Survey says: Maddie’s one of the best

MARBLEHEAD-Sailors putting into a new harbor often bolt for the nearest tavern to slake their thirst, but most watering holes don’t measure up to expectation.That’s what makes Maddie’s Sail Loft on State Street, within spitting distance of the harbor and public land, such a treasure. It’s a sailors’ bar tried and true, its reputation known beyond the horizon. Which is why, in some respects, it’s not surprising that Maddie’s is among the top-three contenders in a global survey attempting to identify the world’s best sailors’ bars.At midday Friday, Maddie’s was third in the survey sponsored by Wight Vodka and promoted by www.scuttlebutteurope.com, a popular Web site for the seafaring set. The bar had 600 votes, surpassed only by the Candy Store in Newport, R.I., with 1,700 votes, and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, with 1,100 votes.Maddie’s owner, Loretta Lang, said the contest has generated a rash of emails from sailors worldwide, many eager to share their memories of rum-fueled nights at the bar.”I think the history of Marblehead and its being such a large sailing community has a lot to do with Maddie’s success,” said Lang. “There are so many regattas and other sailing events. After buying the place, I met lots of sailors returning from the Marblehead-to-Halifax Race, and they were so happy to have a place like this waiting for them. People from all walks of life come here and they enjoy being on the same level.”Lang said the establishment was nominated for the ScuttlebuttEurope survey by Bill Lynn, owner of Marblehead-based Atlantis Weathergear, a manufacturer of sailing attire.ScuttlebuttEurope notes that the top 10 bars have been found and that voting will begin again, through Dec. 22, with the winner announced on Dec. 23.At last count:.The Candy Store ? Newport, RI, USA, 1742 votesRoyal Hong Kong Yacht Club ? Hong Kong, 1182Maddie’s Sail Loft ? Marblehead, MA USA, 639IYAC ? Newport RI, USA, 575Cafe Sport ? Horta, Azores, 397Bitter End Yacht Club – British Virgin Islands, 337Le Select ? St. Barts, 267Foxy’s Tamarind Bar and Grill ? Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands, 202Willy T ? Norman Island, British Virgin Islands, 174Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Hamilton Bermuda, 161To place a vote (only one), go online to www.scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars.html.