Bernard Raynes 1932–2013

Irene Alton built by Bernard Raynes and his family next to their home in Owls Head, Maine in 1976. The traditional plank on the frame vessel was his place of business, home away from home, and heart of a multi-generation Maine fishing family.

Bernard Raynes, my captain and my friend, died on July 12th, 8 days after his 81st birthday. His final years were hard won, with three trips a week to dialysis and other ancillary ailments. But Bernard had lived!

Born on Vinalhaven—”Snickashin, Clamshell Alley”—he used to say, Bernard was the last of 11 generations that had fished the Gulf of Maine and the banks of the northwest Atlantic. He inherited a wealth of knowledge that enabled him to build an anachronism of a boat, the 58-foot “Irene Alton,” and with the help of his wife Eleanor and their four daughters, survive in an era when fisheries policy worked against small-scale fishermen.

A few years ago I was lamenting to Bernard that we were no longer spending our summers harpooning swordfish on the Northeast Peak, and he smiled. “At least we were there, old son.”

When we lost Bernard we lost a priceless connection to the sea, but I would say back to him, at least we had you for a while, old son.

Bernard is survived by a large extended family including children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

– Paul Molyneaux