Canadian artist Isabel McLaughlin’s 1960 painting ‘Sun Fish’ of brightly patterned sunfish floating across Hamilton Harbour, is one of the most popular paintings in the Masterworks Museum collection.Now art lovers can own a rare print of it, and several other iconic Masterworks images, thanks to an Art and Sailing auction to raise money for the Museum and the Bermuda Sloop Foundation (BSF). The BSF, which uses sailing to teach young people crucial life skills, recently announced they were badly in need of funds to continue for another year.The aim is to raise at least $20,000, and split the money between the two charities.“Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art and the Bermuda Sloop Foundation have long wished to forge a common bond in a collaborative effort, but until recently could not find an appropriate method,” said Tom Butterfield Founder of Masterworks. “This has now changed and we are in the throes of doing a joint effort to benefit both organisations.”In addition to the McLaughlin, images at auction include Andre Bieler’s 1922 ‘Front Street’, Thomas Driver’s 1821 ‘St George’s’, Frederic James’ 1938 ‘Heyl’s Corner’, and ‘Dinghy Race’ by an unknown artist.Only five reproductions of each painting will be sold. The first three unframed prints of each painting will be offered to the public via an online silent auction bidding process. The remaining two reproductions, which will be framed, will be offered in a silent auction at the Art in Sailing celebration.“Some of these works reveal a life of the Bermudian mosaic now long gone,” said Mr Butterfield. “When McLaughlin painted Sun Fish, one could see colourful sails dotting Bermuda’s harbour, and a sunfish regatta was a must for all sailors. Thomas Driver’s view of St George’s is one of the Island’s earliest known oil paintings and shows life in a very busy St George’s Harbour.”Mr Butterfield said he himself sailed through the 1960s and the sailing subject matter had a real sense of nostalgia for him.“I don’t know a boom vang from a tiller,” he said, “however, when a sailor I literally lived on the water and was the classic water rat. One of my personal favourites is the one Andre Bieler painted in 1922 with the tall building in the background, the home to current day Calypso, that was formally Miles Market. What attracts me about this painting is not just the style but is the oarsman between roughly number 5 and 6 shed waiting to take a passenger across to the Paget shore.”The online auction is on now and will end on April 12 at 5.30pm. The culminating Art in Sailing celebration will be on April 19 at the Masterworks Museum at the Botanical Gardens from 5.30pm to 8.30pm and will include drinks and hors d’oeuvres and other silent auction prizes. There will also be an art contest for schoolchildren. To make a bid see: artinsailing.wordpress.com.