesses rise on tide of Race Week

By Alan Burke
Staff writer
Published: July 21, 2008

MARBLEHEAD — Some people know already who the winners will be during Marblehead's 119th annual Race Week — officially titled the Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta and held from today to July 27.

Despite the fancy name — the early winners won't be sailors. Instead, it will be the town's business community, which is counting on a large influx of sailors and sailing fans to give a boost to an already busy summer economy.

More than 1,000 sailors are expected for the four-day competition, according to spokesman Michael Weiss. They'll be competing on 150 boats and in 10 boat classes. The overall winner will participate in a regatta at the British Virgin Islands this November.

The biggest winners here, however, might be the shops, stores and restaurants closest to the harbor, says Chamber of Commerce Director Ann Marie Casey. "Race Week is excellent for drawing tourists to Marblehead. It's good for business — though not all businesses will benefit equally."

The staff at Flynnies On The Avenue, for example, have already advised Casey that they expect to do less well than businesses in the lower downtown. Even so, she confirms, the uptown restaurants and shops could prove a useful escape for residents who want to avoid the crowds.

Boisterous crowds can be expected at places like The Landing. "It has a great impact on us," says general manager Robert Simonelli. "It's festive. People enjoy coming and talking about sailing. It's elbow-to-elbow in the pub." The visitors are generally well behaved. "But, well, they're sailors," Simonelli laughs.

He expects to sell plenty of drinks, especially the dark & stormy, a potent mixture of Goslings Rum and ginger beer served in mason jars. He'll sell T-shirts to go with them — "Catch the Storm at the Landing."

Operations like the Harbor Light Bed & Breakfast Inn on Washington Street are already enjoying a busy summer without Race Week. "We're pretty well booked up on that week anyway," says owner Peter Conway. "We've got only one room left."

As near as he can tell, Conway says, the country's economic unease hasn't kept Americans away. Ten percent of his guests currently are from California, with others hailing in still larger numbers from Florida, New Jersey and New York. "Summer looks good and on my schedule (for August) everything looks good."

Race Week helps particularly because it brings visitors for an extended period. But Conway expects many will overflow Marblehead, landing in Salem. "The same way we get the Salem overflow during Haunted Happenings."

At Lynn Marine Supply, now under new ownership, Paul and Kathleen Norgaard expect the rising tide of Race Week visitors to lift sales of their boat equipment. "It's been the experience in the past," says Kathleen. "And we're right on the harbor." In fact, the 54-year-old store actually moved across the street to a site even closer to the water.

The shop has traditionally offered an eclectic array of products. Sailors can buy equipment for their boats. And tourists can walk away with stylish bags, baskets and sweatshirts. "I've certainly been in Marblehead during Race Week," says Norgaard. "It brings a lot of people. A lot come just to watch it."

For her part, Casey reports that some retailers — like Moran Studios — are very busy this summer already. Others — like DS Design on Washington Street — are hoping Race Week will give their business a boost.

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