The replica Whitbread 30 on display at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport has been on display in the terminal since its opening in 1996. Renovation plans mean it will soon have to leave its spot near the baggage claim. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
One of the first sights to greet travelers waiting to collect their bags at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is a symbol for the Ocean State: A fully rigged sailboat, its hull and sails sporting the names of regional maritime companies.
Welcoming travelers is a replica of a Whitbread 30, a mainstay near the baggage claim exit since the terminal named for former Gov. Bruce Sundlun opened in 1996. Getting the boat inside the building during construction was hardly smooth sailing…