Embarkation for Cythera

This humble boat (a lateen rig with the boom at the top) was given to the apprentice boat shop in Rockland, Maine, lo, so many years ago. I happened upon the sight of its maiden voyage: organized chaos afloat. The rowdy crew were probably all teen apprentices anxious to get out on the water and test their new skills. And the juvenile seagulls congregating on the pier provided quite the peanut gallery.

Summer camp for seagulls!

The whole unfolding scene brought to mind the Watteau painting Embarkation for Cythera which inspired the title for this work of youth and innocence.