Community

Cayman MaritimeFoundation celebrates its formation

Mr. Warren Conolly

The Cayman Maritime Heritage Foundation (CMHF) celebrated itsformation with a reception at Rackhams Pub last Thursday evening,which was well attended by quite a number of local celebrities.
Olympic Gold medallist Mike Barrowman's CPS Video recorded theevent. Attendees were from a wide cross section of all districtsof the Cayman Islands.
An ardent supporter for local marine research, Rollin Jacksonwas also present. He has been a mainstay in the formation ofthe Catboat renaissance, CMHF and spearheaded the efforts to obtaingovernment's lease agreement for the Whitehall Bay Office facility.
Cayman Marine Heritage President, Mr. Bob Soto, welcomed the crowdof over ninety with an account of George Town's maritime importanceand the significance of the launching of the CMHF at the Rackham'ssite and the opening of Whitehall as the organisation's administrativecentre.
"The cove at Rackham's was called Old House Bay", saidMr. Soto, referring to an old shed at the site that protectedseveral canoes and smaller Catboats. "It was also a goodfishing spot for spratts and goggleyes," he told the gathering.
Mrs. Valma Hew related what life was like for her grandfather'stwo and three-masted schooners. When she was a teenager. she livedon Serrano Bank Cay with her parents, and spent every chance shegot during her formative years, sailing in the schooners and overto Jamaica to sell gathered bird eggs.
Mrs. Hew was an avid Catboat sailor around Cayman Brac and theSerrano Bank Cay, teaching Cayman Catboat builder, Elford Dilbertto sail. She still sails the graceful craft today, whenever theopportunity arises.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Mr. Dick Arch, added hisendorsement to the occasion and appropriate location for the celebrationby describing the last vessel built at Whitehall Bay, Donna Hepsie,which was built by his father, the late Jim Arch in 1947.
"The vessel was careened, laid on its side and cut acrossthe middle to add twenty feet to her overall length. In the background,berthed and lit dramatically, was the visiting replication ofColumbus' Nina." The Nina's in Grand Cayman to promote maritimeheritage and Captain Wayne, Mate Jeff and sponsor, Captain LeslieEbanks are looking into the idea or sail training for Cayman youthaboard the caravel.
During the speeches, a CPS's Video presented a looped videotapeof sailing scenes which were projected from a 46in televisionprovided by Island Electronics. The tape showed scenes of theoriginal Bluenose in the 1939 film, Captains Courageous and CITN'sfile footage of Cayman Catboat races.
The surprise video was the 1937 video of the Goldfield, whichfeatured scenes from the Cayman Islands.
Mr. Warren Conolly, one of Cayman's most respected statesmen presentedthe keynote address with a story of his maritime past, beginningfrom his youth in Catboats and schooners to shipping out as aseaman and seeing the world. He concluded his address, saying:"Through an organisation such as this, if properly run, muchcould be done to instill in the youth of the Cayman Islands theold virtues of discipline, honesty and self-reliance."
Many applauded the 84-year old Mr. Warren at the end of his presentationwith a standing ovation and teary eyes.
Radio Cayman's Director of Broadcasting, Loxley Banks was introducednext, and he read from the Cayman Turtler's manuscript, whichinclude the turtling and sharking experiences of Capt. CarleyEbanks and Capt. Marvin Ebanks. The stories were detailed in accountsof these two rangers, that spent countless hours of their livesin the turtle banks during the heyday of the green sea turtleindustry.
An excerpt related by Loxley from Capt. Carley's accounts, read:"There are places that are proven, called setts, where you'dfind turtle sleeping. You learned of these from the old men."
From Captain Marvin, he told a story of a 31-day return from Serranillato Cayman, aboard the Amaranth: "We had no food. We had justabout used up all the food starting out because we were comingback. One cup of water in the morning, one midday, one in theafternoon. The only food you got was just a little piece of saltturtle."
Rackham's owner Mr. Handel Whittaker served guests to a traditionalCayman seafood fare, which was cooked in East. End and broughtin to complement the international food offered.
At the lot blocked parking lot were two displayed Cayman Catboats.Kem Jackson had fisherman's artifacts available for viewing inDavid Foster's Brac Cat. The large television was tastefully setup on Skinny LeeLee. Both Catboats were raced in Butterfield PerpetualCup Regatta.
Music for the evening was provided by Jonathan Jackson's R-Mystis,and traditional
Caymanian folk songs. Conversations, during the break ranged fromconstruction of the Goldfield to active advancement of culturaltourism in Cayman.
Mr. Dick Arch, assisted by H. E. Ross, announced presentationof awards to founding members. The awards were vintage nauticalphotographs, purchased from the Cayman Islands National Archiveand digitally enhanced by Cayman Camera. H.E. Ross made the presentationswith Dick Arch handing the photos.
Charter members of the Cayman Marine Heritage Foundation are:
Tim Adam
Ruth & Ronnie Anglin
Dick Arch
Tim Austin
Heber Arch
Arthur Arch
Loxley Banks
Leslie & Don Bigelman
Claricy Bodden
Hubert Bodden
Naul Bodden
Truman Bodden
Jay Bodden
Roland Bodden
Atlee Bodden
Theo Bullmore
Simon Boxall
Vandyke Bush
Phil Bush
Mark Clark
Bertram Connolly
Burns Connolly
Walsham Connolly
Warren Conolly
Trevor Davies
Adrian Briggs
Wenzil Burlington
Rex Crighton
Elford Dilbert
Anita Ebanks
Captain Asley Ebanks
Benson Ebanks
Captain Bryan Ebanks
Carley Ebanks
Carson Ebanks
Captain Chuckie Ebanks
Captain Crosby Ebanks
Captain Dalson Ebanks
Eugene Ebanks
Leonard Ebanks
Captain Marvin Ebanks
Vernell Ebanks
Atlee Evans
Berkely Foster
David Foster
Steve Foster
Valma & Lennie Hew
Tim Hubbel
Peter Isbell
George Jackson
Joey Jackson
Jonathan Jackson
Kem Jackson, Vice President
Rollin Jackson
Nick Joseph
Barton Kirkconnell
Capt. Charles Kirkconnell
Capt. Eldon Kirkconnell
Gerald Kirkconnell
Steve McField
Arden McLean
Donald McLean
Jerris Miller
Mary & Capt. Ned Miller
Rex Miller
Conor O'Dea
Andrew Reid
Craig Nixon
Mark Orr
Leaton Parsons
Oswell Rankin
Tim Ridley
Raglan Roper
H.E. Ross
Kenny Ryan
Terry Scheel
Desmond Seales
Marybeth Seher
George Seymour
Hon. Anthony Smellie
A.C. Smith
Peggy Stevens
Bob Soto, President
Norberg Thompson
Wilbur Thompson
Victor Thompson
Commissioner of Police David Thursfield and
Mrs. Thursfield
James Tibbetts
Hon. Kurt Tibbetts
Linton Tibbetts
Richard Vernon
Ira Walton
Brainard Watler
Joan Wilson
The Cayman Maritime Heritage Foundation will hold a general meeting,open to the public for both membership and ideas, tentativelyon 21 April. More information on the meeting will be announced.
For further information, contactH.E. Ross on 949 0944