In memory of longtime Etchells class member and sailor Wade Edwards, we’ve created this page of memories to share with the class, his friends and family. If you have a story, anecdote or reflection to share, please email it to Class Secretary Pam at [email protected].
From Timo Platt:
Wade touched all of us, positively, in so many ways: a great sailor, fierce competitor, class act, kind, considerate, generous, a true gentleman. He was also my dear friend and co-conspirator with Justin Muller, Ben Newman, Greg Hefler, Rob Hitchcock, Kent Paisley and many others in having fun and making the best of every situation on and off the water.
He played the game with pride, passion, and zeal, and yet was mild-mannered and gracious always.
We sailed many miles together: racing RIVA(Etchells 1221) in Marbles, Buzzards Bay, Newport, Portland, Burlington, Westbrook, Milford, Greenwich, Rye, Annapolis, Oriental, Miami, Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, San Francisco, San Diego; Solings and J24s in Boston Harbor; Beneteaus to MacKinac Island; and Aerodynes to Halifax. We also spent a lot of time on the road, with RIVA in tow, while staying with old friends (special shout-outs here to Rob Hitchcock, Kent Paisley, and Colt Weatherston) and making new ones.
Some special memories of Wade:
- gracious in defeat, humble in victory
- celebrating the success of our friends and competitors on the race course
- on the way out to the race course, reading out loud from Stuart Walker’s Wind and Strategy
- limbering up between races with jumping jacks on the transom
- competing to the end against friend or foe, motivating crew with unmentionable humor
- whether club racing in Marbles with daughter Robin Edwards or scoring bullets on a big-air day at the Nationals in Newport, being more anxious about not extending a large lead than coughing up a close one
- taking a cue from Greg Hefler’s playbook on a light-air day, protecting the harbor and striving to win the race to the hoist
- always making a spot on his Soling for new crew to learn during summer BSC racing
- the ultimate gear head—modeling the latest gear from Atlantis, Henry Lloyd, Gill, Sperry, Slam, Patagonia
- taking responsibility for a broach during a Chicago-Mackinac race
- crooning Elvis tunes into the tiller extension
- competing with Justin Muller in Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonations
- group sing-alongs with ZZ Top and Lou Reed
- the ultimate foodie
- enjoying gargantuan breakfasts, often asking to top off a western omelette, bacon, home fries, toast, yogurt, fruit, juice, coffee and water with a ‘side’ of blueberry pancakes and ‘real’ maple syrup
- always being grateful to his lovey wife Aliza and his beautiful family for the privilege of racing and sailing
Wade has been like a brother to me: always being there, putting up with all my faults and idiosyncrasies, and teaching me so much.
Your spirit will always live on, Wade!
From Justin Muller:
On a rainy cold Memorial Day in 2003, Timo Platt persuaded me to board the first ferry home from Nantucket to go sail an Etchells with Wade Edwards. Thus started a friendship (and the formation of Team Riva) that I will hold dear to my heart forever. Wade Edwards was my friend and my mentor (especially for sailing, but in all aspects of my life).
Smooth sailing buddy — I miss you already.
From Steve Girling:
Wade will be missed as a friend, stellar competitor and true gentleman both on and off the water. Wade was a quiet guy, always willing to lend a hand or some advice, diligently leading the Boston sailing center and his own successful sailing campaigns.
I first met Wade at a New England Champs regatta in Marblehead back in the early 2000’s. Wade, Justin and Timo were the local guys who welcomed everyone with a big smile and a helping hand. They helped the Marblehead fleet and the Corinthian YC put on a good show. The event had attracted a good group, this was a strong 30+ boat fleet, we were all there, Jud, Hank et al. Wade won with a consistently strong performance. His gracious words as he accepted the prize told everyone how much he appreciated being there in the moment among a fleet of competitors, but more importantly, friends. He was a seize-the-day sort of guy.
Over the years, Wade has competed in multiple world, continental and regional regattas, always with a strong program, a great team and a winning mindset. Whether he was at the front of the pack or digging his way back, although he never gave an inch, he had the respect and admiration of all those around him.
Although our loss is unfathomable, the sailing team for the man upstairs has a new guy on deck calling the shifts.
We’ll think about you often and the Etchells class will miss you, Wade.
From David Irvine:
I still remember the photo from NYYC June 2014. Looked like I was trying to “hump” Wade. I fondly remember Wade, Tim and Benny enjoying a few Dark and Stormys at IYAC as I was shoring up the vote for 2018.
The old blue Etchells hat (used to come in red as well) I have was the last one in existence. Wade gave it to me in 2007 at the Marblehead NOOD Etchells welcome BBQ at his house. He gave it to me because he overheard me ask someone where I could get one. We are reviving the design for the 2018 Worlds. I think of Wade every time I put it on. Great memories of a great guy.
From Rob Hitchcock:
Wade will be remembered as a great competitor on the water and a great guy off it. He always had a smile and was quick to laugh. Sailing, both with and against Wade, was a pleasure.
1105 and 1221 had many great battles on the water. If occasionally we could come out on top, we knew it was a good day! Despite the competitive drive, we always counted Wade and 1221 as our friends. The first people we would seek out for a beer. Wade will be missed!
