A few weeks ago, in the parking lot at the Tisbury Wharf Company on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven, Ishmael, the 41-foot schooner, rested out of the water on blocks.
Harbor reservations are at an all-time high, ferries have robust bookings and the airport is bracing for its annual onslaught of private and commercial planes.
Manuel Swartz, the well-known boat builder, near Steamboat Wharf, has just built for Capt. Manuel Sylvia, of Nantucket, a fine large cat-boat, which is to be named the “Helen,” and will be sailed by Capt. Sylvia. The boat was measured by the custom-house here this week and is 30.8 long; breadth 13.6; depth 4.5, and is to be equipped with a 10 h. p. Victor gasoline engine, and all modern gear. The boat is in every respect a fine product of the boat-builder’s art.
With shipyards prohibited under the state stay-at-home order from launching boats, at least two harbors have delayed opening for the upcoming boating season.
On the Vineyard Haven waterfront you can see, smell and hear the bustle of activity. The town's boatyards are all party to boat building and launching. Anyone who walks the shores of the town will discover a wide variety of vessels undergoing extensive work. It was a busy winter and there is evidence everywhere.
Maciel Marine, Martha's Vineyard Shipyard and Gannon and Benjamin boatyards are witness to a resurgence in interest in Island built and restored vessels.
A Newport correspondent of the New York Post says: -
“The members of the yacht squadron which arrived here on Monday night from the East gave a funny account of their adventures,” and he goes on to state the particulars of their forming an acquaintance with the ladies of Edgartown, the ball, &c. Being detained by the weather from proceeding to Nahant, and feeling ennui in their protracted stay, they hoped to obtain some relief by reception on shore. We quote as follows: -
The coming of the New York Yacht Club cruising fleet stirs never-to-be-forgotten memories. It is bewildering to realize how many persons cannot recall this scene, not having been born at the time, and thus cannot without difficulty follow a description by one whose emotions were deeply stirred by the sight sixty-five years ago.
The fleet did not always rendezvous at Vineyard Haven, yet that harbor was favored and the club’s own shore base was erected on the Eastville shore maintained by a club steward who was a year-round resident of Oak Bluffs.
