I am most grateful to Mr. H. A. Mussenden, Air Box 5822, Bogota, Colombia, for his information in reply to my query about the local craft shown on the 2 peso Colombian stamp of 1954, which depicts a sailing vessel off Pastelillo Fort, Cartagena. The craft is known locally as a "canoa" and it has several identifying features. There is no bowsprit, no topmasts and no gaffs. The sail plan is extremely simple— one big headsail which is completely inboard and a leg-of-mutton foresail and mainsail. There is no transom, the rudder head coming up to slightly above the top of the taffrail and attached to a long tiller.
The canoas are built from the trunks of large trees which are hollowed out by adze and fire to the depth desired; planks are then laid fore-and-aft and one above the other until a freeboard of about two metres is obtained. The craft is double-ended and, Mr. Mussenden believes, fairly fast. What kind of keel, if any, they have he is unable to say.
Ernest Argyle Sea Breezes September 1966.
Colombia SG801