I picked this up from Scuttlebutt and thought you might enjoy.
While working at a local medical clinic in the greater San Diego area last week, I picked up a chart with the name "North" on it. As I entered the room, I read the first name "Lowell". After a double take, I immediately recognized the patient to be indeed THE "Lowell North", as in North Sails. It was hard to concentrate on my doctoring as I had a wonderful interaction with Lowell and his kind wife Bea.
They must have been embarrassed as I was gushing over how long I had been
following his career and what a great fan I was. Talk about a brush with fame for a lowly PHRF racer turned cruiser secondary to a growing family and job responsibilities.
The nurses looked at me as if I was nuts. I kept explaining to them..."5 x world champion, 2 x Olympic Medals, America's Cup, etc." The landlubbers just didn't get it.
After a couple of hours in my care, while we were chatting about the Etchells World Championship, which I was keeping up to date on by reading Scuttlebutt, he was finally ready to be discharged home. When he got up, he kindly thanked me for my care. He then proceeded to pull out his North Sails belt right out of his pants and handed it to me as a memento of the occasion.
I was speechless. What a class act. Thanks Lowell and Bea North for the greatest shift of my career. -- Dr. Johannes Neuendorf
I also have a few good stories about Lowell ranging from the Chicago Yacht Club Deck when I was 16 to just a couple of years ago at the Bitter End Regatta (pictured above).We are lucky to have good guys like him in our sport.
