A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN HERMAN ROSS---

Captain Rice,

I hope all is going well in Chicago and you are warm and cozy.

I wrote to you a while back but do not remember getting a response, so here I am again.

I spent about 35 years in the Caribbean researching maritime sailing cultures and establishing three heritage preservation organisations. I am a native of San Francisco and have been sailing for 46 years this July.

I was one of four bloods on the Bay in sailing vessels when I started and just before I left for the Caribbean I established an institute specifically created for 'urban youth' or gangs from the neighbourhoods I grew up in. I was in a couple of them back in the day and was/ am regretting our not putting the most stressed out of the populations into the most relaxing recreation there is, sailing.

My last long distance voyage, counting over a 1000 miles as long distance, was single-handed from San Francisco to Panama, with crew through the Canal and to Columbia (where I met with three other American bloods on their boats), then with crew to the Cayman Islands.

From there as a part of the same research project voyage (ISIS Invisible Sailors Invisible Ships) I again went single-handed to the Bay Islands, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, up to Mexico. I shipwrecked after 9,000 and another 450 miles to the end of the trip due to a hurricane while anchored in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

I presently live in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England aboard our 60' Dutch sailing Tjalk with my wife, Katya and son, Samson. I have done two projects under the title Mariner Griot inwhich we put South London 'urban youth' aboard traditional sailing vessels after giving them a two-hour presentation on the history and heritage of African and African Descendant mariners (meaning builders and sailors).

I was looking for a way to join your organisation but could not find one on the website. I am also offering any assistance I can give regarding our heritage in the development of sailing.

Respect and glad you are there doing what you are doing.

From Across the Pond...

Captain Ross at Club Nautico

...the Aenna underway...

Enter Text“arrrr..shiver me 'timbers...look ott the wind in them-there sails!!! ..ayeee and a many of them there arrre!!”

Racinng in the Bahamas

Just finished this series of tales about the every day people during Baby Doc’s reign, who adventured out of this iconic gingerbread structure that kept the secrets of so many famous people. The Oloffson was destroyed by a battle between the police and gangs last July. ——— H.E. Ross