HERITAGE

Guernsey 's maritime heritage is a deliciously salty stew of heroism, disaster, opportunism, mercantile innovation and military skill. Through centuries of toil the Guernsey man has forged himself a reputation as a unique master mariner.

In Roman times Guernsey was a major trading link with Iron Age Britain. Later, between 1815 and 1880 the island had over 20 boat building yards producing over 40,000 tons of shipping. Smugglers and privateers that drank in St Peter Port were the scourge of the Channel depriving the Crown of millions of pounds of revenue.

Many Guernsey men, longing for fame and fortune, sailed far and wide to fight and trade. William Le Lacheur became a national hero in Costa Rica and turned it into the wealthiest nation in Central America due to his export of coffee to London. Philip Saumarez was part of Anson's famous circumnavigation of the world and his nephew, James, became Vice Admiral of Great Britain in 1757.

But, names are just flat stones that skim the surface of Guernsey's nautical past. Victor Hugo, the island's most famous resident, summed up the bond between Guernsey and the sea:

"The industry of the sea, which created ruin, has been succeeded by the industry of man, which has made a people."