[Alan Bemis—home movies] Reel 40

Date1935

AbstractCruise South in Cirrus with Ted- 1935 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. This may be footage of the first season Bemis owned Cirrus. Views from Cirrus over rough water as seagulls flock around the boat. Fishing harbor is seen beyond. A three masted schooner in full sail is seen in the far distance. Chapie is seen at the tiller. Then we see Alan at the tiller, seagulls surrounding a lobster boat at work in the distance. At anchor, we see Alan clad only in a towel, dive overboard and skinny dipping in the ocean.