Francisco García-Talavera Armas (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1890-1970), began sailing at the age of 13 on the brig-schooner Sensat as an intern, making trips from Tenerife to Morocco and the transatlantic crossing, lasting 64 days. , from Las Palmas to New York, with a stopover in Newfoundland. He obtained the degree of pilot at the age of 14, embarking the following year on the schooner Juanita, covering the journey from Cienfuegos (Cuba) to Casablanca. Transatlantic navigations that he continued in the following years, traveling more than 100,000 nautical miles. His nautical expertise and experience would enable him to be appointed captain of the merchant navy at the age of 21, beginning his mandate on the corvette Isla de La Palma.
The young captain García-Talavera would continue for a decade with his eventful ocean voyages at the command of different sailboats, visiting the ports of Havana, Veracruz, Pensacola, New York, Montevideo, Trinidad, La Guaira…, a period in which he would cut his teeth as sailor by enduring mutinies on board, storms, dead calms and even a shipwreck in the Azores.
He obtained the title of pilot of the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at the age of 31, remaining in the position until he was retaliated by the Franco regime, when he was accused of being a freemason by a colleague.
During his time as a pilot he accomplished the feat of having docked in the port of Santa Cruz – without the help of tugboats – the large German liner Columbus, since his two fellow pilots refused to do so. A chronicler of the port describes the feat like this: “At 6:30 in the morning on July 24, 1934, the German liner Columbus, 239 meters long and 33,000 tons, arrived in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on its first stop, remaining in the bay until its captain, Adolf Ahrens, in the company of the pilot Francisco García-Talavera, toured the south basin taking soundings, since the ship’s draft was 10 meters. At 7:00 she docked at the south dock pier, entering from the stern under her own power, completing the maneuver in 15 minutes and becoming the first ship of more than 30,000 tons to use this port facility.
Francisco García-Talavera Armas, a pro Tenerife native and a great sailor, was also a clear example of a philanthropist, humanist, naturist and lover of his family, of whom he became protector at an early age, as a result of the vicissitudes of the life. A man of extensive culture and knowledge – he owned one of the largest private libraries in Santa Cruz – which allowed him to be an excellent conversationalist and socialite, especially on topics related to the sea and the port, whose wise advice was taken very seriously. account.
