The Boats & Boatbuilders of Carriacou
with Jeff Dworsky
Monday, February 22, 2021 – 1900 GMT/UTC
Photographer, lobsterman, and serious boat guy Jeff Dworsky will be taking us to Carriacou where he’s been hanging out in the winter for a couple decades — fishing, sailing and boatbuilding with the locals. He’ll never be a local of course, but they do call him “Cousin Jeff.” Q&A to follow.
Thanks for the wonderful insights to that world. I loved the hull painting by tipping it over 🙂
Several years ago had the opportunity to sail on a Carriacou Sloop while on vacation. A phenomenal day>
Gene
Jeff, Bruce (Smith) and I just watched your presentation. Great photos and a nice time travel. One year ago today, we took the bus to Dave’s house- so I could witness my first big-boat launch in Carriacou. Reality II slid right in- with a bit of help from a yellow machine. Hundreds of people clumped together- and then the pandemic hit… Hope we see you in Windward next winter. Our first winter home in the PNW in 15 years!
Jeff, great job on the presentation and a great adventure for you for sure. We met along time ago out on York Island when cruising Briar Patch along side Madrigal with Swifty and Doris…I noticed you had one of his shirts on for this tour, made me smile. Thought I had the only one left.
Still cruising those waters but haven’t been in since, you know it is pretty shallow and tricky at the entrance. Again ,great job and very interesting, sort of like the boat building in the family islands Bahamas, where they cut and lengthen, to suit their needs.
Two fingers can zoom in on iPad
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing the story of Carriacou and its boat builders. I didn’t know the island existed until this account, and I appreciate Jeff’s thoughts on keeping the boatbuilding traditions alive.
Brought back lots of fond memories from when I was 17 and an exchange student, in Caracas, Venezuela. I was already a sailor and loved wooden boats. My parents back in California, then had an H28 ketch, built of teak and mahogany, built in the same yard as the one in this show now. It was 1969, the Summer of Woodstock. I was 17, and only found out when I got there, that new my exchange “Father” was the “Comodore” of the Venezuela Olympic sailing team, and raced Dragon Class wooden boats, still in the Japan Olympics! So before it was over I got repeated invitations to crew aboard various boats at he yacht club, out to the spectacular offshore islands of Los Roches, and others near Cumana and almost to Trindad! In those days I saw lots of sailing conch fishing boats, built similarly to what you showed us here today. I even got to go aboard on one, a power trawler for an 8 day cruise; sleeping on deck in their beautiful, traditional, hand woven hammocks, hung from the rigging. I saw several 24-30 foot conch smacks then for sale for $500 to $800 dollars! When I was finishing high school and college back in the states, in the early 70’s , kept on fantasizing about saving enough money to go back down there, buy one of those smacks, and cruise it again down there, some of the Caribbean and maybe up the Orinoco, which I also was so lucky to be able to explore a it in a dugout whenI was there at 17. Long story that, nearly died of cholera, and had to be air evacuated from an Indian village, where I was cared for, tll that could be arranged. Another amazing experience for a 17 yr. old. I certainly wasn’t the same kid when I returned to my high school for my senior year in neat and tidy Southern California. Changed me for life!
Kirk Gresham
Good to see you there Jeff. Remembering sailing with you in the ERR. Thad
was years ago, I think (if memory serves) he said he hand-built about a 55 footer – ketch maybe- in South Africa and sailed it to Carriacou – I have two pictures of his shop – cheers
Thank you!
Can you talk about environmental impacts of the boatbuilding styles and techniques, and how that may change going forward?
Do they build boats differently on other islands, e.g. a equip?
I think his first name was Dave
yes he was an Englishman
I have two pics of these boats I could send, not sure how.
Did someone ask about sail being reefed from leech? I agree, that’s what it looks like.
There was a guy who made beautiful fiberglass dingy’s – in Turell Bay. Is he still there?
2:08 and the event hasn’t started yet. Are we the only ones? Not sure if we are logged on properly.
It should be live now…try refreshing the page!
You are not alone.
If you have a question for Jeff post it in a comment and we will ask him at the end!
No sound.
Try clicking unmute or the blue bars on the lower right of the screen.
Really interesting place to visit. I saw a boat being built there a couple of years ago. Pretty amazing.