The VICL is hosting the annual event that shows off the Caribbean Charter Yacht Fleet next month in St. Thomas - Jim Walberg, internet reporter!

I will again be the internet reporter for the Virgin Island Charter League  Boat Show next month at Yacht Haven Grande Marina  from November 9^th - 12^th.  This is THE event of the year for the Charter Yacht Fleet.  It is four days of having the Charter Yacht brokers from all over the world coming to St. Thomas to preview the yachts and crews that are the floating “Bed & Breakfasts” of the Caribbean.  The charter vacation yacht brokers will be selecting the yachts and crews they will be promoting to their clients for the upcoming season.  All of the yachts and crew are at their finest for this important event.  Each of them wants to be one of the yachts the brokers put on their short list of their favorites.  The charter yacht vacation brokers could make or break crews’ charter season with the recommendations they make.  The season starts November 15^th and ends June 15^th.  All of the yachts will be polished and varnished for this very fun annual party of the charter fleet.

 During the entire event I will be interviewing crews and photographing their yachts.  The human interest stories that are a part of the daily lives of these owners of the Caribbean floating bed and breakfasts are always inspiring.  I have yet to meet a more interesting group of world traveling entrepreneurs who know how to create an unforgettable experience for each of their clients.  The reason the Charter Boat Shows are interested in my reporting is because there are many of their members who will not be able to attend, so they want an internet site where they can go and catch up on the daily activities of the Show.

Imagine that you own one of these charter yacht businesses.  Your income is based on how many charters you are able to book during a season, and the gratuity that your guests give you at the end of their charter vacation - typically 15% to 20% of the cost of the charter vacation.  It is typical to have 20 to 25 charter weeks a season.  You are on duty 24 hours a day for EVERYTHING - four 5-Star meal presentations a day; providing Ritz Carlton service every moment of the day, be in charge of the safety of your six to eight guests, organize the daily water sports that are a part of this type of holiday, effortless sail and maintain your yacht each day…and do it all with a smile and enthusiasm knowing your clients probably have never had such an experience.

Anyway,  the VICL Boat Show in St. Thomas  is a sailor’s dream to attend.  You are mingling with some of the most skilled sailors in the Caribbean who have decided to monetize their skills in providing a floating “bed and breakfast” to people who love the Tropical life.  I tip my hat to these amazing entrepreneurs who help thousands of people fall in love with the Caribbean experience every week.  If you want more information about booking a chartered yacht vacation in the Caribbean, let me know.  We do it all the time for our customers.  Or, if you just want to stop by the show, you will have the time of your life.  We can even stop by the Rum Shack at Havensite at the end of the day for some refreshments before the evening parties begin.  There will be more articles about the events that will be happening at the show, so stay tuned! 

“After a truly good meal, an outstanding cigar is still the most satisfying after-dinner activity that doesn’t involve two or more human beings.” Brad Shaw

“I have made it a rule never to smoke more than one cigar at a time.” Mark Twain

“I am at the age now where just putting my cigar in its holder is a thrill.” George Burns

I, Jim Walberg, love a good cigar from time to time! And, I realize that some of you are not fans of this hazardous habit. However, I have moderated my consumption over the past few years, even though I still have over 400 cigars in my humidor. But, when I am in the Caribbean, either sailing on a Lagoon 57 in the BVI, or drinking a fine glass of Bodegas Aguirre Petite Syrah, I am always tempted to clip one of them and enjoy the moment. I have even been known to have one at sunset at romantic Soggy Dollar Bar with Mick the bartender. Even though Cuba has the reputation as the producer of the world’s finest cigars, I am a BIG fan of what the Dominican Republic produces in ultra-premium cigars. For those of you who are unfamiliar with some of history of cigars here is a brief history.

The history of the cigar goes back about two thousand years. The origins of the world ‘cigar’ and the cigar itself are lost in time. Some scholars say the word cigar originated from sikar, the Mayan word for smoking. After Columbus’s discovery of the West Indies and other explorers visiting the American continent, numerous accounts were written of these New World people who smoked tobacco and also used it for chew and as snuff for medicinal properties in their ceremonies.

Although the first tobacco plantations were set up in Virginia in 1612, and Maryland in 1631, tobacco was smoked only in pipes in the American colonies. The cigar itself is thought not to have arrived until after 1762, when Israel Putnam, an American general in the Revolutionary War, returned from Cuba, where he had been an officer in the British army. He came back to his home in Connecticut with a selection of Havana cigars, and large amounts of Cuban tobacco. Before long, cigar factories were set up in the Hartford area. By the mid 1800’s the cigar had had become well accepted and in 1870 it was recorded that over half of the tobacco smoked in our towns was in the form of cigars.

Cuba has led the way in the cigar industry. Early in the 16th century, Cuban peasants became tobacco growers. Later, the cigar became the country’s national symbol and the Havana cigar became recognized as the world’s finest.

