The Sea Cloud left the port of Barbados last night and today we spent the first full day of our journey under sail in Caribbean waters. Our intrepid crew climbed to the yard arms to release the sails of our magnificent square-rigger. Under wind power, we silently cruised like sailors have traditionally done for centuries.
We enjoyed a relaxed day of sailing the Caribbean in one of the few existing hand rigged four-mast barques—and one of the most majestic ships in the world. Our chief mate guided us through the complex process of sailing the Trade Winds as we cruised between the islands of St. Lucia and Martinique. Following the introduction of our expedition staff, we had an overview of basic photographic techniques, which will come handy throughout the trip. Innumerable symmetric shapes and beautiful patterns can be found aboard this floating museum.
As we sailed, we admired a very unusual island. Diamond Rock is located on the southern coast of Martinique. This is a unique basalt volcanic rock about 571 feet in height. The volcano that formed it has eroded away leaving the basaltic plug behind.
In 1803, Commodore Hood surprised the French and took the rock for the British. His men carried two 18-pound (the weight of steel shot) cannons and built a garrison on the top of the rock. The 120 enlisted men slept in the caves of the rock and the two lieutenants slept on the top of the rock. This rock was commissioned in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy as HMS Diamond Rock (as if the rock was a vessel). Since the British had command of this geographic landmark, the French could not get into Fort de France. Napoleon commissioned the renowned Captain Villeneuve to liberate the rock and, between May 16 and 29, Villeneuve blockaded the rock. On May 31, he assaulted the island and took it from the British. The funny part: When the British lost the island, the English repatriated the commander of the rock and tried him in a London court for having lost his "ship.” Fortunately reason prevailed, and he was found "not guilty."
We enjoyed a pleasant afternoon at sea, with our ship's historian, Tom Heffernan, giving a wonderful talk called, "Trinkets, Sugar and Slaves." As we sailed through the Caribbean islands, we felt privileged to be a part of a new chapter of their history.
