Member Profile - CAPTAIN TOM TETRAULT

Captain Tom Tetrault

Tom grew up in Salem, just a few miles away from Palmers Cove, with two older sisters and one older brother. Tom’s father, Ray Sr, was a life member of PCYC and spent a significant amount of time around the club on his many different boats over the years. Tom’s fondest memories with his father were aboard the “Kristen,” a Tartan 27, as well as his fathers 1940’s vintage old town lapstreak dory known as “The Fish-Hawk” (that Tom still has today).

Tom and his brother, Ray Jr., now own their father’s business, Bernard’s Jewelers (www.bernardsjewelers.com), on Essex St. in Salem. Tom can be seen at Bernard’s doing anything from selling an engagement ring, to fixing watches and clocks. 

Tom and his wife Betty live in Georgetown, and have two kids, Matt and Aimee. Matt has been hanging around The Club since he could walk, always following in his fathers footsteps. Matt was recently relocated to Miami, Florida for his job, but still maintains his PCYC membership (and we know he’ll be back)! Aimee is going to college out in Colorado and enjoys coming home to go sailing with her dad aboard Facet.

Tom raced dinghies in college, as well as did some PHRF racing every now and again, but got away from it during his kids'early years. A friendship with his son’s baseball coach in the late 80’s rejuvenated his interest in the sport, racing on a Tartan 3000 out of Jubilee Yacht Club, and entering his father’s Tartan 27 in the Wednesday night series out of Boston Yacht club in Marblehead.  As Tom’s interest grew, and his family grew, it was time for a bigger boat. In 1994 Tom purchased the Bristol 35.5 that we all know as “Facet”. The boat has been Tom’s pride and joy ever since, and the attention and care he gives to the boat is clearly evident every time you see it.

Facet has an impressive and extensive racing history. She took 1^st place three years in a row in the FIGAWI race (a tradition the crew is hoping to continue), 2^nd place in the Berringer overnight race to Provincetown, and 1^st place in the PCYC sponsored Bowditch Race. These are just a few of the examples from her racing history. Not to be outdone by Tom, his wife, Betty, took first price in the 2006 Lucy Houde Memorial Race on Facet.

The Berringer race (an overnight race from Salem to Provincetown) proved to be an exciting trip for the crew of the Facet in 2006. Arriving first at the finish line, they thought they took first place; captain and crew arrived in PTown and enjoyed copius libations, as they awaited the next place finisher. Their closest competitor came in to harbor almost an hour after Facet did. Unfortunately, after allowing for boat model handicap, the corrected time put Facet in 2nd place instead. During the delivery home, Facet’s engine bit the dust. Parting with Facet was definitely not an option, so Tom, with the help of his crew, fitted her out with a brand new Westerbeke 30 hp diesel that is sure to keep her powered up long into the future. 

Tom also maintains his USCG 100-ton license, which earned him the well known title “Captain Tom.” Tom is well known for his calm and steady manner, especially in stressful situations. Although a good time is always had on Facet, you can be sure she is always outfitted and setup with the proper safety and emergency equipment required to keep her crew safe.

Tom's skills on a boat go far beyond sailing - he is an accomplished chef who is known for his "melt off the bone" ribs prepared in an oven on Facet.  His rum punch, with fresh ground nutmeg, is the stuff of legends! Tom has been the chairman and co-chair of the Regatta Committee for many years, and his leadership guided PCYC as it ran it's first ever PHRF sanctioned race, the Bowditch Race. Bowditch was enormously successful, and will be in its 3rd year in 2007. At the Club's many social events, Tom can be counted on as a great dance partner!

A tribute from a member of Facet's crew:

"There is one terribly important quality of Tom's that I believe deserves mention. In my opinion this quality says a great deal about his nature, of who he is, and the esteem in which I hold him and our friendship. It is an important reason why I want to race with him. Ironically it is about what Tom doesn't do. That is, he simply doesn't yell at his crew; he doesn't even raise his voice. Now you may think this isn't much of a big deal...until you have been a crew member on a boat with a skipper who does...and there are skippers (and I have had the misfortune of having crewed for some of them) who do. Whenever you are out on the race course...it doesn't matter where, what race, what sponser, what club...you can always here skippers yelling at their crew. Sometimes they are yelling and cursing at their crew and even occasionally adding in some verbal abuse with the yelling and cursing.
Not on Facet. I believe that is one of the main ingredients as to why Facet does so well at winning. It is all about attitude, isn't it. It's just a part of what makes Tom a very special person, skipper and friend."    

Marc Winder

Current Crew of Facet

Matt Tetrault
Scott
Bill Kuszmar
Peter Hooks & son Jeff
Marc Tetrault
Mike Burke
Bob Connors
Marc Winder & son Travis