It was a beautiful day for the grand re-opening of the Cayman Islands Catboat Club clubhouse last Saturday (2).

Their clubhouse suffered terrible damage from Hurricane Ivan nearly 10 years ago and it sat there almost beside Burger King on North Church Street, George Town, looking a very sad site. I did wonder if it would ever be restored.

As Jerry Miller, Catboat Club president said, he had the materials (mainly from donations), just give him the money, and he will rebuild it.

No money was forthcoming for the labour until September 2012 when the Dart group of companies came forward with a cash grant and support package plus a sponsorship deal.

Flowers Block, A.L. Thompson’s Home Depot, Watler’s Metal Products, Cox Lumber and Kirk Home Centre all donated building materials.

And so, as the Isla Grant song says, “It was a Dream Come True”, and Saturday about 100 invited guests turned up to see the finished clubhouse looking glorious indeed.

The clubhouse has a museum that shows the history of the catboats, meeting rooms and space for a restaurant. There is also a garage where catboats can be repaired and perhaps even a new one?

Catboat member, Loxley Banks, gave some interesting and not so well known facts about catboats. They transported sick people and even dead bodies. They were the pickup truck for the Cayman Islands, he said.

The clubhouse building also shows the wattle and daub traditional building that was used over 100 years ago and in the middle of the building is an ironwood post also over 100 years old.

I mustn’t forget all the wonderful brunch that was laid on for us to eat, including codfish and ackee. There was food from the various districts as well as food from the nearby restaurant, “The Lobster Pot”.

Some of Cayman’s politicians were present, including Ezzard Miller, and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson.

Jerry Miller said, “We have to start building catboats.”

As Ivan destroyed all but 3 of the remaining catboats on our Islands and there are only 7 that are seaworthy today, he is right.

Catboats are very much a part of our country’s heritage. Thank you to all members of the Cayman Islands Catboat Club to keep it so.