The Irresistible Urge to Begin Another Project.

We’ve just caught our breath from launching and commissioning nearly 80 boats belonging to our stalwart storage and maintenance clients—the “After Care” program, as it was christened by the crew at 50Fish Studios, who recently launched our new website.

Now comes a quick pivot to thoroughly cleaning and organizing the storage buildings, getting NORA ready to race in the Camden Classics Regatta on July 24–25, and putting the finishing touches on our presentation for the Castine Classic Yacht Symposium on July 29.

Following the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta on August 1, we’ll continue our longstanding tradition of closing the shop for two weeks to give the entire crew a well-earned rest—so please avoid having any mishaps with your boat between August 1 and 15. Then it’s right back at it. Mid-August is still a long way from the end of summer…or so I keep telling myself.

In the carpentry shop this summer we’re honored to be replacing the decks of WIND SONG, the very first boat built for Waldo Howland’s fledgling Concordia Company in 1938.

Originally launched as SHAWNEE II, she was a one-off cruising sailboat for Arthur Morse, designed by Wilder B. Harris and built by the Pierce & Kilburn yard in Fairhaven. Like the later Concordia 31s, she was iron-fastened, which ultimately necessitated a complete reframing and backbone replacement at Ballentine’s Boat Shop in Cataumet during 2018–19.

Once her new bronze-fastened sheer clamps, sheer planks, deck framing, and deck are complete, WIND SONG will be, for all practical purposes, a new boat—ready for another ninety years of faithful service to her longtime owners.

Next to WIND SONG sits a rather secretive project that will make its debut at the Camden Classics Regatta.

DART is a 21-foot B.B. Crowninshield-designed Dark Harbor 12, brought to us by my good friend Charles with one simple objective: to make her “the world’s sexiest small sailboat.”

Taking inspiration from the great J-Class yachts, we boldly stripped away the varnished oak toerails and coamings in favor of flush painted covering boards and a teak deck, then fitted her with black spars and black 3Di racing sails from North.

She’ll be sailed much like a full-keel Lightning—with hiking straps and a tiller extension—and promises to revive my childhood memories from Bucks Harbor Yacht Club, where it was often said that sailing a Dark Harbor 12 was like riding side-saddle on a porpoise. (Not a dolphin—we don’t have dolphins in Maine.)

Following are renderings by Matthew Smith and Tyler Fields. Come to Camden on July 24–25 and meet DART in person.

Better yet, join DART on the racecourse.

If you have a boat with a waterline length under 24 feet and can get her to Camden on July 24–25, we’d love to have you in the Day Racer class. Entries are light this year, and we’re actively recruiting.

The Day Racers enjoy spirited competition on shorter courses close to the harbor, spectacular views of the larger yachts, and full access to the best parties of the season. Don’t worry about your CRF rating—we’ll sort that out if you happen to win.