Commodore Perry was a Reggaemaster!

On Sunday this weekend is the Commodore Perry Race at North Cape Yacht Club. But this weekend is not just the Commodore Perry Race. Saturday evening will also be the Commodore Perry Memorial Reggae Party. Were you aware that when Perry’s fleet sailed from Put-in-Bay to meet the British fleet in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, the Americans were serenaded from the front porch of the Roundhouse by the rhythms of Jacob Marley and the Wailers? Jacob Marley, later to become better known as the deceased partner of Ebenezer Scrooge, was the great-great-great-great-grandfather of Bob Marley who later adopted his ancestor’s musical style and popularized it throughout the Caribbean . During the preparation of the American fleet for battle, Commodore Ollie and the crews of the Lawrence, the Niagara and the rest of the ships of the line spent many a night bellied up to the Roundhouse bar doing the rocksteady and getting their groove on. It’s a little known fact that when Perry’s flagship the Lawrence had been reduced to a floating hulk by broadsides from the British fleet, Perry echoed to his crew the words of his personal battleflag “No Problem, Mon!” That flag, too badly damaged in the battle, was replaced by the backup flag “Don’t Give Up The Ship” once the action transferred to the Niagara .

Saturday evening from 6:00 PM until the battle is won you will have your chance to celebrate this episode of American naval history and get your reggae on at North Cape with the band Crucial 420, a barbecue chicken dinner and, of course, lots of rum drinks.

Be there, Mon!