The Schooner Juana Mercedes
According to official government reports, the subject of piracy and multiple murders on the high seas as depicted in CAYMAN CROSS was described: "Cuban motor-schooner Juana Mercedes of 36 tons owned by Barbeite & Cia of Batabano, Cuba was built in 1917 in Cienfuegos. She cleared Cienfuegos for Tunas-de-Zaza Oct 30th with general cargo, rice, beans, dry biscuits, potatoes, gasoline, dry beef, salt fish, lard, machetes, empty sugar bags, and 30 railroad ties & 50 pkts of provisions for Ramon Fernandez, Tunas-de-Zaza." I have attempted faithfully to describe her in CAYMAN CROSS based on the Caribbean sailing workhorse of the early twentieth century.
Jack Scott
Jack Scott
Beauty and Grace
"Plying the Bay amongst the small sails of the fishing fleet, her tall masts and huge white sails, her velas were full of wind and the water of the blue Bay broke in a frothing white stream at her bow."
Sailing Workhorse
"She was owned by Barbiete & Cia Shippers of Batabano, and sailed under the command of Capt. Juan Bautista y Silviera who, at 41 years of age, was a Master of all Oceans under Sail."
"The day was spent moving crate after crate of goods into the hold, lifting freight from the wharf with the main boom and topping lift rigged with the main sheet block and tackle as a cargo hoist and swinging it around to lower into the hold."
"The day was spent moving crate after crate of goods into the hold, lifting freight from the wharf with the main boom and topping lift rigged with the main sheet block and tackle as a cargo hoist and swinging it around to lower into the hold."
Adventurer
"As they approached Cienfuegos, he watched the myriad of green islands in the bay, and coral keys and promontories, and the bright scattering of shoreside cottages and villas that became more and more frequent as they approached the great port city."
Design Wonder
"Her minimum drag underwater was accented by her sudden rise in body to her wineglass transom, and her wide beam allowed her to carry huge sails on her masts in a fair wind for speed. Under sail, her grace and beauty were unsurpassed on the south coast of Cuba."
Below: Schooner Vigilant entering Gallows Bay
Cristiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Cristiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
