"Reaching for the Finish"

In 1898 Edward Hogshire opened a sail loft in Norfolk, Virginia and began making canvas sails for working craft such as skipjacks, bugeye ketches, freighting schooners etc. In 1938 R. B. Hogshire, son of the founder, took over the firm. During the 1950s R.B.[Happy] Hogshire, third generation became involved in the family owned business. By now the firm was making, in addition to other awning products, modern Nylon and Dacron sails for pleasure boats since the days working sail were but a memory.

An active member of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, Happy enjoyed racing his locally built Hampton one-design sloop and in 1952 he won First Place in the National Hampton One Championship. In this painting we see him at the tiller of his Hampton # 506 leading the pack of his NYCC competitors on his reach to the finish line. Happy’s sails and those of many of the other boats in the fleet were made by Hogshire sails. This painting replicates those days during a race in the 1950s on the Lafayette River off the Club’s property. Hogshire still operates in the Norfolk, Virginia region. This painting was created expressly for Happy Hogshire. Canvas Giclee prints are available- visit http://www.johnbarberart.com/ for information.

By John M. Barber
Summer 2008