Photo credit: ‘A Bermuda schooner yacht offshore’, oil on canvas by John Lynn, 1834. National Museum Bermuda. The Bermuda Rig, that innovative sail design that is still, some 400 years after it emerged on local waters, being used on the vast majority of recreational and racing sailboats around the world. But why did it develop here? What were the conditions so special to Bermuda that precipitated such an outstanding and lasting technical advancement? The answer, at least in part, can be…
Culture
The Consummate Bermudian
The Consummate Bermudian
The Bermuda Longtail: Life in Flight
"Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt; sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth." This sage advice is usually attributed to Mark Twain, the writer and humorist with a deep affection and connection to…
April 29, 2020
The Consummate Bermudian
The Bermuda Pilot Gig
Asked to name the vessel that anchors Bermuda’s maritime history most would, justifiably, point to the Sloop, however, the local Pilot Gig was another innovative and uniquely Bermudian craft that played a vital role in Bermuda’s history. While the Sloop…
April 24, 2020
The Consummate Bermudian
The Bermuda Kite
There are not many things that categorically identify as Bermudian. One of them is the Bermuda kite. While stringing together pine sticks and tissue paper is hardly unique to our shores, there is a craftsmanship, aesthetic and measure of success…
April 4, 2020
The Consummate Bermudian
Lobster Tales from Bermuda’s Outback
As remote as Bermuda is, our onshore environment is essentially suburban, with the wildlife consisting of birds, lizards and a bunch of feral cats and chickens. Almost nothing dangerous or exciting. Offshore is another story entirely, with our extensive coral…
January 28, 2020
The Consummate Bermudian
Loquats: The Good Fruit
There is a monument on the grounds of the Cabinet Office dedicated to the man who introduced the Loquat tree to Bermuda. Governor William Reid (1839-1846) left behind a number of significant achievements from his time here, including encouraging the…
January 17, 2020
