The Sailor:

Adding another dimension to Massey's knowledge of ships and the sea, Ray has built and restored 4 sailboats since he began sailing as a teenager. In 1976 he built a ferolite hull, Flicka design, 20 ft. ketch , Ariel, for extensive cruising on Lake Erie. In 1986 he purchased and rebuilt a 1970, 32' Mariner Ketch, the Dashing Wave, which he has cruised to the North Channel and has successfully raced on Lake Erie since 1989. Ray is currently a member of the Buffalo Harbor Sailing Club and races in the Wednesday night race series as well as many summer regattas. In 1996 Ray was chosen as the Buffalo Harbor Sailing Club's recipient of the US Sailing Sportsmanship Award, and in 1999 he was awarded the Jim Rhoads Corinthian Yachtsman Award while participating in the 5 day Lake Erie Interclub Cruise/Race. Ray is greatly honored by both of these awards given to him by his racing peers.

Awards, Exhibitions and Artistic Achievements:

As a member of the Nautical Research Guild , a Fellow in the American Society of Marine Artists and an Artist Member since its inception in 1978, Massey’s work has been shown in: the Peabody Museum in Salem, MA ; the Grand Central Gallery in NYC; the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News; the Fry Museum in Seattle ; the Cummer Museum in Florida; Maine Maritime; Mystic Seaport; Newport Art Museum, RI; the Connecticut River Museum , and the San Diego Maritime Museum aboard the Star of India where 30,000 people attended an exhibition of his American China Trade paintings. Currently Massey's maritime art is being exhibited in the 13th National Exhibition for The American Society of Marine Artists at the Vero Beach Art Museum in Vero Beach , Florida.

His painting , “Hide and Seek,” of the mighty humpback whales in Glacier Bay, was purchased by the National Park Service for its permanent collection. One of his Pacific Explorer images, “The Pride of Hawaii” can be found at the National Museum of American History in the Smithsonian Institute . Eight of his US Navy paintings, drawings and prints are in the US. Naval Museum and Beverly Robinson Collection in Annapolis, MD..

Publications: The Artist's Magazine,1995; Nautical Quarterly,1987; Sea History, 1990; The Sandwich Island Quarterly,1990 , 1992; Aloha Magazine, 1997; American Artist, 2001; the History Channel, Perpetual Motions Films, The Great Clipper Ships and 'Paniolo O Hawaii,' Cowboys of the Far West.

Books: Kamehameha II : Liholiho and the Impact of Change by Robin Yoko Racoma; Mad Jack Percical, Legend of the Old Navy by James Ellis ; Captain Cook Encyclopaedia by John Robson.

NEWS: As an artist Massey believes in supporting the community in which he lives. In the spring of 2005 he will be the first artist to be honored as "Feature Artist" in the first fund raising art auction for Buffalo's local Chapter for Multiple Sclerosis. Massey is donating an edition of prints of " Heading West" to participants in this auction. His limited edition prints have been donated for several years as prizes in Buffalo's Annual MS Sailing Regatta.