A boat has a life of its own. This is the story of one boat whose lineage goes back through Vineyard history; one boat who gracefully carried a Vineyard family as it grew up; one boat that I, a sailor and waterfront reporter, had watched in wonder as she sailed these waters, until she ended up in a field collecting lichens, aging as a home for hornets’ nests.

Then she came to me. This is the story, too, of getting her back into the water, and how the sailors who are the fabric of this community helped me to return this personality to the harbor.

The Vanity, new catboat of Capt. Thomas Walker Pease, was launched from the yard of Manuel Swartz on Thursday morning with appropriate ceremonies.

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.