Community
Art and Cayman Catboats
HE Ross
Last Saturday (27th January) saw 1500 peopleappreciating the artistic talent and skill on display on the Governor'slawn at the 'art at governor's_house.2001'.
The level of quality and the amount of work was almost shockingto the senses in its formidableness. This the second event ofits type, was the result of Mrs. Suzanne Smith's efforts and theCayman National Gallery planning and co-ordination.
This year, Leslie Bigelman responded to the growing popularityof the maritime cultural movement by inviting the Cayman CatboatClub to give free Catboat rides off the beach. The tie-in of culture,sport and art became apparent as the Catboats' arcing sails notonly passed along the Seven-Mile Beach horizon but were the subjectmatter of many a craftsmen and artists.
The Catboat Club had three boats on the beach and used two totake the public for a quick introductory ten-to-fifteen minutesail. Kem Jackson, Wenzil Burlington, Paul Lawrence, Carson Ebanks,Bob Soto and Kenneth Ebanks skippered and crewed the Catboats.
Catboat Club members Suzie Soto, Nick Joseph and Mike Joseph organisedthe Catboat lines from a beach tent, where Catboat Calendars andT-shirts were offered for sale.
Captain Chuckie Ebanks and Peggy Stevens displayed a Catboat artifacttable set up at the entrance to the Art Show. The artifacts wereKem Jackson's collection of things Catboat sailors carry on aCatboat such as a water gourd, rubbing stone and knife, lobsterstriker, sea egg (urchin) box, water glass. The items were labeledwith an explanation of their uses.
There was a constant stream of people to take their turn on theCatboats at the start of the event, but the crowd eventually overwhelmedthe two vessels, with children's classes coming from as far awayas Red Bay Primary to take a sail on a real Cayman Catboat.
The bigger children jostled for places aboard, with Club membersmethodically coming in, filling up, going out, turning around,coming in filling up.....
The new sailors all seemed contented with their sailing tours.Cayman Islands National Museum Director, Ms. Anita Ebanks, wasall smiles as she climbed off 'Brac Cat', which was skipperedby Carson Ebanks, "That was fun," she said. "Ihaven't been on a Catboat for a long time; a long time."
Skinny LeeLee's Paul Lawrence, the Catboat Club's Secretary, felt:"This makes you enthusiastic about what we are doing. Seeingthose kids' smiles, and their eyes getting bigger when the boatheels a bit, makes it worth it all."
The rationale behind the sailings was to give first-hand experienceto as many people as possible. It was estimated that approximately130 people took the Catboat excursion between 1:00pm and 4:30pm.
"I think what we should do..." Kem Jackson was talkingto Bob Soto, "... is to have a race at the Public Beach,and get some of these cooks to make fish teas, conch fritters,turtle stew, Caymanian dishes, and have a party. The race wouldbe without a cash prize, just for the fun of it."
The next race on the Cayman Catboat Club schedule will be offKaibo on the 28th February. It will be a two-race program, thefirst of which will be from Safehaven to Kaibo. The second racewould be within the Cayman Islands Sailing Club's race schedule.
The Cayman Catboats will race in their own class. Catboat rideswill be offered during the Kaibo Mardi Gras celebration.