I recall quite clearly the day the M.V.Admiral arrived, Mac and I were standing on the porch with Bluesy and watched as it rounded Devil’s Table.
“Aw Jaysus Christ!” exclaimed Bluesy, “dat ship ain’t for dese waters!”
Bluesy, never one to hold back an opinion, felt that the Norwegian ship would never be a safe ferry; it had been designed for the fjords of Norway, not the Bequia Channel, and he predicted it would never last.
The ship, which would ultimately replace the Friendship Rose as the Island’s daily ferry to Kingstown, was owned by Mac’s first cousin Elvis Gooding along with a Norwegian partner. Elvis (yes, his second name IS Presley!) had decided that Bequia needed a vessel that could off-load vehicles from the mainland, and had gone out on a limb to purchase the M.V.Admiral. Heated discussions could be heard under the Almond tree as Bequians loyal to the Friendship Rose ranted against those using the services of the new ferry.
Bluesy never missed a ferry departure, it was part of his daily routine, and his mornings took on a whole new life now that there were two ferries! Both vessels departed at 6:30 A.M., and he watched carefully to see who boarded the Rose and who boarded the Admiral. He had a lot to say about those who chose the latter, and regaled anyone who would listen about the dire consequences of crossing the channel on such an unsafe ship. Mac pooh-poohed his father and his dismal predictions, he felt the Admiral was perfectly safe, and I got tired of hearing the two of them arguing about the vessel each and every day!
Bequia was changing fast. More and more people wanted to own a vehicle, and the Admiral made getting a car or motorbike to the Island much easier. Although the Rose and the Admiral docked at pretty much the same time, the Rose could be a pretty wet and wild ride, especially the early morning passage. Both vessels took care of any cargo, but the cardboard boxes placed on the Admiral never got wet, and no-one ever sat on someone else’s bananas. More and more Bequians were making the trek to “tung”, and in my opinion there was enough business to support two ferries. The fact that they left Bequia at the same time each day was a pity, I felt it would make more sense to have different arrival and departure schedules!
I rarely went to the main-land, I disliked the trip across the channel and ordered what I needed for the pizzeria by phone or fax. I always got queasy and grubby during the passage, and arrived back home feeling as though I had been put through a wringer-washer. The day arrived when I really DID have to make the trek to Kingstown, and my friend Bob Berlinghof, aware that I always got seasick, told me exactly what to do;
“There’s an air-conditioned lounge on the Admiral” he said, “it has cushioned benches and a T.V. Just take a pillow and lie down, you won’t feel the motion as much in that part of the ship.”
I took Bob’s suggestion to heart, and boarded the M.V. Admiral with a small pillow. Sure enough, there WAS a nice lounge with comfortable cushioned benches, and I settled in happily. The air-conditioning was welcome, although still early the day was already getting hot, and the T.V. would distract me if the crossing was rough. Tucking the pillow behind my head, I closed my eyes and hoped for the best.
At first the crossing wasn’t TOO bad, I could feel the motion but it didn’t make me queasy. However, fifteen minutes into the trip my stomach heaved, and I knew I had to get up on deck for some fresh air. So much for the lounge where I wouldn’t feel the motion, if I didn’t move quickly I would definitely be sick! Lurching up the steps and onto the deck, I was surprised and then embarrassed to see that the ferry was still tied to the wharf, Elvis was waiting for a late arrival and we hadn’t even left port!
The Friendship Rose continued to operate as a ferry, but the Adams brothers were aging along with the old schooner. It wasn’t long before the M.V. Admiral was renamed the M.V. Admiral 1 as Elvis expanded his fleet to include the M.V. Admiral 11. The Rose, I am happy to say, was eventually bought by Alan Whittaker and his wife Meg, and restored to her former glory. Captain Lewis remained at the helm until his retirement, sailing tourists to destinations such as the Tobago Cays and Mustique. To this day the Friendship Rose offers wonderful excursions, and watching her sail in and out of the harbour never fails to warm my heart.