When news reached us that the ghost ship of Point Reyes was finally surrendering itself to the mudflats of Tomales Bay, collapsing under its own weight and disappearing beneath the tides, we wanted to call attention to its passing. The boat in question was a well-known, yet mysterious wreck that long ago washed up near the village of Inverness, a popular destination less than an hour's drive from campus, in the Point Reyes National Seashore. University of California, Berkeley alumnus David Hopkins, a philosophy major turned carpenter, had spent many childhood summers and countless weekends in Inverness, where his father had built a cabin amid the bay laurels and coast live oak. Thinking he might have some inside knowledge as to the origins of the vessel, we invited him to write a piece for our "First Person" column, a back page essay that closes every issue. We couldn't have been more pleased with the results, especially when paired with the evocative photograph from local photographer and occasional California contributor Richard Blair.
From the Judges
A beautiful piece with great use of callout text that brings the reader in. Additionally, the piece was reflective, without being excessively overt. Bridges from the personal to the family, to the community in a way that speaks to how we are all connected to the communities in which we are raised or choose.
