The catboat culture in the Cayman Islands is an important link between the past, present and future.

Captain Kem Jackson refers to them as waterborne pick-up trucks. Indeed, catboats were the utility vehicle of the past in the Cayman Islands. These venerable wooden vessels were vital to survival in the early days — before modern transportation and telecommunications arrived to this chain of three tiny, isolated islands. Catboats were used for harvesting sea turtles and fishing, hauling cargo, and as a means of transportation. They were an important link from district to district and a prime vehicle for facilitating trade, putting food on the table and earning a living. “It was used for absolutely everything in Cayman,” says Jackson, a master boat builder who grew up in Grand Cayman’s district of West Bay. “It really was a lifeline.”

Introduced here in the early 1900s, the catboat is an integral part of the history and development of the Cayman Islands. In their heyday, they were a common sight in George Town Harbour and were part of traditional races, such as the Easter Regatta. Catboats were used to unload cargo from passing ships — before modern container ships came into being — and to distribute produce and supplies throughout districts. At their peak, Jackson estimates there were at least 150 of these sailing vessels on the islands. But with the advent of the automobile and outboard motor, their numbers dwindled, leaving many to fade away in backyards across the islands.

New Life for the Catboat
Today, however, catboats are enjoying a revival thanks to the tireless efforts of Jackson and members of the Cayman Catboat Club. Jackson is vice-president of the 100-strong club, while Jerris Miller serves as its president. Miller, a North Side-native, learned to sail the craft from his uncle and passed on his passion for them to his own son. He credits Jackson with saving the catboat culture. “If it wasn’t for Kem, we wouldn’t have any catboats left,” he says. “They were left rotting in yards. They would all have been thrown away if not for him. And Kem was there in the days when they used to build them in their backyards — he is the link between the past and the present.”

At 74, Jackson is one of two remaining master boat builders on island. He has restored numerous catboats — often single-handedly — in his backyard workshop in West Bay, a painstaking process as most are found in dilapidated conditions. He also fashions detailed scale replicas. A few years ago, he created a six-foot model as part of a display that won a silver medal in the Chelsea Flower Show — one of the most prestigious flower shows in the world.

His most recent refurbishment is the 24-foot Whittaker Cat, built in 1962. Originally owned by Linton Whittaker, it was among the largest catboats in the Cayman Islands. During the course of its life, the Whittaker Cat had been altered to accommodate an outboard motor and clad in fibreglass. Jackson restored the boat to its former glory, and it’s now being used for educational programmes and in various races.

Funding for the project, which took six months to complete, came through a major donation from the Dart Foundation, a longtime sponsor of the Cayman Catboat Club. Miller says Dart’s grant of $175,000 is a significant step towards bringing the history and heritage of the catboat alive again. It will help their efforts to educate upcoming generations, as well as visitors, about Cayman’s maritime heritage. “It’s a tremendous boost for the Catboat Club,” he says. “It’s going to help raise our profile, and we intend to grow each year.”

Along with the restoration of the historic Whittaker Cat, funds have been used for improvements and refurbishments to the Catboat Club’s waterfront clubhouse, located downtown next to the Lobster Pot restaurant at Whitehall Bay. The building was heavily damaged in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan, which also destroyed five of its fleet of 13 functioning catboats. Another one was sold and is on display at Guy Harvey’s in downtown. Jackson says the injection of funds from Dart — along with donations of materials from the business community — goes a long way in keeping these historic boats afloat, noting ongoing repairs and maintenance are costly.

Some of the funds have been earmarked for a series of catboat races that culminate in the Camana Bay National Catboat Championship each November. The first Remembrance Day race took place last year, where Miller and his crew, Ken Hydes and John Bodden, captured first place with the Whittaker Cat. Jackson and his son, Joey, a Cayman Airways pilot, won the coveted national championship trophy after racking up the highest number of points throughout the year.

Catboat Central 
The two-story historic clubhouse is the hub of catboat activities. Built over a century ago, it‘s home to a workshop, office and meeting room, as well as a catboat museum featuring maritime memorabilia and artefacts. They’ve preserved as much of the old structure as possible, including its wattle-and-daub finish. More than just a repository of archaic objects, the club will be offering sailing lessons and catboat excursions later this summer, giving visitors and residents a first-hand experience of sailing in these boats.

