[Alan Bemis—home movies] Reel 19

Date1939

Abstract2313.0019 Maine Summer 1939 Donor notes: "MAINE summer 1939 [Bemis] Early July Faith Bob Loves [illegible] in Stinson Swimming in cove July 16 Seaplane cruise Mickle's boat sailing by August 4 Start of Men's cruise August 6 Men's Cruise to Isle au Haut Local Cruise with Fairbanks +Ann+Margot" 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. Swimming in the cove by High Head, the Bemis summer home in Brooklin, Maine. Alice playing water with Alan and others, July, 1939. Ann or Margot joins them and everyone plays a game of splash. Chapie paddles around with Alice on her back. Views of large white clouds by High Head. Girls and mom silhouetted watching a sailing vessel go by. Sunset over Eggemoggin Reach from High Head. Vieux Corbeau at anchor in the fog. Views of men on board, handing around drinks, and captain going up the mast in a bos'n chair to check the halyards. On a sunny day, crew does the dishes in the cockpit. One crew member in a captain's coat directing chores. The men throw small fireworks in the water, a men's cruise tradition. Vieux Corbeau under power raises mizzen sail. Views of Alan Bemis at tiller of Cirrus under power, using a megaphone to communicate with Vieux Corbeau. Views of life aboard Vieux Corbeau and gamming the two boats, perhaps in Isle Au Haut. Sunset view at High Head. Cruise with the Fairbanks and Ann and Margot, passing Pumpkin Island Light (?) on Eggemoggin Reach near Deer Isle. Views of large white two-masted schooner on the Reach. Chapie and Alan sailing close to shore, coming about, as shot from the dinghy astern. Alan checks a nautical chart. Cirrus anchored in a fishing cove, one of the girls rows a dinghy around. Fishermen in dories nearby. Lobster boat traffic in the harbor. Sunset from the tower at High Head.