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When all else fails, try journalism.
San Salvador is the first place Christopher Columbus set foot in the Western Hemisphere, and we know this because the great 20th century sailor-historian Samuel Eliot Morison said so, and all contrary theories crumbled under scrutiny.
But the dude may have been wrong about the second island where Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria dropped anchor. Morison contended Island Two was Rum Cay. But Loose Cannon’s favorite sailor-schoolar, the late Donald McGuirk of Bradenton, Florida, begged to differ. McGuirk argued that it was actually Samana Cay.
By now some readers are probably thinking, “Who gives a flying farthing which cay came in second?” I could reply that a voyage which is still more consequential for civilization than the Moon landings deserves to be understood in granular detail. That probably would have been McGuirk’s position.
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But, hey, who am I kidding? I’ve liked the idea of Samana Cay ever since I read in an old Bahamas cruising guide about how someone in a Morgan Out Island 41 once rode out a hurricane behind Samana Cay’s fringing reef. I never made it there myself, but always thought it would be enormously satifisfying to anchor my own OI 41 there for a couple of nights.
(Another irrational attraction to McGuirk’s scholarship is the fact that the veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps named his 33-foot Southern Cross cutter Gooney Bird. That was the nickname for the C47 transport aircraft—my father flew in C47s throughout World War II and the Berlin Airlift.)
McGuirk wrote a paper on the subject entitled, “Why Samana Cay is the Second Island Visited During Christopher Columbus’s Sail Through the Bahamas on his First Voyage to the New World,” which you can download below.
McGuirk investigation report is the kind of writing that would appeal to any nerd who is happiest at the intersection of history, geography and sailing.
Debated for centuries, most historians now accept San Salvador (previously Watling Island) Bahamas as the first “New World” island visited by Columbus in 1492.1 His course through the additional three Bahama Islands visited before reaching Cuba has received less critical attention. There are two reasons for this. First, the standard translation of Columbus’s log leaves few choices for the three islands beyond San Salvador. Second, the current and widely accepted course has the approval of Samuel Eliot Morison, a luminary in his field.2 He baptized the other three islands visited, as Rum Cay (Island Two), Long Island (Island Three), and a combination of Crooked Island and Fortune Island (Island Four).
Columbus’s log, transcribed by Bartolomé de las Casas, can be interpreted in more than one way when it talks about what happened after the fleet left San Salvador, according to McGuirk. One of the interpretations has Columbus bypassing Rum Cay en route to another island anchorage.
Also, as anyone who has sailed there can attest, Rum Cay is nowhere near 15 by 30 miles in size, yet these are the dimensions attributed to Island Two.
The Las Casas diary is often referred to as the only primary source for Columbus’ first voyage, but McGuirk contended that Juan de la Cosas map from around 1500 provided important clues, while perhaps meeting the definition of a primary source better than that of the Diario.”
Since Morison’s final word on this subject in 1974, three subsequent works have attempted to match current Bahama Island placenames with their original Taino counterparts. These works match Guanahani with current-day San Salvador,26 Samana with Samana Cay, Yumay (Yuma) with Long Island, and Someto (Samoet) with Crooked and Fortunate Island. The position of the unnamed island on the La Cosa map suggests Rum Cay.
The fact that the placename Samana appears on the la Cosa map, and a likely unnamed Rum Cay does not, suggests Samana Cay is Island Two, found after bypassing an unnamed Rum Cay.
Here McGuirk makes a dead-reckoning argument:
On October 22, Columbus mentioned that he named the southwest cape of Island Three “Cabo Verde.” Had Columbus sailed west from Samana Cay to Long Island, this cape would have been precisely where Columbus would have arrived. On a Rum Cay approach to Long Island, Columbus never arrives at Cabo Verde.36 The cape doesn’t fit into Morison’s route.
If Rum Cay is Island Two, then Columbus must arrive at the north end of Long Island. Joseph Judge and the National Geographic Magazine have done an excellent job of recognizing the inadequate match of the Diario’s description of Fernandina with this location, while also demonstrating an excellent match of that geography with the south end of Long Island.
Support for Rum Cay is also debatable on the proposition that the diary transcriber kept mixing up similarly spelled compass points. “In all, the Las Casas transcription has twelve corrections of compass points. These corrections document Las Casas’s difficulties in transcribing sailing directions from a scribe’s copy,” McGuirk wrote.