“They’re wonderful boats,” says Jackson, whose grandfather taught him how to sail the vessel. “You really can’t improve on them — people have tried. They’re unsinkable.” What sets the catboat apart from other small craft is that the mast is always at the front, not in the middle. It has a rounded bottom and a shallow draft. Crafted worldwide, each area has its own particular type of catboat as they were built to suit local conditions, mainly for offshore fishing.

In Cayman’s early days, the harvest of sea turtles — called turtling — to supply passing sailing ships was the first major economic activity on the islands. At the time, schooners would carry a number of dugout canoes for turtling expeditions, but the catboat proved to be a far superior vessel as it was easier to manoeuvre and could carry heavier loads. Its smaller size meant that more boats would fit onto the schooner, increasing everyone’s profits. “It could carry turtles that were 300 or 400 pounds,” says Jackson. “It could carry a lot of cargo; and the more weight the better, because that would stabilise it.”

The first known Cayman catboat was built in 1904 by Daniel Jervis of Cayman Brac, who disliked the long, narrow dugouts as they were relatively unstable and difficult to turn about quickly. He wanted a short, wide, stable boat that was easy to manoeuvre. Jervis took a month to craft a boat that featured a shallow keel, a pointed stern and bow, and a single sail. His design soon caught on as other seamen throughout the islands became skilled at constructing catboats.

The boats were initially made from wood growing on the islands. Plopnut was commonly used for the ribs, a favourite because its branches grew with a lot of curves, while mahogany was used for the planking. Eventually, as the demand for catboats continued to grow, cypress and cedar were imported from Mobile, Alabama, for the planking. The boats were typically painted blue to minimise glare from the sun and to camouflage the vessel while hunting sea turtles. Because they used wood and raw materials found on the islands, each boat was unique — there was no standard size.

Bringing the Past to the Future
Crafting these working boats from local materials was challenging and became a form of artistic expression. Members of the Catboat Club want to pass on that tradition to the younger generation and revive the boat-building industry in Cayman. Fortunately, the transition is already in the works. Two students, Miller’s son, N.J. Miller, and Tom Sargison, are learning boat building and wooden boat restoration in Rhode Island and England, respectively. Both will return to Cayman after completing their two-year courses this year, and will begin building traditional Cayman catboats once again. Their efforts should help replenish the fleet that was lost due to Hurricane Ivan, as well as jump-start a once-thriving boat-building industry in Cayman.

“We really hope to get the manufacturing of catboats up and going. Wooden boats are still very popular around the world. There is definitely a market for them,” says Miller. “We have to get new blood into this. The catboat is part of our history and our culture. We need to keep it alive.”

Jackson and other volunteers at the club have worked tirelessly over the years to do just that by promoting catboats at every turn. He makes sure the catboat is front-and-centre at Cayman’s numerous festivals and cultural events, with volunteers taking people out to experience the boat in its element. Jackson spreads the word about catboats to hundreds of school children through field trips, summer camps and school visits, and says it’s rewarding to see their response. “They are really interested, which is encouraging for us. It’s so nice to see that. It makes all the work worthwhile.” His efforts have not gone unnoticed, as Jackson was honoured as a Member of the Order of the British Empire by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to preserving the Caymanian culture and environment.

Miller has fond memories of fishing and learning to sail the traditional vessel while growing up. He says the catboat is a symbol of the islands’ early years and a living link to the past. He wants to keep that history afloat for generations to come. “It gives an understanding of just how far we’ve come in a short period of time,” says Miller, referring to Cayman’s rapid transformation from mainly subsistence farming, fishing, turtling and thatch-rope making, to a world-class international finance and tourism destination.

“The catboat represents the old Cayman — and it’s quite a contrast from today’s Cayman. It is an example of being self-sustaining and making do with what you have on hand. It’s an amazing piece of history. It’s important to pass that on.”

