DAY SAIL TO CAT ISLAND,  JULY 27,  1902
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In this self portrait Vail (left) is holding a string that is attached to the shutter in his camera that is mounted on his wooden tri-pod.  One of his friends (with back to camera) also has a camera mounted on a trip-pod, and is taking his self-portrait while photographing Vail making a his self-portrait.  It's worth noting that they all reported for work the next day with painful sunburns- they hadn't anticipated the harsh reflection of the sun off the calm waters while becalmed waiting for a favorable wind to take them home.

Willis Vail's entry in his daily journal of his sail out to Cat Island with three co-workers in the summer of 1902.  The 'company sailboat' is a 16" gaff rigged cat boat for recreational day sailing.  Cat Island is about 8 miles south of Gulfport harbor, and is still a favored destination by local day sailors even today.