[Alan Bemis—home movies] Reel 4

Date1940 – 1941

AbstractCan notes: "Men's Cruise 1940 - Also Flying 1941 - Original" Donor notes: "Sailing thru Moosabec + [illegible] thorofare to an anchorage in [illegible] & the weir on beach Sailing into Cutler in fog and out in clear sun + Yellow Islands Eastport (SNS cut out some of best of Yellow Island and fog part of H. Proctor flying to H. Hd to Rockland + return." The men's cruise was an annual event, starting in about 1935, to Passamaquoddy Bay in the Gulf of Maine, and back, usually with an overnight at Roque Island. The first cruises included Ken, Eric and John Parson, Manny Sargent, Harold Willis. The yacht "Cirrus" is a Fisher Island Sound 31 class sloop, sail number 11 with a distinctive red hull. She was built at Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, RI, in 1930 (originally named Kelpie) and bought by Alan Bemis in 1934 or 1935. There were 14 boats in the class. LOA 44 ft. In 1954, Bemis converted Cirrus to a yawl rig. Bemis owned Cirrus for more than 50 years, sailing her almost exclusively in Maine and Canadian waters. A sister ship "Torch" ( sail number 7) is on display at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, RI. Shot from stern of Cirrus of Alan at tiller, downwind toward bell marker and dinghy being towed behind. CU of Harold Willis in French artist's beret, pan to Alan in Sherlock Holmes hat, and several others on board. Views past fishing weirs, coming about with Alan at tiller, and anchor over, and putting boat to bed. Two young men row hard against wind and current, then mess around an anchored sloop. Views at High Head, the Bemis summer home in Brooklin, Maine, then views from seaplane flying over High Head, Naskeag Point, and Eggemoggin Reach. Blue Hill Mountain seen in far distance. A race of 4-5 small sailboats is seen below, then POV landing on water. Shots from land of float plane landing.