A national celebration of our culture, history, and community as we celebrate our seafaring heritage!
The Cayman Islands Government has designated 2021 as the year of Celebrating Our Seafaring Heritage.
It's a celebration!
To mark this occasion, there is a year-long calendar of initiatives focused on discovering the Cayman Islands’ seafaring history; engendering national pride in our seafaring heritage; honouring our seafarers and contributors to seafaring; engaging, educating, and inspiring youth; celebrating our diversity and encouraging connection; and nurturing a spirit of a cultural community.
SEAFARING: THE FOUNDATION OF OUR ISLANDS
Seafaring is an integral part of the Cayman Islands history, identity, society, economy, and development.
For decades, thousands of Caymanians depended on the sea for their livelihood. Through their heroic efforts in boat building, ship building, shipping administration, turtling, and seafaring, these hardy and intrepid Caymanians built the foundation of our islands. We recognise the women who stayed home to ‘hold the fort’ and raised the families while their loved ones were far away as well as those rare few who ventured out to sea or were otherwise critical to the seafaring trade. Through challenging times and shifting tides, they all lifted an entire nation towards a better way of life.
ISLANDS ‘FOUNDED UPON THE SEAS’
The Cayman Islands is indeed “… founded upon the seas” and our motto reminds us of our heritage and our identity. From building sailing vessels at home to fishing out on the high seas hundreds of miles away, from piloting catboats while turtle ranging to sailing the world on merchant ships of all sizes and classes, our seafaring people became renowned worldwide for their skills with attributes of resilience, perseverance, an aptitude for hard work, independence, and a spirit of entrepreneurship that made us who we are today.
Celebration for all!
Throughout 2021, we will recognise the outstanding contributions made by our seafarers, highlight the inspiring stories of our seafaring heritage, and celebrate the industry that is firmly embedded in the history and culture of the Cayman Islands.
It is our hope that every person in the Cayman Islands will interact with the Celebrate Cayman initiatives in ways that are meaningful to them, and as a result feel a deeper and long lasting connection and appreciation for the Cayman Islands, our heritage, and our culture.