The take-over by Fidel Castro and the subsequent U.S. embargo were the start of events that began to challenge Havana’s supremacy in the world of cigars. Many Cuban cigar-makers took their skills and seeds to the Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Mexico and began producing high-quality premium and super-premium cigars for the American public. The Dominican Republic alone produces almost half of the hand-made cigars sold in the U.S.

A few of my favorite cigars in all the world are made in the Dominican Republic; Arturo Fuente’s Hemingway series was the first limited edition extension the Fuentes ultra-premium cigars honoring the world reknown author - Ernest Hemingway; Drew Estate “Acid” are all hand-crafted with many different tobaccos and over 140 botanicals, herbs, and essential oils to impart a unique flavor; The Gurkha Legend has been the choice cigar among the most elite - from business executives to Royalty; Cohiba “Red Dot” is the Dominican version of it’s Cuban cousin. I smoke the Robusto and it is an incredibly smooth and rich cigar.

( Again, this is not a past time for most people, but for those that enjoy a cigar from time to time, my hope is that you have enjoyed my brief editorial on one of my enjoyable habits.)

If you want the best vacation experience of your life, book a crewed chartered sailing adventure in the Caribbean

You will recall that I have been sailing in the Caribbean for over 30 years. Because of those years of sailing I have met some of the most unfogettable people I know - Dougy the head of cabbies at Beef Island Airport; Foxy the owner of Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke; Mick the bartender at Soggy Dollar Bar; Liz the owner of Duffy’s Love Shack; a Danish couple who had been sailing for over five years with two of their three kids being born on their boat; Baby Bull Rhymer who ripped me off at Cane Garden Bay; Captain Whitey of the catamaran Tamarin; Ustis from Dominica who is the best dancer I have ever met. (He enjoyed dancing with each of our women guests at Quito Rymers; Quito Rhymers, the famous Caribbean “Jimmy Buffet”; Dick at CharterPort; and hundreds more!!! And…whenever and wherever I am sailing in the Caribbean it is always unforgettable!

You also recall that my last ”crew” was made up of seven guests who had never sailed in the Caribbean, nor had they been on a crewed chartered yacht.  Each of them are world travelers and they said it was the BEST adventure they had ever had!  The catamaran’s are currently my favorite choice if you have a group of guests who are unfamiliar with the sailing scene.  However, when I want the pure pleasure of sailing my preferrence is the traditional mono-hull. Our sailing adventure last month was again on “Double Feature”, the Lagoon 57 crewed by Captain Jonny and 1st Mate/Chef Kelly.  My mono-hull of choice this year is Three Moons - an Irwin 72 crewed by Captain Randy, Chef Shelley, and 1st Mate Katy. They also deliver an amazing experience for each of their guests aboard Three Moons.

The reason why it is called an adventure is because you have no idea what will unfold between the moment of your launch and the moment you drop anchor at your final desitnation of the voyage. All of the STUFF that happens in between is the reason why I can’t wait to launch on any sailing adventure. I eat up the STUFF in between! Some of the ”moments” that happen are unforgettable.  Some of those ”moments” are hopefully forgotten quickly. ( Remember my comments months ago about dancing with a goat at Foxy’s?) Well, last month I ended up at The Last Resort with my guests and was swept away with the music and the rum that ended up having me as the back-up singer for the BAND! Most of the moments that need to be forgotten usually happen late at night after some Meyer’s Dark Rum and Caribe beer chasers. With that combination, anything can happen…and usually does.

Back to sailing…that is the real deal in the Caribbean. I am at my “spiritual center” when I am under sail, and with any job that is assigned to me. I have captained my share of sailboats, but I have also been the chef on many boat deliveries, and even been as lowly as a 4th Mate whose job is typically clearing out a clogged head - one of the worst jobs on the boat.  There is nothing like the feeling of the helm in your hands as you steer your course to your next anchorage. The expected activities during any voyage includes; SCUBA, snorkeling, water skiing, wake boarding, kayaking, daily gourmet moments, great beverages because thirst is a dangerous thing, reading, napping, sunning with various degrees of clothing, and even the occasional squals.  Are you getting a better idea as to why I can’t wait to step aboard my next sailboat going to who knows where? Contact me and I promise to set up this type of experience for you, your family and friends.  I am such a fan of this experience that I secured by charter yacht brokerage license in 1997 and I have arranged hundreds of sailing adventures.  Until next time.  Fair winds.

On March 19^th - 23^rd St. John is the place to be for the best Blues Festival in the Caribbean!The Beach Bar at Cruz Bay is the beginning venue and the ending venue of this unforgettable event. Reverend Raven & The Chain Smoking Altar Boys will be the headline for the kick-off at The Beach Bar on March 19^th. ( You will remember that The Beach Bar is THE spot to hang out at on Thursday late afternoon for blues music from local USVI talent.) Well, Steve Simon has organized a five day Blues Festival this year from March 19^th through March 23^rd! On March 22^nd is the BIG concert of the event at Coral Bay Ball Field starting at 7PM. Simon said, “It’s probably the single greatest evening of entertainment throughout the year in the USVI.” Advance ticket sales are $25 for the Saturday night concert and $30 at the gate. ( You can contact me for the various locations where tickets will be on sale for the next ten days.)

