Times of the Islands Spring 2021
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, real estate, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, real estate, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
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astrolabe newsletter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Turks & Caicos National Museum<br />
This historic photo shows <strong>the</strong> last sloop built by Hedley Forbes. Note <strong>the</strong> sharp point <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bow.<br />
Before continuing we decided a to get a historical<br />
perspective on <strong>the</strong> Caicos sloops by interviewing David<br />
Douglas from <strong>the</strong> Turks & Caicos Sailing Association.<br />
David is involved in <strong>the</strong> Caicos Sloop Heritage Project,<br />
whose mission is revitalizing <strong>the</strong> building <strong>of</strong> Caicos<br />
sloops through “One Design,” a method that allows<br />
<strong>the</strong> boats to be built and raced on a regular basis. He<br />
described how historically, <strong>the</strong> local sloops were <strong>the</strong><br />
lifeblood <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>. Small boats were used to fish,<br />
and catch conch and o<strong>the</strong>r seafood, while larger vessels<br />
were used to trade those products mostly with Hispaniola<br />
(Haiti and <strong>the</strong> Dominican Republic). They were also used<br />
to carry cargo around <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> (similar to trucks today),<br />
as ambulances to move <strong>the</strong> sick, and as “water taxis” to<br />
move passengers from island to island.<br />
David provided us with background on <strong>the</strong> differences<br />
between <strong>the</strong> Caicos and Bahamian sloops. The<br />
Caicos sloops were more wea<strong>the</strong>rly, designed to travel<br />
fur<strong>the</strong>r distances than <strong>the</strong>ir counterparts in The Bahamas.<br />
Also, <strong>the</strong> Caicos sloops were created as work vessels,<br />
especially on Grand Turk and Salt Cay, to move salt from<br />
<strong>the</strong> islands to <strong>the</strong> larger vessels anchored <strong>of</strong>fshore.<br />
Next, we went back to Middle Caicos to interview<br />
Hedley Forbes, <strong>the</strong> last <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> senior boat builders living<br />
on Middle Caicos. Hedley is Brodie’s fa<strong>the</strong>r. We met<br />
Hedley at his home in Bambarra. (Of note, Hedley was<br />
involved in <strong>the</strong> Caribbean Research Foundation’s project<br />
to document traditional boat building in 1984 on Grand<br />
Turk. More details <strong>of</strong> this project can be found on <strong>the</strong><br />
Turks & Caicos National Museum’s website.)<br />
Although considered one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> foremost boat buildings<br />
in <strong>the</strong> Turks & Caicos, Hedley does not identify as a<br />
boat builder, but as a carpenter. Both skills he learnt from<br />
his grandfa<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
Hedley described how <strong>the</strong> skills he developed building<br />
boats informed his carpentry skills and vice versa.<br />
For example, he learnt that a sharp-hulled boat moves<br />
through <strong>the</strong> wind and waves <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ocean easier than one<br />
with a wider hull. He took this design element and incorporated<br />
it in <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> his ro<strong>of</strong>, which he states<br />
has received very little damage through <strong>the</strong> various hurricanes<br />
that have impacted <strong>the</strong> country.<br />
Our next stop was Blue Hills, Providenciales to meet<br />
with <strong>the</strong> Deans, a prominent boat building family <strong>of</strong><br />
Bermudian descent. First, we interviewed James Dean Sr.,<br />
<strong>the</strong> patriarch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family. James notes that his grandfa<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
fa<strong>the</strong>r, uncles and bro<strong>the</strong>rs were all boat builders, a<br />
skill that has been passed down to his sons and nephews.<br />
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