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A couple from Hazelton, B.C., stumbled upon an extraordinary find while purchasing a boat in Mexico, reinforcing their sense of destiny for an upcoming round-the-world sailing trip.
Self-proclaimed adventurers Shannon and Steve McPhail have been preparing for a global voyage once their youngest daughter graduates high school next year.
Shannon admitted feeling apprehensive about the journey, but their unexpected discovery on the boat in Mexico gave her a renewed sense of purpose.
“It just felt like it was something that blessed our trip,” Shannon said in an interview with CBC’s Daybreak North.
“It’s an adventure that now I’m looking forward to with kind of a whole new sense of energy.”
‘I Couldn’t Believe My Eyes’
The couple had been sailing along the west coast of B.C. and Alaska when Steve came across his dream boat online—a Fast Passage made in Canada.
“He found one in Mexico and put a sort of a Hail Mary bid on it, and it was accepted,” Shannon said.
Steve traveled to Guaymas to work on the vessel, acknowledging that it needed some attention.
While admiring artwork left behind on the boat, a signature on one of the carvings caught his attention.
“I just took a closer look and I couldn’t believe my eyes—Roy Vickers,” Steve said.
Tsimshian Artist’s Carving Discovered on Boat in Mexico
A carving created by world-renowned B.C. artist Roy Henry Vickers was recently found by the McPhails, who were astonished to see a familiar name inside their newly acquired sailboat.
Roy Henry Vickers is an internationally acclaimed Tsimshian artist and, remarkably, a close friend and neighbor of the McPhails, living just 15 kilometers up the Skeena River from their home in Hazelton.
“Instantly, I messaged Roy and Shannon, and yeah, it just blew my mind,” Steve said.
A Distant Memory Resurfaces
Vickers, an accomplished author, painter, and carver, holds membership in both the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada. His notable works include the King Salmon Housefront, displayed at Vancouver International Airport. He even earned a Grammy nomination for creating artwork for a Grateful Dead box set.
Vickers recalled a distant memory from the 1990s when he was carving in his Tofino gallery.
“It’s like this beautiful memory that has come back to life,” Vickers said. “That’s one of the most unique pieces I’ve ever carved.”
He originally created the piece for a friend who, like the McPhails, planned to sail around the world. The friend insisted that the artwork remain with the boat. This carving stands out because it is made from mahogany, whereas Vickers typically works with cedar.
The artwork is a likeness of himself, featuring his hair under a headdress in the style of Japanese artist Hiroshige, wearing a button blanket with an eagle design.
Carving Instills Confidence for the Journey
As for the boat and upcoming voyage, Steve plans to continue working on it and hopes to set sail home in the spring.
However, those plans may shift.
“A sailor’s plans are written in the sand at a low tide,” he said with a laugh.
For Shannon, the carving and its meaning have instilled confidence as they embark on their adventure.
“It’s the spirit of going out to explore the world and to be safe,” she said.
Source: Swifteradio.com
