In January 2011, Jon Glatstein was present at the sinking of the ex-USS Kittiwake, which became the Caribbean’s most exciting new tourist attraction.
One year later, the sailor who served on the boat during her operational life is returning for a talk at Cobalt Coast on Friday, 6 January at 6.30pm.
“I have been told that the people on the front lines of taking care of divers and snorkellers at the Kittiwake would like some insight into daily life,” he said.
Almost as important, Mr. Glatstein said, is entertaining guests topside with some good old fashioned sea stories.
“What I feel is more important than that is a good description of how the Kittiwake performed her primary mission of rescuing submariners from downed submarines with the four-point-moor and the McCane Rescue Chamber,” he said. “Outside of my Friday talk I am happy to talk about whatever comes up. I like to inform folks of little known side jobs of the Kittiwake. For example, at a time when hyperbaric chambers were not anywhere near as ubiquitous as they are today, the Kittiwake would be put on the list of available facilities everywhere she went.”
Mixed emotions
He said that he experienced mixed emotions on seeing the ship sunk in Cayman waters.
“It was saying goodbye to an old friend, but knowing that the friend was going to a better place to get a new start on a new life,” he said. “I was smiling with a tear in my eye. [But her new role as artificial reef and dive site] is a perfect fit. No matter what direction you analyse it from it is a winning proposition. I do not see any downside for anyone. More specifically to my own feelings, it is obviously better than being made into razor blades.”
He said that he was amazed but not surprised at the success of the dive site and artificial reef.
“During all of the delays in getting her down here last year I kept telling the CITA and Department of Tourism folks that she was in charge of this, not them,” Mr. Glatstein said. “I also believe that she is responsible for attracting the huge number of divers and great amount of marine life that she has attracted. I am normally a pretty rational guy who does not believe in such magic, but the Kittiwake has an energy about her that I have not seen elsewhere in my life, and I look forward to absorbing some more of it.
“As for retuning to Cayman itself, I can already feel myself relaxing just a bit,” he said. “Born in Miami, boating and diving all my life, I just don’t know how I have never been to Cayman before. I know I will be returning often.”
Old buddies
The Kittiwake has brought new people to Cayman and also helped bring old buddies together who may have served on the vessel. Mr. Glatstein said he had kept in touch with some of his shipmates.
“Just before and after the sinking there was a great deal of Internet activity and some phone calls,” he said. “Many former Kittiwake sailors surfaced and many stories were recalled. Since then it has levelled out to more contact than there was before the sinking, but still not very much. The crowd of former Kittiwake sailors is a very eclectic bunch ranging through all levels of age, outlook, experience, and socioeconomic strata.
“We just all shared an intimate moment with a great lady,” he said. “Some of us at the same time, some of us at different times, but with few exceptions all of us came away better for it. To say that service aboard the Kittiwake was character building would be an understatement.”
Mr. Glatstein said he felt lucky to be able to come to Grand Cayman to represent former Kittiwake sailors.
“Of course I would like to thank all of the people and entities involved in making the whole project happen,” he said. “They may have thought they had their own motivations for their part of the project, but I know better. They were doing the Kittiwakes bidding for her.”
Invitation events
Wednesday, 4 January
Kittiwake First Anniversary Celebration & Recognition Ceremony Reception at Government House 6.30pm to 8pm
Thursday, 5 January
An Evening under the Stars commemorating the Kittiwake Sinking Event and featuring a Silent Auction of a special Kittiwake souvenir and other items. The Crescent, Camana Bay Presented by Island Companies 5.30pm to 9.30pm Contact [email protected] or 949-8522
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