Built as a steel yacht by J.S.White of Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, for the American R.M. Singer, a well know yachtsman.
30 June 1927, launched under the name XARIFA (III)
Tonnage 731 gross, dim. 204.4 x 31.1 x 13ft (draught).
Powered by two TE steam engines, 141 hp.
1930 Completed
She was one of the last big steam yachts built in Britain.
26 June 1940 bought from Singer by the British Royal Navy as an air target vessel, renamed BLACK BEAR in August 1940. Pennant No. FY046
Mid 1941 transferred to Trinidad as an Auxiliary Training Vessel.
December 1945 put on the sale list. 1946 returned to the U.K.
November 1946 for use in the Caribbean Sea and Mexican Gulf, owners given as Rayal B. Boaden (Cayman Island Motor Boat Co. managers) at Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands.
Renamed CAYMANIA.
Tonnage 731 gross, 330 net, dim. 178.2 (bpp.?) x 31.1 x 16.9ft.
Used in the service between Cayman Islands, Jamaica and British Honduras.
Later Rayal B Boaden is given as “sole partner” in the Cayman Island Motor Boat Co. Ltd., Georgetown.
The CAYMANIA is then described as a “Fishing Vessel” for hire.
1962 Towed to Cristobal on 16 August 1962 in a leaky condition, and anchored in Colon Bay, off the Caribbean coast of Panama.
Later that year sold and renamed QUIBIAN.
Since August at that anchorage, and she foundered in Colon Bay on 21 December 1963.
Her owner is then given as ; Gran Flota Mercante Panamena, Panama.
Cayman Islands 2003 $1.00 sg?, scott?
Source. Watercraft Philately Vol. 50 page 25. Steam Yachts by David Couling. Ships of the Royal Navy Volume 2 by J.J. Colledge. Lloyds Register 1947, British & Empire Warships of W.W II by H.T.Lenton, and info received from Mr. John D. Stevenson