This photo was posted on a message board with the suggestion that it pertained to some book or movie. That board is better than YouTube comments, but not really my cup of tea…I chose not to join just to indulge my curiosity on the one point. And yet I AM curious! The board where I found it was discussing pocket knives which may or may not be a clue.
Lots of googling was not much help. I did find this photo of a kiwi holding a similar toy which is based on a Maori proa. That fellow is onto building and sailing canoes, and I don’t think his model is related to the reference I seek.
Well, no replies, so here is my allowed bump. I have been collecting feathers to make one of these. Amazing how many feathers are lying around when you tune in to their presence.
There’s a Percy Shelley poem, but the hull should be a leaf:
From “Rosalind and Helen”:
He was a gentle boy,
And in all gentle sports took joy;
Oft in a dry leaf for a boat,
With a small feather for a sail,
His fancy on that spring would float,
If some invisible breeze might stir
Its marble calm
Pacific islanders make single-rig canoes. Just can’t remember which country that was: they showed both full-sized boats and toy ones. Here in the Philippines, they’re all twin-riggers.
If you’re going to use a feather sail, suggest a small catamaran instead of a rigger canoe.
