OUR MARITIME HERITAGE
A Legacy of Resilience at Sea
The story of PYC Cayman begins not in the modern superyacht industry, but aboard a three-masted cargo sailing ship navigating the world's most treacherous waters in 1898. This is the story of Captain Armstrong, the Fairport, and the maritime heritage that continues to guide us today.
1898
Captain Armstrong and the Fairport
In the final years of the nineteenth century, when steam was beginning to challenge sail, Captain Armstrong commanded a magnificent three-masted cargo sailing ship named Fairport. This wasn't merely a vessel—it was home to his entire family, including his two young daughters who were raised aboard, learning seamanship and resilience from their earliest days.
The Fairport plied the world's trade routes, carrying cargo across vast oceans in an era when maritime navigation demanded exceptional skill, courage, and judgement. Captain Armstrong's reputation as a master mariner was built on thousands of nautical miles, countless storms weathered, and the trust placed in him by merchants and crew alike.
Life aboard was demanding. The captain's daughters—Graeme Lord's grandmother and her sister—grew up understanding the rhythms of the sea, the importance of discipline, and the unbreakable bonds formed when families face adversity together. They learned that in maritime life, there are no shortcuts, no compromises with safety, and no substitute for integrity.
Rounding Cape Horn
The ultimate test of seamanship and survival
Cape Horn—the southernmost point of South America—has claimed more ships and sailors than perhaps any other place on Earth. Where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans collide, winds can exceed 100 knots, waves tower to 30 metres, and icebergs drift silently through fog. For sailing ships, rounding Cape Horn was the ultimate test of vessel, crew, and captain.
During one particularly savage storm whilst rounding the Horn, the Fairport faced conditions so extreme that survival itself was in doubt. Mountainous seas battered the vessel. Rigging froze solid. The ship heeled dangerously, threatening to capsize with every wave. Captain Armstrong, his family, and crew fought for their lives.
In the most desperate moment, with the ship in mortal danger, Captain Armstrong made the agonising decision to cut down the masts—sacrificing the very means of propulsion to save the vessel and everyone aboard. It was a decision that required not just technical knowledge, but the calm judgement that comes from years of experience and absolute clarity under pressure.
The Fairport survived. The family survived. But the experience left an indelible mark on everyone who lived through it. Graeme Lord's grandmother would recount this story throughout her life—not as a tale of adventure, but as a lesson in resilience, decisive leadership, and the importance of putting people's safety above all else, even when the cost is enormous.
The Age of Sail
Understanding the world Captain Armstrong navigated
Global Commerce
In 1898, sailing ships remained vital to international trade. The Fairport carried cargo across oceans, connecting continents in an era before containerisation, air freight, or reliable steam navigation. Every voyage was measured in months, not days.
Family at Sea
It was not uncommon for captains' families to live aboard, particularly on long-haul cargo routes. Children were educated at sea, learning navigation, seamanship, and the values of maritime life. This created exceptionally close-knit families bound by shared experience and mutual dependence.
Maritime Values
The maritime code was absolute: the captain's responsibility for every soul aboard, the crew's trust in leadership, the importance of preparation and maintenance, and the understanding that at sea, integrity isn't optional—it's survival.
FROM THEN TO NOW
How Heritage Shapes PYC Today
When Graeme Lord founded Fairport Yacht Support in 2011, the name was a deliberate tribute to his great-grandfather's vessel. It represented more than nostalgia—it was a statement of values. Just as Captain Armstrong bore ultimate responsibility for his ship, crew, and family, modern yacht management demands the same unwavering commitment to those in your care.
The decision to cut down the Fairport's masts during that Cape Horn storm mirrors the difficult decisions yacht owners face today: when regulations change, when crew welfare demands investment, when the easy path conflicts with the right path. Captain Armstrong chose survival over convenience. That same principle guides PYC Cayman's approach to crew employment structures.
The Values We Inherited
- •Responsibility: The captain answers for everyone aboard. At PYC, we take full responsibility for crew welfare, compliance, and yacht owner protection.
- •Resilience: Maritime life demands the ability to face adversity calmly and find solutions under pressure. We bring that same steadiness to complex employment regulations.
- •Integrity: At sea, cutting corners costs lives. In crew management, shortcuts create liability. We do things properly, even when it's harder.
- •Family: Captain Armstrong's daughters grew up as part of the ship's company. We treat crew as extended family, not merely employees—because that's how maritime communities have always functioned.
Today's superyachts bear little physical resemblance to the three-masted Fairport. But the fundamental challenges remain unchanged: keeping people safe, maintaining standards under pressure, navigating complex regulations, and ensuring that everyone—from owner to junior deckhand—can trust the systems protecting them.
When you work with PYC Cayman, you're not just engaging a crew management company. You're connecting with a maritime heritage that spans generations, survived Cape Horn, and understands that in our industry, reputation is built one decision at a time—and trust, once lost, is nearly impossible to regain.
The Age of Sail in Images
Historical vessels similar to the Fairport, showing the magnificent three-masted cargo ships that connected the world's trade routes
Three-masted cargo vessel, late 19th century
Under full sail on the open ocean
Merchant sailing ship, similar to the Fairport
TODAY'S PYC CAYMAN
Carrying the Legacy Forward
From Captain Armstrong's three-masted Fairport to today's modern superyacht industry, the values of responsibility, resilience, and integrity continue to guide our team at PYC Cayman.
Built on Heritage, Focused on Your Future
Discover how PYC Cayman's maritime values translate into modern crew management solutions that protect yacht owners and support crew careers