Mystic, Conn. (November 2, 2020) — Mystic Seaport Museum announces Gowrie Group will sponsor a lecture series, Far Away Places – An Earlier Time, featuring the work of Carleton Mitchell. Mitchell, a yachtsman, author, and photographer, wrote extensively about the Caribbean and sailing and chronicled many significant events in yachting in the second half of the 20th century. Gowrie Group is Mystic Seaport’s long-time insurance partner.
“Mystic Seaport Museum is best known for our vessels, waterfront village, and exhibitions, yet the Museum also holds remarkable collections that include maritime photography, fine art, ships plans, books, and artifacts of all types. The Carleton Mitchell presentation is an example of how these collections can come together, combining Mitchell’s books and articles, photographs, recorded oral histories, and ships plans capturing his work and the man himself,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport Museum.
Carter Gowrie, founder of Gowrie Group, a leading independent insurance agency with deep marine roots, shared, “Gowrie Group is proud to support the Mystic Seaport and this exciting outreach program. Using a virtual platform, the Mystic Seaport is able bring the exceptional work of Carleton Mitchell to life for members of sailing organizations across the country. This program is just one example of the terrific things we have done together with the Mystic Seaport during our long-time partnership.”
A skilled and prolific photographer, Mitchell authored seven books on sailing while also writing hundreds of articles with features in publications such as National Geographic, Yachting, and Sports Illustrated.
Mitchell’s first book, Islands to Windward, which was published shortly after World War II, increased awareness of the Caribbean and Bahamas and led countless enthusiasts to set sail for the islands. Books that followed included Passage East, Isles of the Caribees, The Winds Call, and Yachtsman’s Camera. His love for cruising in his sailboat combined with an impressive run of victories as a blue water racer, including the feat of being the only person to win the Bermuda Race three times in a row. Later, as a powerboat cruiser, Mitchell continued to realize his love of being on the water, expressing his ethos that the size or type of boat was irrelevant, joy was realized purely by the act of being on the water.
In the 1996, Carleton Mitchell donated his photos to Mystic Seaport Museum. This collection of more than 20,000 images, is supplemented by his written works and correspondence, as well as several oral histories, including one with the yachting author John Rousmaniere, who was central to the creation of the Mitchell Collection.
The presentation, Far Away Places – An Earlier Time, details Carleton Mitchell’s work in three parts: the Caribbean and Bahamas right after World War II, Mitchell’s famous sailboat Finisterre and its racing success, and the later years of powerboat cruising.
The talks will be presented at twelve different yacht clubs and other organizations from Marblehead, MA, to Key Biscayne, FL, and destinations in between, including Essex, CT, Stonington, CT, New York City, Rumson, NJ, Shelter Island, NY, Biscayne Bay, FL, and Punta Gorda, FL.
Parties interested in scheduling a presentation should contact Chris Freeman, director of Development & Legacy Giving, at chris.freeman@mysticseaport.org/.
Media Contact
Dan McFadden
Director of Communications
Mystic Seaport Museum
860.572.5317 (o)
860.333.7155 (c)
dan.mcfadden@mysticseaport.org/
About Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic Seaport Museum, founded in 1929, is the nation’s leading maritime museum. In addition to providing a multitude of immersive experiences, the Museum also houses a collection of more than two million artifacts that include more than 500 historic vessels and one of the largest collections of maritime photography. Mystic Seaport Museum is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. For more information, please visit www.mysticseaport.org/ and follow Mystic Seaport Museum on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
About Gowrie Group, a division of Risk Strategies.
As one of the nation’s top insurance agencies, Gowrie Group provides total risk management services to individuals and organizations with complex insurance needs. Gowrie Group offers comprehensive insurance solutions matched with trusted advice and a commitment to service excellence. Gowrie Group’s portfolio of insurance offerings include solutions for businesses, marine entities, home & auto, boats & yachts, and equine interests, as well as employee benefits solutions and safety services. Gowrie Group is a division of Risk Strategies. For more information: www.gowrie.com, info@gowrie.com, or 800.262.8911.