From Nicole Jacques:
Wade shared with me a lot of sailing tips, some hilarious sailing stories, and even a few dance moves. I was a relatively inexperienced racer at the time we met, so the best I could share with him were a whole lot of chocolate martinis — and that seemed to him to be a fair exchange. His grin was endless, his charm inexhaustible. And certainly now his affable spirit is infinite. I’m selfish to want another chocolate martini with him, and he would most certainly tell me — with a chuckle — that it’s best I avoid the inevitable hangover anyway. Cheers, Wade.
From Paul McLaughlin:
Wade will be missed on and off the water. There are many wonderful stories to be shared about Wade. Here is one that comes to mind:
A few years ago in Marblehead, in a rare occurrence, my boat was leading all boats at each mark. We were on a beat with a sizable lead when we heard Wade on Riva, USA 1221, behind us yell, “Hey Paulie! Where are you going?” It turns out that we were heading for a fixed bell buoy rather than the windward mark off to our left. We tacked and still maintained our lead however, as gracious as was this generous gesture, so too was Wade’s competitiveness and, alas, we ended the race behind him as was so often the case for others when Riva was on the line.
From Dirk Kneulman:
Blessed to have known Wade. We will all miss him.
From Jud Smith:
Great photos and reminder that Wade was always smiling. He made a huge impact on sailing in Boston and Etchells class and will be missed.
From Kent Paisley:
I got to know Wade through the Marblehead crowd and because of Hef and Hitch. We always loved sailing against him because if we were near him we were doing something right. But more importantly I liked getting to know him and being able to host his crew at our place for the ’09 NAs with fine food and fine stories. When I visited Wade at the BSC, he took me up to his office and I thought it was to show me around. But, no — I could see the view on my own time. Rather this is where he kept the good Scotch to share with good people. I was honoured! I will miss him on the sailing circuit!
From Paige Brooks:
Love his kindness, humor, true interest and care for his friends, his dedication to all of his endeavors, and strong sense of giving.
From Oren Beach:
I met Wade about the same time. He was such a nice man. May he rest in peace, in good company.
From Cookie Greville:
Sad. Proud to have sailed against him all these years.
From Julia Marsh Rabin:
No way…what a nice guy. Gone way too soon…
From Edward Chrzanowski:
I met Wade in 2011 when we sailed in the CYC Race to Mackniac on Colt Weatherston’s Weather Edge III. I feel fortunate to have sailed with him. His kind genuine personalty will always be remembered.
From Peg MacMaster:
So sad, I will miss him dearly. So glad to have known him.
From Karen Finocchio Lubeck:
Never a smile so large, a heart so big, a laugh so hearty and a character so genuine. A fabulous guy who will be so greatly missed.
From Brad Howes:
So sad to hear. I crewed for him on Solings in Boston Harbor and once or twice on his Etchells. Always a joy to be with even in tense situations on the water.
Very sad news and a loss to all of us that knew him and his contributions to sailing
From Pam Mayer:
A kinder man would be tough to find. The Class mourns your loss and sends thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and hundreds of people who your life touched in a positive way. There are simply not enough tears
From Fleet 4:
I am very sad to announce that our friend and fellow sailor Wade Edwards died on July 4 after battling cancer this spring. We in the Marblehead sailing community send our deepest condolences to Wade’s family.
Wade was a lifelong sailor, and a longtime member of Etchells Fleet 4. He represented us exceptionally well sailing on the national level in Miami and numerous championship events. Wade owned and ran the Boston Sailing Center, an incredible resource for introducing people to sailing and racing keelboats, and the source of many Fleet 4 members.
We will certainly miss Wade’s presence on the racecourse, but mostly we will miss his easy manner, quiet wit, kind words, and ineffable smile.
From Greg Helfer:
The reality of Wade being gone is hitting home. We had so much fun with Wade and crew. I remember times at William Street, Annapolis, Miami Et Cetera. It was non-stop banter on the race course but even more so at the bar…. Timo was usually the recipient of Wadmo’s humor. It was all in good fun. Sail on, my friend, until we meet again.
From Debi Stormes Schoenherr:
So sad…..Wade and I had been friends and sailors together since we were in Junior sailing. My thoughts and prayers for his family.
From Jim Porter:
I remember meeting Wade for the first time at a regatta in Buzzards Bay and thinking, this guy’s too nice to be any good. After battling with him all weekend I realized he and crew were very good. Wade was a great competitor and a true gentlemen on the race course. He always wanted to win but he always sailed clean and was rarely found in the protest room. When Wade and his crew won a regatta you know they deserved it more than anyone else. He was gentlemen and his presence on the race course and in the bar will be missed. Sail on Wade, I am glad I got to know you.
From Buddy Cribb:
I learned much about sailing the Etchells while competing against Wade (and Tim). What stands out most in my mind is racing in Marblehead, rounding the first mark well ahead of Wade and then him sailing through our lee as if we did not exist. When it was far too late we realized that our leeward twing was in tight! We never let that happen again, thanks to Wade. A tough competitor but always one of the good guys. My condolences to his family and friends.
From Tom Carruthers:
Just met Wade a few years ago. A big loss to the class, sailing and life in general.