Cherokee schooner SV "Cyrano" (Pinocchio)

[windy spirit]

Hello all, We have purchased the sailing vessel "Cyrano" which was immortalized by William F. Buckley. The registry papers indicate it was built in this area back in 1962 (Abaco, Cherokee Sound area).

We are currently restoring it in Vancouver, Canada and are collecting the history of it.

At one time it was called "Pinocchio" due to it's 18' bowsprit. Does anyone know of the boat or any information that I could continue to search.

Thank you in advance.

[Aquarium]

In 1982 when I sailed into Abaco. I met Jay Manni at the Man O War Sail Loft.
He knew I was a Graphic Artist and asked me if I would design a Mainsail graphic for the new owners - "Hawaiian Tropic" a sun tan lotion company in the U.S.
The boat,I believe was purchased from Wm. Buckley. His white piano was still on board. The boat was named "Cyrano" and the figure head under the bowsprit needed restoring. Working in Jay's loft I designed and assembled the large graphic on the mainsail. I used "sticky" Dacron and adhered it to the main.When the owner expressed his approval, he then asked me to repaint and restore the figurehead of "Cyrano" under the bowsprit. I happily accepted and had a great time doing it.
The boat was at anchor in Marsh Harbour while I worked on it. My vessel, the 40' sloop "Jeanne Matilde' was anchored alongside as I did the work (a great experience) especially when I stood in my dinghy painting the figurehead. She sailed out right after I completed my work. Many good times on board.
It seems to me they were sailing her to New york for a Tall Ship rendezvous.
If I search I may be able to find some photographs of the work I did and the boat.
I am a fellow Canadian and have been a resident of Guana Cay in Abaco for the past 20 years and can be reached here.
E-Mail address is; tingum2001@yahoo.com (would love to see current photos of her, if possible)
I hope this helps you, and please be kind to her. She was built in Cherokee by the Sawyers (I believe) and featured in Buckley's book "Atlantic" detailing his trans-atlantic crossing on Cyrano.
Good luck
Mendy Berkson

[windy spirit]

Mendy

Thanks a lot for the information. We got the vessel just in time before she was too far gone. The prior owner had grand plans but no money or 'know-how' to fix things and gave up on it.

We acquired it with the intention of renovating it over a 3 year period and it is coming along quite well.

Do you know by chance who carved the figurehead? It would be great to see any pictures you might have of the vessel. We do have the video and book of Wm. F. Buckley's trans Atlantic journey you mentioned.

Over the years she has been a charter boat and we are converting it into a live-aboard and plan to live on it.

Thank you so much for your information

judy and frank scopelleti

[R]

Good day,
The boat in question was built by Benny Sawyer in Cherokee Sound.
Mr Benny lost his wife recently, but he is still with us. We spent Christmas in Cherokee with Mr. Benny's daughter, and spent time with him as well.
He still has wonderfull stories about the vessels he built, and how they did it.
It is amazing that they could build something so beautifull without the luxury of power tools.
I believe that Mr. Benny may still have old photos of the vessel, I will check on it for you.
If you have current photos, please e-mail them to me, and I will see that Mr. Benny gets them.
Please e-mail me direct at: twosharks@aol.com.
Regards,
R.

[lizrussell]

Greetings,
I was down at Oyster Point south of San Francisco just today, wondering where "Cyrano" had got to. I was told Canada by a Harbor Master's mate at Oyster Pt. I first met your beamy Schooner lying-to at Berkeley where a very distinguished elderly gentleman--my berth neighbor on the old D-Dock--was using her as a very favorable hammock. (I was the owner of a WW2 beaching craft at the time--about 12 years ago.)

I found "Cyrano" again about 7 years later lying at Oyster Point south of San Francisco. She was for sale, and I considered a purchase. But the price was high for here. I did thoroughly enjoy a tour of the boat and some of the stories.

I also bought Buckley's book, "Airborne; A Sentimental Journey," and enjoyed reading it. You should too. It's essentially non-fiction, for the most part and documents the building of the boat and the trip they took in her. You will find most of the information you seek there--including pictures of where the piano is supposed to go.

Hope you still enjoy the boat near Vancouver--what marina?--and I'll pass along her whereabouts to the good folks in San Francisco Bay who enjoyed her presence here for quite a few years.

Cheers,
Liz

[JudiDi]

When the schooner was named Pinocchio it was owned by
Art and Maria Kadey. Art was a boat builder (Kadey Krogan boats) and he chartered the Pinocchio around the Bahamas. The piano on board was his and he entertained his passengers with a little honkey tonk. The Pinnochio was named for the carved head. This carving was done by his wife Maria Kadey, an artist. Unfortunately Art Kadey was shot outside the Miami yacht club while trying to prevent a mugging. He was my uncle.

Judith

[pelicanpete]

This is a terribly old thread, begun 11 years ago! I enjoyed reading it again (I remember reading it the first time round when I was a 'lurker'). However, what intrigues me is that the original poster, having apparently received some astonishingly valuable feedback, never took the time to acknowledge these helpful people publicly, on this forum.

[pelicanpete]

This is a terribly old thread, begun 11 years ago! I enjoyed reading it again (I remember reading it the first time round when I was a 'lurker'). However, what intrigues me is that the original poster, having apparently received some astonishingly valuable feedback, never took the time to acknowledge these helpful people publicly, on this forum.

Whoops! Typo. Should read "seven years ago"....

[tdogg]

Hi pelicanpete,

I agree with your thoughts. I was scrolling down thinking what an interesting & cool thread this was & anticipating seeing current photos of the vessel, but at least a thank you. I never bothered to look at the start datehttp://coconuttelegraph.net/forums/images/icons/icon11.png

Tim Abbott

[Ilovetofish]

Our family charted Pinocchio in the spring of 1965(?)! It was truly one of the most memorable trips in my lifetime. We boarded in Nassau and sailed over to the Exumas with Art, Maria and Bent (crew). One of the anchorages was Staniel Cay. My husband and I are snowbirds living in Fort Myers during the winter and decided to visit Staniel Cay in January of 2011. I inquired about Art and Maria, the Pinocchio, but no reports. I may have photos of the Pinocchio which I will look for when we return to CO in the springtime. How wonderful that the sailboat is being restored!

Ilovetofish

[Capt. Tom]

Windy Spirit
Martin Sawyer of Man- o-War has a lot of information on the boats built in Cherokee. He is from there. You might know him better as Mr. Martin the husband of Lola of bread fame. These people are a wealth of lore and information and a joy to talk to.
Capt. Tom
S/V Chardonnay