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Vanishing Sail

The Grenadines are a small group of islands in the Lesser Antilles where the traditions of boatbuilding were once crucial to the survival of local communities skimming a living from the sea. Hundreds of sailing vessels were once launched here, more than anywhere in the West Indies.
Alwyn Enoe is one of the last boatbuilders practicing a trade passed down the generations from Scottish settlers in the 19th century. He is approaching his 70s and with no more orders coming in, he decides to build one last sailing sloop hoping that his sons will continue the trade.

  • Alexis andrews
    Director
  • Alexis andrews
    Writer
  • Justin Sihera
    Producer
  • Torsten Stenzel
    Original Music Score
  • Brian McNally
    Executive Producer
  • Nicholas E. Brathwaite
    Co Executive Producer
  • Philipe Fabre
    Co Executive Producer
  • Damien Rice
    Co Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    culture, sailing, sport
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 28 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 15, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    180,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Antigua and Barbuda
  • Country of Filming:
    Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • St. Barth Film Festival
    St. Barth, FWI
    April 30, 2015
    World Premiere
    Closing night selection
  • Rhode Island International Film Festival
    Newport, R.I., USA
    August 5, 2015
    North American Premiere
    Grand Prize Audience Choice Award, Grand Prize Directorial Discovery Award
  • Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival
    Vineyard Haven, MA
    September 11, 2015
  • Caribbean Tales International Film Festival
    Toronto
    September 14, 2015
    Canada Premiere
    Caribbean Spirit Award - Best Feature Film
  • Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival
    Port of Spain
    September 26, 2015
    Trinidad Premiere
    Peoples Choice Award, Best Feature Documentary
  • Lunenburg Doc Fest
    Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
    September 26, 2015
    Nova Scotia Premiere
  • Aruba International Film Festival
    Aruba
    October 9, 2015
    Aruba Premiere
  • Bahamas international Film Festival
    Eleuthra & Nassau, Bahamas
    December 12, 2015
    Bahamas Premiere
  • 5th Maritime Jachtfilm Festiwal
    Warsaw, Poland
    November 29, 2015
    Poland Premiere
    Best Film
  • Havana International Film Festival
    Havana, Cuba
    December 7, 2015
    Cuba Premiere
  • Anchorage International Film Festival
    Anchorage, Alaska
    December 8, 2015
    Alaska Premiere
Director Biography - Alexis andrews

Alexis Andrews was born in Greece and studied photography in London before sailing to Antigua, West Indies in 1985 to pursue work as a commercial photographer in the yachting industry. His iconic megayacht images have been featured in magazines & luxury charter advertising for over two and a half decades.

Vanishing Sail is his first film.

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Director Statement

In 1997, I purchased an old Carriacou fishing sloop that sunk in Antigua and after rebuilding the vessel, I sailed her back to the Grenadines to meet her creator. This journey would spark a ten year photoessay tribute to the last boatbuilders of the island and the building of a new vessel. The resulting Genesis project has created a wider interest among outsiders in the region and the formation of the Unesco sponsored St. Barths West Indies Regatta. We hope that this production can inspire a sense of maritime pride in the region and keep these traditional skills alive a little longer.