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Wind in Their Sails: Death and Resurrection

A documentary by Vincent Casalaina

Where We Are Now

Greetings!

Wind In Their Sails: Death and Resurrection has truly been a labor of love for the past two and a half years.

At first, I thought this would be a film full of white sails, blue skies, and interesting people who love classic wooden sailboats. It’s true that I have plenty of video footage that fits those categories, but the deeper story here is the life cycle of these matrons of the sea.

There are boats that you can clearly see will endure into the future, whose caretakers will tend them for the next generation. But every year, a few boats succumb to the elements and die. Those are the boats we leave behind.

Pictures generated using AI - created by Vince Casalaina

A few lucky boats will find resurrection and live on in a second—and, sometimes, even a third life. These are the boats that clearly show we can save these classic wooden boats. We just have to find the will to save them.

Buying Mayan

Beau Vrolyk, In His Own Words

Mayan - Photos courtesy of Sharon Green

"We had started out thinking we would buy a power boat in the Pacific Northwest. As we flew home from Seattle, I said, 'There is no way I'm gonna be burning 30 or 40 gallons an hour just to get there a little bit sooner. If we slow down to seven knots, which is what we were ending up doing, we might as well get a sailboat!'

I had always wanted an Alden schooner, but I had never managed to find one, nor a wife who was willing to go along with buying one.

We looked at twelve Alden schooners throughout Europe and the United States, and they were in various states—from great to terrible. You know, boats of that vintage have to have been rebuilt at least once or twice or maybe three times.

I had an offer in on a 64-foot Alden in San Diego. But during the survey, it became obvious that there were some things wrong. A good friend of mine suggested I talk to a boat builder named Wayne Ettel. I asked Wayne to come down from Los Angeles to advise me about this Alden.

Wayne showed up in white pants and a nice collared shirt. I thought, 'Well, he's not going to climb around inside the boat dressed like that.'

He didn't even go aboard. He just said, 'I know this boat. Why don't we go to lunch?'

At lunch, he said, 'You know what you’re looking for?'

I told him, 'I've got four grandchildren. I want something that'll haul kids, something that sails well enough that it's interesting to them, but is not so exciting that it's dangerous for little kids.'

So he said, 'Well, this is ridiculous. Why don't you buy David Crosby's boat, Mayan?' Wayne had gotten to know Mayan and therefore David because from 2003 to 2005, he had completely rebuilt the hull and deck of Mayan. So he knew the boat was rock solid, and it still is.

I told him, 'I haven't followed up on Mayan because David was asking three times what the boat was probably worth.'

Wayne said, 'Just write David a letter with your sailing resume attached. You might be surprised.' He also said, “Send it on paper. Don't send it electronically.'

Two days later, David called me. He said, 'Come down to Santa Barbara and let’s talk.'

There were a few hiccups, but the rest is history. I bought Mayan and have both cruised and raced her for many years."

—Beau Vrolyk, owner, Mayan

Buying Hurrica

Mark Sanders, In His Own Words

Hurrica - photos courtesy of Sandeman Yacht Company

“I had been on the hunt for a classic sailboat for years, never finding exactly what I wanted. I knew about Hurrica V, a beautiful Charles Nicholson ketch built in 1924 and lying in Sydney, Australia. That's far away, but I still watched her for several years before finally making an offer. My offer was rejected and I put it out of mind.

A year later, while preparing to travel to Gold Coast via Sydney, I called the broker to see if he could arrange for me to see the boat—she was that special. The broker (Barny Sandeman in the UK) made the arrangements.

On arrival, I spent a full day on the boat pulling up every floorboard and crawling into all the hard-to-get-to spaces. I had done this many times before, always finding the more I dug the worse it got, but Hurrica was different: the more I dug the better she looked!

The next morning, I met owner Steve Gunns, and we spent another day together on the boat. He had completed the best restoration I had ever seen, taking seven years, and it was clear this talented sailor and fastidious architect had done something remarkable. His goal was to make Hurrica better than new and last for another hundred years.

Being an engineer myself, we hit it off well and spent the whole day talking. We parted in good spirits, and to my surprise, Barney called a few months later to discuss the offer I had made. It was clear the next steward of the boat was important to him, and he said, 'You're the kind of guy we would like to have it.'

My family and I have enjoyed Hurrica immensely ever since, sailing her around Australia from Sydney to Brisbane, then Mexico, and onto San Francisco Bay. The Gunns and Sanders have remained friends, and he has a standing offer to sail her in California anytime the mood strikes. I believe he needed to find someone who appreciated all the things he did to create this masterpiece.

Hurrica regularly races in San Francisco Bay, sporting a crew of up to twenty hands, and was twice named "Best of Show" in the famous San Francisco Master Mariners Regatta, continuing her winning ways."

—Mark Sanders, owner, Hurrica

Mayan and Hurrica Racing in the Rolex Big Boat Series

This video features on-camera interviews with Beau Vryolk, owner of Mayan, and Mark Sanders, owner of Hurrica.

Mayan and Hurrica racing on the Bay in the Rolex Big Boat Series, 2024. (c) Vincent Casalaina.

Looking to the Future

The stories I’ve shared in this bi-monthly newsletter are personal and unique—each wooden boat and the remarkable person who sails and cares for her. This documentary wouldn’t exist without the generosity of the boat owners and their crews who’ve opened their lives to me.

I’m at a crossroads.

To move from footage to an edited film, I need to raise outside money to fund the project. This means that I’ll be focusing over the next few months on raising the bulk of the money—$50,000 to prepare the footage for editing. I aim to start draft editing in September and complete a rough cut early next year.

There will be an open screening of the rough cut, and I’ll look for your input on what needs to be improved—precisely why it’s called a rough cut.

I have a list of potential donors and am focusing on outreach. If you know of anyone who might be interested in supporting this project, I’d be grateful for an introduction. Feel free to share the documentary's fundraising webpage with your friends.

Many of you have donated cash, time, or support for this project. Thank you.

During the next few months, I’ll keep you informed about my progress, though fundraising will be my primary focus. This newsletter will continue, but less frequently.

Thanks for your help, support, and for being part of this journey.

Vincent Casaliana

Producer

Wind in Their Sails: Death and Resurrection

The Alma, an 1891 National Historic Landmark scow schooner, sails on into the future as part of the historic fleet at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. (Photo Courtesy of NPS.)

We honor the memory of Alice Watts, who passed away from cancer in February, 2024. Alice was a treasured member of the chantey sings, the Alma, the park, and the Bay Area sailing community.

Alice began volunteering at the park in 1983, and in 1986 founded the volunteer beverage service at the monthly chantey sings. She became Mate aboard the park's scow Schooner Alma and was an instructor aboard ships at Hyde Street Pier in the Age of Sail youth education immersion program. Her impact on the lives of the thousands of children in the immersion program, in the sailing community, and in the chantey sings was tremendous.

She is sorely missed by her family, friends, volunteers, co-workers, and all whose lives she touched.

Let's ring out in song in her honor.

—Peter Kasin, Leader of the monthly Chanty Sings

Visit Our Documentary's Website

For those of you who have not yet ventured onto the Wind In Their Sails: Death and Resurrection website, there’s a lot there for you to explore. I urge you to take the plunge and find out for yourself why I’m so enthralled with classic wooden sailboats!

WindinTheirSails.com

We Appreciate Your Support

Call me and let’s talk about how to make your donation tax-deductible—you can reach me at (510) 504-2605.

If you have a friend, fellow sailor, or associate who might believe in this documentary and want to support it, share this link with them: Wind in Their Sails documentary fundraising page.

Thank you!