The Bermuda Pilot Gig Club is preparing to hold a parade of maritime vessels to mark the 100th anniversary of the first ship to sail through Town Cut in St George’s.

The Norwegian cargo ship SS Admiralen, under pilot James Griffiths, became the first vessel to sail into St George’s Harbour through Town Cut on January 1, 1917.

Two of Mr Griffiths’ great-grandchildren, Brinky Tucker and Elaine Fox, will join in the celebrations that will involve several gigs, including one named the James T. Griffiths, and other boats sailing through Town Cut behind a tug boat.

Ms Fox, who is a member of the BPGC, described the parade as an incredibly touching ceremony for her family.

“For me it’s like a homecoming for my grandpa Griffiths,” she told The Royal Gazette. “Piloting has been a way of life for many of our family and we are very much looking forward to the parade.

“Both James T. Griffiths and his son, Charles Griffiths, were King’s Pilots. Grandpa Griffiths worked well into his 70s when he left Bermuda and moved to America with his third wife.

“He died in the United States in upstate New York in 1953 at the age of 90, so although he was still alive while Brinky and I were young, we did not meet him.

“So, this parade to honour his achievements feels like he is coming home. It’s very important to us.”

Mr Tucker still cherishes the golden watch that has been passed down through the generations of his family and was presented to his great-grandfather in February 1917 to mark his achievement.

The watch is inscribed with the words: “Presented by St Georgians as a mark of their appreciation to Pilot James T Griffiths for piloting the first vessel SS Admiralen through the Town Cut channel on January 1, 1917”.

“We are very proud of what he did, and our family” said Mr Tucker, a retired police officer who served for more than 30 years. “His achievement in 1917 has been something that has been talked about for generations in our family.

“We have always been very close and my mother instilled in us the importance of our roots in St David’s, our native American history and also the importance of piloting in Bermuda.

“We can trace our family back nine or ten generations to 1783.”

Organisers hope that members of the public will come out to watch the parade from land, but have also encouraged boat owners to join in the event.

Rick Spurling, president of the BPGC, said: “The plan is for the tug to lead the parade from Spit buoy into St George’s with water spraying in true ceremonial fashion.

“They will be followed by the pilot boat, St David, and guests, who in turn will be followed by three gigs being rowed with descendants of pilots on board.

“The best place to view the parade will be Gates Fort. We hope to use the cannon there and maybe bagpipes to bring us through.

“This is also a public event in that we want private boats to line up behind us and parade in as well.”

The Town Cut memorial parade will take place on January 21.

Mr Spurling added: “The schedule is to depart St George’s at 1pm and muster at Spit Buoy by 1.30pm for the parade in through the Town Cut which could take half an hour

“The parade will be followed by a gig race in the harbour with some of our elite rowers and an informal reception at East End Mini Yacht Club.”