Sailing's Comet class lost one of its most successful skippers on the weekend with the death of Alton Millett at the age of 70.

Millett held the record for the most wins (11) in the annual Queen's Birthday long distance race -- a record that was tied in June of this year by Stevie Dickinson. Ironically, Dickinson was sailing in Millett's boat, Kitty Hawk , that day as he has been doing for the last few years.

Now Dickinson would like to keep Millett's memory alive in the Comet class through his prized possession.

"I know he would like for me to continue sailing it ( Kitty Hawk ), but I guess I would have to talk to his son and maybe purchase it or something,'' said Dickinson yesterday.

"I would always leave the name, though. If I continue sailing Comets it would be in memory of Mr. Millett. We had a good friendship and I had the utmost respect for him.'' Dickinson was saddened to hear of Millett's death, though he knew he had been ill recently. The two St. Georgians had formed a firm friendship since Dickinson first started hanging around the East End Mini Yacht Club in his pre-teens.

"It really bothered me that he passed, I knew he was very sick and I had gone to see him a few times,'' said Dickinson.

"When I did go to see him he didn't look well. I took him for a drive one day and we talked a little bit and he was not doing well then. In the last stages I didn't bother to go around, I just figured it would be a little too painful.'' Dickinson stated after tying Millett's record this year that he considered it an honour to have matched Millett's achievements. He saw him as a mentor.

"Yes, I do feel honoured,'' Dickinson said then. "I am sailing Mr. Millett's boat and he is one of the finest Comet sailors around. To tie his record is unbelievable.'' Dickinson had to settle for second back in 1983, the same year that Millett got away from him in St. George's Channel to record his final victory in the race.

Dickinson always found the veteran sailor willing to lend support, like a couple of years ago when he won the Comet Internationals in New Jersey and Millett was there to support him.

"When I first started out Mr. Millett was a big influence on my sailing,'' said Dickinson. "As a matter of fact I used to crew with him in my younger days at the East End Mini Yacht Club.

"He inspired me. He was a good sailor, a tough fella but nice to sail with.

We sat down many a time and talked about sailing and the way he used to sail in his day.'' Dickinson says he's happy that Millett was so willing to pass his experience on to the younger sailors at the club. He admits he benefitted from that knowledge.

Millett often took it upon himself to get Kitty Hawk ready for Dickinson to sail in Comet's biggest race of the year.

"He wasn't a selfish person and liked the fact that I sailed his boat really well. At this stage of his life he just enjoyed watching the boat go fast,'' said Dickinson.

"He always had an encouraging word when it came to my sailing. Mind you, if I did a `boo boo' he would let me know. He would voice his opinion whether I wanted to hear it or not.

"He's done some good things in the Comets, I think he's the only skipper to win it (long distance race) four years straight and I don't think anybody is going to get that. He did it when there were some good sailors around, people who taught us, the younger sailors.'' Millett is survived by his wife, Golden and four children. His funeral will be held on Thursday at St. George's Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Alton Millett: died over the weekend at the age of 70.

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