Young Caymanian urges others to make boats
The boat which Orneil Galbraith designed for Pirates' Week.
A young Caymanian who redesigned a small boat for the recent Pirates Week Landing Pageant wants to see more youngsters involved in that kind of activity.
Orneil Galbraith, who did the boat in his spare time, re-designed an existing hull to create a small version of a square-rigger and used it during the pageant in Hog Sty Bay in October.
The tiny, colourful boat with three passengers on board maneouvered around the larger vessels, adding to the excitement on the water.
Orneil Galbraith
Mr. Galbraith, who had previously built a 14-ft boat out of plywood in 1999, went one step further this year, building a square-rigger design on top of a 20-foot hull loaned to him by Tim Austin.
He did the work in his back yard with help from his aunt and uncle, Bert and Rose Ebanks, his mother Anita Ebanks and his brother Leon.
The captain of the Jolly Roger, Claude "Charger" Bentick, helped him with the rigging.
"I went to Mr. Fisher the owner of Myrtle's Restaurant and all I had was a sketch of the boat on a paper napkin but he agreed to pay for the materials I used," said Mr. Galbraith.
The young sailor who works for Kirk's Sea Tours launched the boat three days before the Landing Pageant and went for a sail but the engine died and he was towed in by passing fishermen.
Ladner Walter, who had helped him launch the boat, then came to the rescue and provided Mr. Galbraith with a working 3hp engine which he used to motor around during the Landing.
His plans for next year include a second boat and he will use the two vessels in an invasion scenario.
He feels Cayman needs a competition to get the youth of the islands to come out and make boats other than catboats.
"That's our tradition, making boats, now all our young people are landlubbers," said Mr. Galbraith.
"It won't be easy but it will be nice if we get only two more. The guys in the East End did such a good job on their float they could do a boat.
"Maybe each district could come up with a boat. That would be great."
Landing Pageant Chairman Colin Wilson said Mr. Galbraith's enthusiasm was infectious.
"He came to every meeting, was always smiling and fired up," said Mr. Wilson. "It was great to have him involved, I just wish we had two more like him."