The author goes on to note all manner of inconsistencies regarding times and distances, and I would invite anyone wishing to descend into these weeds, download McGuirk’s paper, which ends with:
Morison has always had a robust theory of Columbus’s route through the Bahama Islands. That theory, however, does have its inconsistencies. Ife’s translation has opened the possibility of an alternative route. The information above and the Bahama toponyms on the Juan de la Cosa map, a primary source of information, strongly suggest That Samana Cay is Columbus’s Island Two. The inconsistencies within the Diario will always hamper any attempt to recreate Columbus’s route. Any route envisioned by researchers will depend on which Diario information they accept and which they choose to ignore.
Why Samana Cay Is The Second Island Visi… 282KB ∙ PDF file | ||
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A longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, historic Edenton always has an exciting calendar of events and places to visit! Edenton is at the mouth of the Chowan River on the northwest shore of Albemarle Sound.
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Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with saltwater in their veins will subscribe. $7 per month or $56 for the year; you may cancel at any time.
When all else fails, try journalism. Mom & Pop Maps That Became Essential for Bahamas Exploration‘Explorer Charts’ Celebrate 30 Years in Business
The mom-and-pop operation that gave Bahamas cruisers “Explorer” chartbooks is celebrating its 30th year in business. Monty and Sara Lewis have cruised the island nation since 1984, and, from the beginning, they wanted to see what was beyond the overpopulated harbor at George Town. She was a technical writing teacher at a community college. He was a sergeant in the Maryland State Police with a captains license. As incredible as it may seem today, this pair of nautical tourists set out to map routes, anchorages and entrances before the existence of GPS. According to their official history, “they sat down with local fishermen and salty cruising sailors, tracing vague routes on tissue paper and listening to stories of adventuresome travel to the Ragged Islands and the Bight of Acklins.” Their three primary publications are chartbooks: Near Bahamas, Exumas & Ragged Islands and Far Bahamas with Turks & Caicos. All three are now available in their recently released 12th edition. These books are famous for their reliable charts but also incorporate elements of a cruising guide with descriptions of local amenities and lists of resources. “Explorer” chartbooks have a strong competition for the most popular and easy-to-reach Bahamas regions (including those covered in Addison Chan’s “Bahamas Land & Sea” cruising guide app), but they are unique in service to the more adventurous sailors who wish to go to the most remote islands. As navigation entered its electronic age at the beginning of the millenium, “Explorer Charts” were able to stay relevant through strategic partnerships. The Lewises first venture into electronic charting began in 2003 with Nobeltec, a division of Jeppesen. Now their data is incorporated into the electronic charts sold by B&G, Furuno, Lowrance, Navico, Raymarine, Simrad, Standard Horizon, Aquamap, C-Map, iNavX, OpenCPN and TZi Boat. In other words, they went from sketching on tissue paper to an honest-to-goodness business. Sara Lewis said this came about mostly by accident:
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Weekend Coastal Storm – a relatively low-impact event for South Carolina, assuming the storm behaves as currently forecast,
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Cruisers’ Net Newsletter for this week has just been emailed via Constant Contact.
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A longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, historic Edenton always has an exciting calendar of events and places to visit! Edenton is at the mouth of the Chowan River on the northwest shore of Albemarle Sound.
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Trick, Treat & Trail Family Fun Run and Festival on Oct. 25
Get in the Halloween spirit with a fun-filled event for the whole family!
From: Sarah Reynolds <Sarah.Reynolds@ccprc.com>
Date: August 25, 2025 at 1:00:00 PM EDT
To: Sarah Reynolds <Sarah.Reynolds@ccprc.com>
Subject: Trick, Treat & Trail set for Oct. 25: Family Fun Run and Festival at Wannamaker County Park
NEWS RELEASE
Public Contact: 843-795-4386 / www.charlestoncountyparks.com
Media Contact: Sarah Reynolds / (843) 762-8089 / sarah.reynolds@ccprc.com
Read this online: www.ccprc.com/newsreleases
Trick, Treat & Trail Family Fun Run and Festival on Oct. 25
Get in the Halloween spirit with a fun-filled event for the whole family!
{NORTH CHARLESTON} — Get ready for a spook-tacular time at the second annual Trick, Treat & Trail Family Fun Run and Festival! Hosted by Charleston County Parks, the event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, beginning at 10 a.m., at Wannamaker County Park.
The festival includes ghoulish music, trick-or-treating, jump castles, face painting, and a craft. A variety of vendors will be on site selling food and refreshments, including King of Pops, Donut Daddy, Miracle’s Tasty Express, and Sweet But Not So Sweet.
Check-in for the event and trick-or-treat bag distribution will be held from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Tupelo Shelter at Wannamaker County Park. The fun run begins at 10 a.m. The course closes for runners at 10:45 a.m. The course will re-open for trick or treating from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Festival will be open for the entirety of the event 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. A costume contest will be held at 12:15 p.m. Registration includes a custom trick-or-treating bag, finisher medal, and candy.
