Tortola Sloops Did you know that the true origins for the design of the Tortola Sloop are a mystery? According to Professor Edwin Doran’s research, there are 5 distinctive features of a Tortola Sloop. ~ 1957 ⚓ First is the absence of a bowsprit. ⚓ Second is the shape of the mainsail. It was called […]
Maritime History ⚓︎
Remembering the RMS Rhone ~ 1867
Remembering the Rhone One of the most tragic hurricanes to ever befall the British Virgin Islands happened 151 years ago. The year was 1867. My great-great-grandfather was 9 years old. His name was Henry Osmond Creque. Six of his siblings along with his parents were huddled together for safety in a cramped, two-roomed cottage. It […]
Message in a Bottle Found on Virgin Gorda Beach! ~ 1833
Imagine walking along the beach and noticing an odd-shaped bottle still sealed and never opened! 🍾 Almost 200 years ago, a young boy discovered such a bottle on a beach in Virgin Gorda. Young James McDonough must have been thrilled by his discovery when he realized the mysterious bottle had its contents intact. The Message Opening the bottle […]
The Beautiful Boston-Built Schooner, GITANA anchors in the Harbor ~ 1899
Schooner, Gitana Have a glimpse at one of the prettiest yachts to visit the Danish West Indies. 🔎 Gitana was a wooden-keeled schooner, designed and built by D.J. Lawlor of Boston in 1882. Her owner, William F. Weld was a Harvard Graduate and Commodore of the Eastern Yacht Club in Massassachussets. Cruising Through the West Indies Gitana sailed amongst […]
New Book Launched, Twice She Struck, The Story of RMS RHONE
New Book Launching I recently attended a fascinating presentation on the launching of a new book about the fate of the RMS RHONE ~ 1867 Congratulations to Dr. Mitch Kent on a well researched and beautifully presented timeline of actual events that occurred before and after the Rhone’s demise off Salt Island. Spent the day […]
The Yacht, Diablesse Visits St. Thomas ~ 1914
#OnThisDay in 1914, one of my favorite authors sailed into Charlotte Amalie harbor. Captain Frederic A. Fenger, was an adventurous explorer with several Caribbean books to his credit. Books About the Virgin Islands One of my favorites was his 1926 novel, “The Cruise of Diablesse”. He also wrote Alone in the Caribbean which chronicled his […]
The Disappearance of the Fishing Sloop, KITE ~ 1901
Note: This image is a part of the Estus H. Magoon Collection, Item No. 1398. It is not an actual image of the Kite. It was used to share this story. The British sloop, Kite was a popular vessel sailing between the islands of Tortola and St. Thomas during the 1890s. Like so many island boats, it […]
Ever Wonder What St. Thomas Was Like One Hundred Years Ago? Take This Tour…
Take this tour past the coaling docks with a brief stop on Main Street and the Catholic Church to see for yourself. 🎥 SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave