It was a fun night under the stars on the quay, with 11 wooden boats moored a few feet away, and their crews in the audience. The movie Vanishing Sail is a documentary on the building of Exodus, the newest and potentially the last of the hand-built Carriacou Sloops. Built by Alwyn Enoe and his sons, the build, uncommissioned and without a buyer, was in part an attempt to hand down the boatbuilding skills to the next generation. I'll leave the synopsis at that, rather than including spoilers.
Sprinkled in is the history of wooden boat building in the Caribbean, interisland trade, racing, and a bit of smuggling. One interesting comment was that a case of Heineken weighed about the same as a ballast stone. You could take stones out, put cases of beer in, and to the eyes of the Customs Cutter you weren't riding any lower in the water.
Kudos to Ellen, Josh, and the rest of the team who have made this event a success. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to make the event a success, and there were a lot of people scurrying around wearing World Premiere Crew t-shirts. I note that there were also two young ladies handing out free popcorn.
I'm pleased to have had a tiny part in supporting both the film Vanishing Sail and this 20th Edition of the St Barth Film Festival. Tonight's Film Festival closing event was not only interesting and fun, but personally rewarding. I know that there are others here who have supported the movie, the festival, or both, but who were unable to be present. If I hear anything on the distribution of the film I'll pass it on.
Ellen's associate, who was the MC for the premiere, noted that as the Film Festival ends, the West Indies Regatta begins. I'll be on the quay tomorrow morning, checking out the boats, including Exodus, and seeing what they have brought in for the Caribbean Market. In the past I've bought t-shirts, crafts, and freshly-opened coconuts. I don't yet know what I'll find this year. I'll also be wondering if any of the boats will be quietly loading up cases of alcohol and cigarettes for their return run, LOL.
Here's a link to a story about sailing on Exodus:
http://www.yachtingworld.com/blogs/elaine-bunting/racing-on-a-carriacou-sloop-1091
Well done Ellen , Josh and crew!
