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Since
the 1900's St. Augustine Scenic Cruise has been giving
visitors to St. Augustine a unique view of the city
and a way to enjoy St. Augustine's historic land marks
and natural beauty.
The
Usina's were among settlers from the island of
Minorca, off the coast of Spain, finally settling
in St. Augustine in 1777. Many of their descendants
remain in St. Augustine today. In 1900 Captain
Frank Usina and his wife, Catherine, could not
return to Miami were he had been working as a
carpenter on the Miami train station because of
an outbreak of yellow fever. They settled in the
area known today as North Beach, then accessible
only by boat. Henry Flagler approached Frank and
his wife, asking them to hold oyster roasts for
friends and guests staying at his Ponce De Leon
Hotel, now Flagler College, and the Alcazar Hotel,
now the Lightner Museum. The outings to North
Beach became a regular attraction, and thus, the
family boat business was born. Initially
starting with a chartered launch, Frank ferried
guests to and from North Beach for Minorcan Style
dinners, oysters, music, dancing and sightseeing
along the Matanzas Bay. Shortly thereafter, Frank
purchased a 45' launch stuck on a mud bar. He
repaired, refinished and christened it the Victory,
replacing the chartered launch, but remaining
at the helm as Captain. Guests could enjoy picturesque
view of Historic Saint Augustine while cruising
along Matanzas Bay to and from North Beach. In
1918 the Victory II was launched. Built in St.
Augustine by Warren Sanchez and assisted by Frank's
son Francis Everisto, who at the age of 17 became
a licensed captain and joined his father's business.
Eight years after the Victory II was built Frank
passed on, but continuing the tradition of his
father was second generation Captain Francis Usina,
this time adding fishing excursions. The Victory
II was the main mode of transportation to the
ever popular attraction North Beach until the
1930's when a bridge and paved highway opened
access by automobile.
In the late 1930's, when fire
destroyed part of the bridge once again making North
Beach only accessible by boat, the Usina's assisted
in ferrying North Beach residents to and from work,
and their children to and from school, along with their
regular trips. Residents knew they could count on the
Victory II for transportation to community events on
the mainland.
During World War II St.
Augustine became a military service town, and
a halt was placed on fishing excursions. Gas rations
were approved by the USO for the Victory II to
take serviceman on sightseeing excursion for Rest
and Relaxation.
In the late 1940's, The Florida Department of Transportation
chartered the Victory II to assist in ferrying North
Beach residents to and from the mainland as construction
of a new bridge once again halted access to the North
Beach area. Once again the Victory II became a passenger
ferry carrying local residents to and from the mainland.
The City of St. Augustine
set their sights on promoting tourism, and approached
Francis about starting a sightseeing cruise business,
similar to that operated for the USO, to give
visitors a view of the picturesque city skyline
and historic landmarks that visitors only ferrying
to and from North Beach had been enjoying.
So in 1949, the Victory II became
a full time sightseeing boat. Francis captained on a
daily basis and in the summer was joined by his two
sons Frank and Jack who worked as mates until receiving
their captains license, while his daughter Mary Lou
sold tickets. When Frank and Jack received their captains
license they joined their father in captaining the Victory
II until his death in 1973.
Although the Victory II
awaits restoration, the Victory III continues
to depart daily from the downtown municipal Marina.
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