Paul Atkins
On the Derwent River near Hobart, Tasmania, Geoff Heriot’s Norwalk Islands Sharpie (NIS) 23, SCHERZO, leads Rob Ballard’s NIS 23, ROUTE 66. Bruce Kirby designed the original NIS fleet, in lengths of 18′, 23′, 26’, 29′, 31′ and 43′, inspired by the Connecticut River oyster fishing sharpies of the late 19th century.
My son Jacob will tell you he was more than skeptical about the little plywood boat. He was pretty sure his older brother, Noah, and I were in the midst of another nautical impulse buy—flurries of infatuation that have not always turned out well for us.
The Norwalk Islands Sharpie 23 that Noah and I found on Craigslist was in New Orleans, where Jacob, 25, is a professional saxophonist. With both Noah and me far away in New England, we encouraged Jacob to “just go have a look.” This boat could be a gem. The Norwalk Islands Sharpies have a reputation for being extremely fast and able boats.