Isaac Jeralow Rankine
Personal details
| Gender : |
Male
|
| Date of Birth : |
15/Oct/1934
|
| Country of Birth : |
Cayman Islands |
| District : |
East End |
| Locality : |
East End, Grand Cayman |
Contributions
-
Contributed
on Ore Convey aka Cavala Vessel
as Messman.
-
Contributed
on Ore Monarch Vessel
as Ordinary Seaman (OS).
-
Contributed
on Ore Transport Vessel
as Able Bodied Seaman (AB).
-
Contributed
on Ore Chief Vessel
as Able Bodied Seaman (AB).
-
Contributed
on Universe Japan Vessel
as Bosun.
-
Contributed
on Phoenix Vessel
as Able Bodied Seaman (AB).
-
Contributed
on Ore Jupiter Vessel
as Able Bodied Seaman (AB).
Bio
Introduction:
Mr. Isaac Jeralow Rankine was born in East End on the 15th of October, 1934 to parents Ms. Lieury Rankine and Mr. Burnel Dixon.
As a boy he spent a lot of his time near the sea and in the company of the elders of East End watching the fishermen clean their catch and knit fish and turtle nets. After he finished school at the age of 20 years old, he began his seaman career with National Bulk Carriers.
His first voyage was from Tijuana, Mexico. He then sailed on a tanker from California, USA to Japan where he and the other seamen picked up the Ore Convey ship and sailed her back to Venezuela where the Iron Ore ship was collected. His career as a seaman took him across the world and afforded him the privilege to sale on various ship such as, the Ore Monarch, the Ore Titan, the Ore Convey, the Ore Phoenix, the Ore Chief, the Ore Transport, the Harold H. Helm, and the Universe Leader.
During his 23 years as a seaman, Mr. Rankine was fortunate to survive 2 Typhoons while at sea. He recalls losing everything from the ship's deck in one of the typhoon's which lasted for 10 days with 60 foot waves.
After retiring as a seaman circa 1978, Mr. Rankine joined his brother, drummer Stanford Rankine, as a member of the Happy Boys band, under the leadership of Mr. Radley Gourzong. He played maracas made from small gourds that floated up on the beach which he filled with seeds from a licorice tree.
A retired seaman, respected musician and traditional net maker and a cultural Icon, Mr. Rankine is among the few remaining knitters of nets in the Cayman Islands. At the age of 86 years old, Mr. Rankine is still fishing, riding a bicycle, painting, knitting nets, preparing and the plaiting/weaving of thatch to make baskets, roof thatching. He is a well love cultural icon in these islands.
