North Haven Dinghy in Penobscot Bay

North Haven Dinghy in Penobscot Bay

A North Haven Dinghy sails in Penobscot Bay, Maine.

The concept behind a "one-class, one-design" sailboat race is that, if all the boats in the race are the same, then the winner used only their sailing skills to reach the finish line first. The North Haven Dinghy with a gaff sail on a cat rig was the boat design used in the first race of this kind. Four identical dinghys were made by boatbuilder James O. Brown. Three of these North Haven Dinghys were raced on August 15, 1887 in the Fox Island Thoroughfare, between North Haven Island and Vinalhaven Island in Penobscot Bay. This first race was won by Ellen Hayward sailing the boat GUFFIN. The race has taken place annually for over 100 years to this day.
Leather, John. Sail and Oar (Camden, Maine: International Marine Publishing Co.,1982) p. 34

When Photographer Eliot Elisofon was not traveling the world taking photos for LIFE Magazine, he came to Vinalhaven, Maine to rest and recoup. Eliot bought a farmhouse near Crockett Cove on Vinalhaven in 1941, built by Joel and Mary Jane Philbrook in 1843.
Daughter Elin writes, “My father always said his favorite place on earth was Vinalhaven and he meant it. Wherever he was, he was counting the days until he could return to the island. Here he would 'recharge his batteries' from grueling trips to Africa, Asia, the Pacific, or from battles with the publishers and editors he had to constantly prod into sharing his passion and understanding his vision. In Vinalhaven he could relax, soak up the beauty of the place, plant trees, flowers, and vegetables, paint in his studio, cook, and develop the lifelong friendships he treasured."
Elisofon, Elin. FEAST. (Vinalhaven, Maine: April, 1992)
These images are personal photographs taken by Eliot Elisofon on Vinalhaven and were not published during his lifetime.