Source: caymanairwaysmagazine.com

Iconic Cuban fish restaurant and cocktail bar El Floridita, famed for its daiquiris and known as Ernest Hemingway’s favourite hangout in Havana, marked its 195th anniversary Friday, manoramaonline.com reports.
Located in Old Havana on the corner of Obispo and Monserrate streets, El Floridita bills itself as the “cradle of the daiquiri”, a cocktail consisting of white rum, lime juice and shaved ice that hundreds of tourists sample every day during their visit to one of this capital’s must-see attractions.
“Floridita is more than a bar,” manager Andres Arencibia told EFE Friday, recalling that the establishment opened its doors in 1817 with the name La Pina de Plata and has served numerous celebrities and dignitaries from the worlds of politics, literature, art, music and cinema over its 195-year history.
Hollywood stars Errol Flynn, Ava Gardner and Gary Cooper were among the illustrious customers of the establishment, which in 1953 was named one of the world’s seven most famous bars and in 1992 received the American Academy of Restaurant & Hospitality Sciences’ Best of the Best Five Star Diamond award for its daiquiris and seafood.
But the figure most associated with El Floridita undoubtedly was Hemingway, who stopped by the bar nearly every day during his long stays in Cuba over a 20-year period.
One of El Floridita’s best-loved frozen daiquiris, the “Papa Hemingway”, is named after the 1954 Nobel literature laureate. Served without sugar, it contains grapefruit juice, maraschino liqueur, lime juice and a double portion of rum.
“My daiquiri in El Floridita,” the famed American author (1899-1961) was fond of saying. His presence can still be felt thanks to a life-sized bronze statue at the wall-end of the bar that provides a popular photo opportunity for tourists.

Source: http://repeatingislands.com/

The Cayman Islands and wedding bliss — a match made in heaven. For those planning to step into the beginning of a happily ever after, the Islands offer a fairy tale setting to say “I do.” With scenic sunsets, postcard-perfect blue waters, sugary white-sand beaches and swaying palms, the backdrop alone is spectacular for staging a dream wedding.

But there’s more than just the idyllic tropical setting that draws hundreds of couples to these shores every year to exchange promises in paradise. This British Overseas Territory is safe, clean, English-speaking yet multicultural (Cayman has a large ex-patriot community, home to more than 100 different nationalities), enjoys a high standard of living and offers a cosmopolitan feel. It is easily accessible from many major cities in North America and the level of sophisticated services and diverse venues — spanning from luxury resorts and private villas to casual-chic-on-the-beach ceremonies — is second to none.

Cayman is known for weddings of style and distinction, bolstered by its lengthy list of convenient world-class services. It’s home to many experienced wedding planners, high-end restaurants and caterers, award-winning photographers, top-flight hair and beauty experts, musicians, florists, and a diverse range of accommodations that make staging an island wedding a breeze. Whether it’s a glamorous, upscale affair or a simple, intimate toes-in-the-sand celebration, every style, size and budget of wedding is available. In short, when it comes to weddings, service shines in the Cayman Islands.

Noted wedding professional Rebecca Grinnals, founder and president of the U.S.-based wedding consulting firm Engaging Concepts, has travelled extensively and says Cayman’s high-end custom services put it at the top of her list for destination weddings in the Caribbean. “In my view, there is no other Caribbean destination that has the level of top-quality service providers and on-island talent to support weddings,” she says. “I rank Cayman No. 1.”

That’s high praise given the competitive nature of the market, which has not only weathered the economic storm of recent years, but actually grown in popularity during the same time. While the overall number of weddings has declined, the destination wedding market has enjoyed 20 per cent growth since 2008, according to The Knot‘s 2010 Market Intelligence Survey of 19,000 brides and grooms. Around 15 per cent of U.S. couples plan a destination wedding, with the average number of guests about half that of a hometown wedding (around 70 compared to 141).

Brides magazine’s 2011 American Wedding Study shows couples spend an average of $26,501 on the wedding event (The Knot survey shows an average cost of $26,984), and the average length of stay is six days/nights for the couple, while guests stay three days/nights. Indeed, the wedding industry, both at-home and destination, is big business — estimated to generate some $40 billion-plus per year in the U.S. alone.

It’s been a boon to Cayman’s tourism sector, an economic engine that filters throughout the islands’ service and hospitality industries. Figures from the Cayman Islands General Registry show that, on average, more than 1,000 couples tie the knot in the Cayman Islands each year, with over 50 per cent participating in destination weddings. Last year, 547 visiting couples exchanged vows here, while 534 residents said “I do.” Those numbers have decreased slightly compared with 2009, but the outlook is promising for future growth.

Destination weddings are a growing global trend partly because they can often be more affordable for couples to host than holding one in their hometown, says wedding planner Rebecca Bateman-Green of Parfait Weddings, a boutique wedding planning venture in Cayman.

