The more we follow the threads of this story the more we are drawn into our connections with the past. What began as a short film about the old days on Nantucket and the first Opera House Cup has now added a new story element: The importance of preserving American marine history.
Walk down the Burnside St. in Bristol, up from the water, past the Herreshoff Marine Museum, and the workshops where Nathaniel Herreshoff’s designs have been brought to life for over a century, and you are at one of the headwaters of this history. You are reminded of how the past is never really wiped clean by the present.
After a tour of this wonderful museum we met Halsey Herreshoff, Nat’s grandson, and master boat builder Dan Shea. They had just launched the Herreshoff-20 Intent, built at the Bristol Boat Company and based on an 80-year-old Nat Herreshoff design that was never built. The Herreshoff-20 was inspired by the popular Herreshoff 12 and a half. Although none were ever built, Capt. Nat himself carved a half hull model in 1929.
In this excerpt from our forthcoming film, “Wood/Sails/Dreams”, Halsey Herreshoff discusses his family’s history and the importance of demonstrating excellence in one’s work.
We hope to bring “Wood/Sails/Dreams” to the big screen in time for the 40th running of the Opera House Cup on Nantucket, on August 19, 2012.
Source: https://www.vimeo.com/31677175
