Over the many years of our time here in wonderful Maine, I have had opportunities to photograph an extraordinary variety of boats. From turnabouts at the various summer sailing programs, to great ocean going power yachts, racing sailboats, lobster boats, and custom extravaganzas like Antonisa and Scheherezade. Unsophisticated as I am regarding the whole boating scene, there are many to thank for helping me, chief among them, the late great Sonny Hodgdon. He was never really convinced that I would be the next Stanley Rosenfeld, but he was always supportive.

Recently, I have had the pleasure of photographing with Doug Goldhirsch and his amazing meticulously restored 1898 Wilton Crosby Cape Cod catboat, Grayling. Wooden Boat magazine is planning to do an article about Grayling and Doug recommended me for photos. Pretty cool ... Sonny, are you watching? 

There is safety in numbers. Summer and fall photo sessions netted over 1,000 images for Matt Murphy at Wooden Boat to review. I kept the duds which reduced the selection process significantly. We shall see what makes the cut. Fingers crossed for a winter issue of the magazine.

Grayling was built at the Crosby yard in Osterville, Massachusetts. This is a highly-regarded yard that has been around for generations. A sort of interesting coincidence related to the yard and its Cape Cod location popped into my memory as I became more familiar with the builder. Joanne Wilde, an old friend from East Boothbay and West Harford, Connecticut, shared stories with me about her childhood visits to Osterville, her grandmother's home and the boatyard. She recalled friendships with the Crosby family as we chatted, long before I knew anything about the boatyard, or Grayling. She loved her Osterville summers growing up.

Doug has been working on Grayling since 1982. John Van Dyke, at Southport Island Marine, has done a lot of the work required to bring her back. Although there are still original parts from the 1898 build, much of the boat was in need of replacement and reconstruction. The boat has required major attention, and, as many boat owners know, love for and passion for a vessel is a necessary prerequisite. Money also becomes an issue. But, it helps if you own a boatyard with skilled staff. Grayling was fortunate to be rescued from the bone heap. To see her sail is a real tribute to the original builder and her caregivers.

Thanks for the opportunity to document this remarkable piece of nautical history, Mr. Crosby and Mr. Goldhirsch.