“For one (thing), the guest list is reduced quite significantly, and the backdrop is so beautiful you don’t have to spend as much to enhance the ceremony or reception on décor or floral,” she says. “And, you can have your wedding and honeymoon all in one.”

A smaller guest list usually brings the couple’s closest friends and family together, making it a more intimate, engaging affair. Guests can turn the event into a mini-vacation as the island offers a great range of outings and attractions — from the world-famous Stingray City, Cayman Turtle Farm and dolphin parks to snorkelling, diving and watersports — to keep guests entertained. Brunches, spa days, sunset sails and chartered boat trips are other favourite activities on the islands.

“More couples are opting to spread their weddings over the course of a few days in order to really enjoy and share the destination,” says Grinnals. “They are planning group excursions for their guests that include charter trips to Stingray City, golf outings, spa afternoons, beach volleyball tournaments and farewell Champagne brunches. Many are also getting creative and adding custom fireworks displays, ice bars and after-hours parties/lounges to continue the celebration into the wee hours.”

Best of all, destination weddings expose the Cayman Islands to first-time guests who may otherwise not have chosen to visit these shores. Any guest who comes to a destination wedding is a potential return visitor — perhaps even a lifetime vacationer. It adds significant economic spin-offs that impact a range of businesses, not just those in the wedding industry.

“People make a holiday of it,” says Meg Paterson of Octopus Event Management, which specialises in small destination weddings. “When you get a group down, they are usually here for three or four days, and some may stay for a week or two.”

Weddings are actively supported and promoted by the Department of Tourism, which offers a comprehensive guide and numerous testimonials on its website, caymanislands.ky. Online resources and social media such as Facebook and Twitter are playing an increasingly important role in wedding planning. “The Internet has made the world a much smaller place,” notes JoAnne Brown, CEO and creative director of Celebrations, a major player in Cayman’s wedding planning industry that specialises in destination and luxury weddings. “Couples can now do their research online, and even be in touch with all their wedding vendors via the Internet. Facilitating your dream wedding a thousand miles away from your chosen destination has become more feasible.”

Brown recommends using a professional wedding planner for destination weddings as it can take a good deal of pressure off the couple, making their big day relaxing and stress-free. It can also save money in the end, as professional planners are familiar with all the vendors and know where to get the best deals. “Wedding planning is stressful enough as it is, and a destination is doubly so,” says Brown. “Having an on-island wedding planner is a guarantee that someone is looking after your interests, and that you will have an expert on local laws, regulations and insightful recommendations.”

Brown says Cayman has a distinct competitive edge because of its world-class services. She notes that its thriving destination market is a “testament to the growing desire of couples wanting to run away and get married somewhere exotic, as well as couples who want to share a really memorable wedding experience with the people closest to them.”

While Cayman may not host the most weddings in the Caribbean, it has carved a niche in the luxury and, in particular, the custom wedding market, one of the biggest trends in the industry today. “Custom is the buzzword,” says Grinnals. “Cayman is known for customised, bespoke weddings that are designed specifically for each couple and their special guests.

Indeed, options abound when it comes to planning a dream destination wedding in the Cayman Islands. Transportation spans from luxury limousines to elegant horse-drawn carriages. Want privacy? Hop over to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac for a secluded, unspoiled backdrop, with all the amenities needed for the big day. Feeling adventurous? Couples can get married underwater, or aboard a replica of 17th-century galleon, the Jolly Roger. There are several heritage sites that offer spectacular settings, such as the castle-like Pedro St. James — a national historic site featuring a restored 18th-century great house set on seven acres of manicured grounds with striking views of the sea. Grand Old House is a former plantation home that has been transformed into an elegant fine-dining restaurant perched on the waterfront in scenic South Sound.

The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is another favourite wedding locale — a lush garden and woodland preserve that blooms year-round with exotic tropical flowers, plants and trees. Most hotels host weddings, while numerous condos, resorts and high-end restaurants along the famous Seven Mile Beach strip, as well as more secluded villas and guest houses in the outer districts, are also available to stage memorable weddings. Beach weddings, however, are the most popular as noted in the Brides survey.

In the end, the venue, size and type of celebration come down to the couple’s unique style. “Every wedding is different,” says Paterson. “There are so many choices — it can be whatever you want it to be.”

Remove some of the stress of wedding planning and visit caymanairways.com/weddings and caymanairways.com/honeymoons for specially tailored wedding and honeymoon travel packages.

Source: caymanairwaysmagazine.com