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The Caribbean are a vast area situated in a
south-eastery direction from the United States. To the north are the
islands of Cuba and the Bahamas, further east and south are the Leeward
and the Windward Islands, the southern border is formed by Venezuela and
the easterly limits are the coasts of Central America.
The
area was called at one time the West Indies. Columbus thought that he
reached India after his westerly passage across the Atlantic. Of course
he did not have a gps at his disposal…
The
islands that are best known to sailors, mostly because they are easy and
safe to reach under sail thanks to the trade winds, are the windward and
leeward islands: from Trinidad and Tobago in the south to Saint Martin
and the Virgin Islands in the north-west. Numerous routes and sailing
conditions are possible, from laid back cruising to bumpy on-the-wind
racks.
We
have selected a few possibilities that we would like to propose to you.
It will be our pleasure however to learn your ideas and preferences
should you consider a sailing trip in the Carribean this coming winter
that is not on our program. We will be happy to discuss your ideas and
give you our best proposal to accommodate them.
As
from Dec 20th 2011 until February 2012 you can join us for a
trip on “Lola”. So let’s go and discover the Caribbean seas…
For
further information please contact: paul@nidriglobalsailing.com
Sincerely
Paul
D’hooge
Nidri
Global Sailing
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A little bit of history…
As
from the
discovery of the Caribbean territory by Columbus, trading has played an
important role. European traders transported imported tropical products
and metals. At first they traded with the Indians, but very soon
plantations were built that were populated by European colonists and
African slaves. Sugar, cocoa, coffee and other tropical agricultural
products were shipped to Europe in vast quantities. Vice versa, European
products found their way to the Caribbean. In the 17th century
the Caribbean became part of an Atlantic economy that united Europe,
Africa and America. After the slave trade and slavery in general the
traditional trading diminished. New contacts developed, mainly with the
U.S. and South-America.
Migration is an important issue in the Caribbean
history. There is a large ethnical diversity in the whole area. The
original Indian population has disappeared, but the islands are now
populated with Europeans, Africans and Asians. Race, colour, social
status, prestige and cultural habitus were determined depending on the
historical patterns that differed from island to island. On some islands
the different ethnical groups remained separated for a long time, while
on others there was an early mix. This had serious consequences in almost
all dimensions of the day to day life.
The
decolonisation
of the Caribbean has had a history of almost 200 years and is as until
today not completely finished. The process started in 1804 with a slave
uprising that resulted in the first black republic of Haiti. Soon
followed, also in a violent way, the independence of the Dominican
Republic from Spain. Most of the Caribbean islands became independent in
a peaceful agreement with their colonizers after the second world war,
starting with Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. The last Caribbean island
that became independent was St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983.
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