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Piloting
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Piloting During the Spanish Rule 1507-1819
Spain, a major political power with one of the largest fleets in the world, was the first country to pass and enforce navigational regulations. Laws regarding the employment of local pilots in the Florida 'Presidios' (the name given to Spanish citadels) were generally known and accepted throughout the colonies.
Slight modifications were dictated by the individual ports. Beginning in 1507, most of the regulations were left to the authority of the "Casa de Contratacion"(the Oceanographic/Geographic Institute). Any modifications were created and enforced through the"Cedulas Reales" (or royal edicts).
These first maritime regulations, which later applied in Florida, were compiled from a book of laws en titled "Consulado del Mar" and explained the duties of the local pilots. In February of 1522, the "Ordenanzas de Carlos V' (Ordinances of Charles V of Spain), also known as "de Sevilla" described the requirements of local pilots with special emphasis on those pilots engaged in piloting from the sea to the developing maritime centers upriver. For the most part, these ordinances were applied in all river ports.
In Father Escobedo's epic poem, "La Florida" many pilots are mentioned. According to the poem, one pilot distinguished himself as the "expert and famous pilot who enjoyed the full confidence of the King". This Pilot, Gines Pinzon was the very pilot who, in 1587, led the voyage from Havana, then the center trade, to St. Augustine, Florida and sailed with 12 terrified Franciscan Friars, including the poet Father Escobedo. A year later, in 1588, Pinzon again was the pilot for a vessel, commanded by Capt. Vincente Gonzalez, traveling from St. Augustine to the coast of Virginia. Based on these early epics, Spansh pilots were skilled navigators and mariners who possessed in depth knowledge of the waters in and around Florida.
Despite the fact that the Dutch are frequently credited with having originated modern day harbor piloting in 1749, records of these early expeditions indicate the Spanish and Portuguese were using local "pilotos" hundreds of years before the Dutch. In fact, by 1460, the Nautical School of Sagres at Cape San Vicente existed and trained both navigators and pilots. In 1508, the position of "Piloto Mayor" was established in Seville.
