TheWriteBoat Blog

“Don’t be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.”

Richard Bach, from Illusions, the Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

The photograph of the red buoy was taken on the last New Year’s Day (2011) cruise we took with the late Captain Lucas Smith, aboard his prized 1960 wooden boat, the Osprey. It is a poignant reminder of a dear friend, lost too soon.

I will forever remember the ringing of my cellphone one morning in 2010, and looking down to see the call was from Lucas. When I answered, in an excited voice he asked, “Are you online?” When I replied, “No” he said, “Get on quick, you’ve got to see this.” Once online, he gave me a URL that took me to an Ebay post showing the future Osprey tied to a dock in North Carolina. The post was marked “SOLD.” When I told him I was on the site, he replied, “I just bought it!” His excitement was like a kid on Christmas morning. Built on Harker’s Island, NC, the Osprey was to become the party boat he had dreamed of owning. Although we lost Lucas due to a crash of his “flying boat” on July 20, 2011,” thanks to some of his closest friends, his dream is still alive today, at Osprey Boat Charters.

Clay Rice. By day, he’s a world renown silhouette artist, a talent passed onto him by his grandfather and father. By night and weekends, he’s pursues his passion of music. Oh, and when time permits, he enjoys writing children’s books. Truth be known, each of his songs also tells a story. Clay grew up on the waters of the South Carolina Lowcountry. His song, The Jon Boat, tells the story of an old jon boat, and the role it played in three generations of men in his family. You’re My Island, tells of his love for his wife.

Poet, Carl Sandburg described Clay’s grandfather as, “the world’s greatest silhouettist.” Author, Pat Conroy, described Clay as “a great talent who combines soul with passion.” Those of us fortunate enough to know Clay, would describe him as simply a great husband, father, and friend that has been blessed to be a very talented man with his priorities in place and his feet planted firmly on the ground.

If you’re going to be in the Charleston area next Saturday, May 26, plan to catch Clay in concert at the Isle of Palms Marina.