Gloria Drifts Away

Posted on November 13, 2015 | 12 Comments

For years, “Gloria” was a glorious sight.

Alan Sterling built the wooden oyster boat himself. He named it after an old girlfriend, and took it oystering on 150 acres of beds, between Compo Beach and Cockenoe Island. It was a tough job, but Alan — a Staples grad — loved it from the day he began, in 1964.

Alan moored Gloria in Gray’s Creek, between Compo Beach Road and the Longshore exit. Some winters, he lived on the boat. It was cold — but it was home.

On July 4, 2014, Alan died of a massive heart attack.

Since then, Gloria has just kind of drifted. She was Alan’s baby, and now he’s gone.

The other day, “06880” reader Bruce McFadden spotted Gloria abandoned, on the Gray’s Creek shore.

Gloria, on the Gray's Creek shore. (Photo/Bruce McFadden)

Gloria, on the Gray’s Creek shore. (Photo/Bruce McFadden)

He wonders if anyone has plans for the boat. The Honda outboard has value. Perhaps, he says, funds from its sale could be used to place a plaque or bench at Longshore’s E.R. Strait Marina, honoring one of Westport’s last commercial fishermen.

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12 responses to “Gloria Drifts Away”

  1. clarinda higgins | November 13, 2015 at 6:51 am |

    I thought Gloria had been bought by someone; I noticed it there, tied to a dock last fall.

  2. john videler | November 13, 2015 at 7:02 am |

    great guy Alan was, a bench with a plaque would be very nice.

  3. Sandra Cenatiempo | November 13, 2015 at 7:09 am |

    I believe “Gloria’ is privately owned and is in the process of being brought back to her mooring

  4. Michael Calise | November 13, 2015 at 7:59 am |

    “Gloria” is where it is due to an abnormally high tide and heavy winds. Plans are in place to relocate it to a proper mooring today or tomorrow depending on tide height

  5. Tom Risch | November 13, 2015 at 8:59 am |

    I think it looks great right where it is.

  6. Susan Feliciano | November 13, 2015 at 9:32 am |

    A little piece of Westport’s history, floating quietly in honor of her past..I’m happy to read that it seems she and her history are being honored by her being able to continue to exist on our waterscape.

  7. Leigh Gage | November 13, 2015 at 9:42 am |

    Thanks Dan. I wholeheartedly agree with this and have wondered why the boat has been stranded.

  8. Michael Calise | November 14, 2015 at 4:01 pm |

    “Gloria” as of yesterday was successfully brought back to it’s home at the edge of Cedar Island. Thank you all for your interest

  9. Karen Roche | November 16, 2015 at 8:36 pm |

    We spend slit of time on the water in our boat and every tin we saw Otoa it made us smile. Cheers to Slan!!