Participants are invited to dress in costume. Prizes will be awarded for the best Halloween costume in the following age categories: Under 6, 6-8, 9-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 20 and up. Awards will also be presented for the best pet costume, best duo costume, and best group costumes of 3 or more. The costume contest will be held shortly after noon.
Admission to the race and event will be charged per vehicle of up to 15 people. Advance registration is $20 per vehicle and ends Wednesday, Oct. 23. If not sold out, registration will be available on-site for $25 per vehicle only until 12 p.m. Advance registration is recommended. Register for the event on the event webpage at https://www.ccprc.com/3715/Trick-Treat-Trail.
The fun run is open to runners and walkers of all levels, including beginners. Accessible parking and restrooms are available. The route includes a grass meadow and paved trails. This is a loop course with water stations and an optional shortcut route. Dogs are allowed at this event but must remain leashed and under control at all times.
This event is hosted by Charleston County Parks. For more information about this event and to register, please visit https://www.ccprc.com/3715/Trick-Treat-Trail or call (843)-795-4386.
Owned by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, Wannamaker County Park is located at 8888 University Boulevard in North Charleston, SC (Hwy 78). The mission of CCPRC is to improve the quality of life in Charleston County by offering a diverse system of park facilities, programs and services. The large park system features over 11,000 acres of property and includes four land parks, three beach parks, three dog parks, a skate park, two landmark fishing piers, three waterparks, 19 boat landings, a climbing wall, a challenge course, an interpretive center, a historic plantation site, an equestrian center, cottages, a campground, a marina, as well as wedding, meeting and event facilities. The park system also offers a wide variety of recreational services – festivals, camps, classes, programs, volunteer opportunities, and more. For more information, call 843-795-4386 or visit www.charlestoncountyparks.com.
Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission / 861 Riverland Dr. / Charleston, SC 29412 / (843) 795-4386
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An Evening at McLeod – Sept 28 – Charleston County Parks
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An on-the-water retirement home or vacation home for those who love the rich cultural ports-of-call cruising waters of North Carolina, Albemarle Plantation Marina, a port on the Albemarle Loop and a CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located just off the AICW on the northern shores of Albemarle Sound on Yeopim River/Creek.
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| The sparkling water, the beautiful autumn weather, golf, charming accommodations… Seize this rare opportunity to tour, explore, and immerse yourself in the acclaimed waterfront lifestyle of Albemarle Plantation on North Carolina’s beloved Albemarle Sound.
Enjoy Special Promotional Pricing 3 days, 2 nights, Standard Rate: $249. This 3 Day / 2 Night Special Discovery Visit could change your life. Because of the rarity of this offer, availability is limited,
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| ? Explore trails and nature ? Dine at one of our onsite restaurants ? Play spectacular golf ? Soak in the happy, healthy vibe ? Explore the gorgeous Albemarle Sound ? See a wide variety of properties | Plus—Enjoy bespoke accommodations in Edenton’s historic district at the luxurious Inner Banks Inn. | |||||||||
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| Discover Albemarle Plantation | Book A Tour | Contact Us | ||||||||||
| This Discovery Package is designed to acquaint you with Albemarle Plantation real estate opportunities. If married, both spouses must attend the property tour. Participants must live outside a 75 mile radius from the property. The $199 is paid to the hotel at time of booking. If customer does not cancel or reschedule within 14 days of arrival, the customer forfeits the $199 as a cancellation fee. Customer is responsible for any incidentals at the hotel. A valid credit card is required to reserve an Albemarle Plantation Discovery Visit. A limited number of packages are available. Subject to availability. Some blackout dates. | ||||||||||
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Concern Increasing For Tropical Troubles In SC Early Next Week
While I have your attention, the storm system moving our way from the west brings us some potential hazards through Friday. Thunderstorms affecting the state through this evening have a hot and juicy, summery air mass to feed upon, so there is a low-end risk for severe storms.
There is a low-end risk of damaging winds associated with the more intense storms in the level 1 of 5 risk area shown on the Storm Prediction Center’s outlook map. The damaging hail and tornado risks are near zero, but ‘never say never’ applies. There is also a risk for isolated minor flooding from repeated downpours. Yes, it’s barely rained across South Carolina over the last 30+ days, but the rain could come hard and fast through Saturday.
Keep this in mind if you’re traveling across the Upstate and vicinity through tonight or anywhere in the state Friday. If you live in a flood-prone area, you might need to move to higher ground and motorists may have to avoid a flooded road (turn around, don’t drown). Frank Strait
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