This year’s event features some of the finest Cajun music with three of the performers coming from New Orleans. The concert stars Tab Benoit, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Waylon Thibodeaux, and Sean Carney and the Sean Carney Band. Benoit is a recording artist who remains true to his Cajun roots. Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band play Zydeco music, with Waylon Thibodeaux playing a mixture of Louisiana-based music. Sean Carney and the Sean Carney Band was the winner of the 23rd annual Blues Challenge in Memphis. On March 20, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys will play on Bluesday in Coral Bay at the Aqua Bistro Café. The performance begins at 8 p.m. with free admission. Danny Draher and Mitch Woods play at the One Night to Go Party at Shipwreck Landing outside Coral Bay. The entertainment begins at 8 p.m. with free admission. The Blues Festival wraps up March 23^rd with a closing party at the Beach Bar in Cruz Bay. It runs from 4 to 7:30 p.m. with “surprise artists.” Admission is free.

Most of the proceeds from the Blues Festival will go to the Voice of the Wetlands to help Benoit’s efforts to put a stop to the dramatic loss of Louisiana’s wetlands. “A football-field length of wetlands is disappearing every 30 minutes,” Simon said. The loss of the protective wetlands puts the area at risk from hurricanes. Additionally, the wetlands loss has a huge economic impact on the region. “The seafood industry will be brought to its knees,” Simon said.

I love the Blues, and this is the event of the year for those that share this love. If you go to this year’s Festival, let me know what was your favorite performer. It would blow you socks off…well, I never wear any, so that will be a problem for me. Until next time…..

Each year we invite guests to join us for a crewed chartered yacht sailing adventure!

In just a few weeks we are boarding Double Feature - a Lagoon 57 catamaran for a seven day crewed sailing adventure in the British Virgin Islands. Double Feature is one of the Charter Yachts Of The Year in the Caribbean! This is one of our top five sailing waters in the Caribbean. There will be three other couples joining us and none of them have EVER been in the British Virgin Islands, let alone sailing.

Using my 30 + years of sailing experiences in the Caribbean as a guide, I have laid out a suggested itinerary for our voyage. Those of you that have sailed in the BVI know that each day is an unforgettable adventure. Here is what I am suggesting for our daily anchorages;

• Friday - Arrive in Road Town or St. Thomas at Village Cay Marina
• Saturday - Sail to Norman Island - anchor at The Bight
• Sunday - Norman Island to Cooper Island
• Monday - Cooper Island to Long Bay - Virgin Gorda
• Tuesday - Long Bay to the Bitter End Yacht Club- Virgin Gorda
• Wednesday - Bitter End to Monkey Point, Guana Island
• Thursday - Monkey Point to Marina Cay - Beef Island
• Friday - Marina Cay to Great Harbor - Jost Van Dyke - Foxy’s
• Saturday - Great Harbor to Road Town, Tortola - Fly out in the afternoon.

Our crew, Johnny and Kellie, are from Wales and are one of my favorite crews, even though they are a bit young. Kellie produces four or more 5-star meals a day. Each of the guests have sent me what they want for menus and beverages. The choice of our guests is a Mediterranian type menu with French wines as part of the meals. The cocktails will be rum drinks that Johnny and Kellie invent each day, plus the ever present vodka martinis at sunset each day. If you have never been on a crewed charter yacht vacation you have really missed out. It is one of my favorite vacations - EVER!

The activities during our voyage are really anything connected to being in a tropical paradise - 85 degree temperatures, 85 degree waters, 100 foot visibility in the water, swimming in an aquarium for hours a day, and deciding each morning what is next. We may even divert one night to Bamba’s Shack for the world famous full moon jump up. Who knows??? From beginning to end of our voyage I will do a daily blog keeping you posted as to what is unfolding each day for us in Paradise. I know you will really enjoy what you discover with us.

After we step off the yacht on Saturday we are flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico and staying in Old San Juan at the El Convento Hotel - a former convent built in the early 1600’s. We’ll spend a few days before we head back home. Again, if you have not explored Old San Juan, it is one of my favorite three day vacation in the world because it is as if you have just arrived in Spain of the 1600’s.

Stay tuned…the adventure begins February 16th! Do any of you have places we should consider besides the ones I have listed above? Please let me know…

The world famous drink we invented last year, OJ On The Rum, needs to be doubled!

My blog posting last September titled “OJ on the Rum” has taken on a life of it’s own.  I spoke with my favorite bartender at Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke and he said the latest drama around OJ created an opportunity for him to alter the recipe that we devised as just a tongue-in-cheek idea that actually created a new drink in the Caribbean. The handwritten sign at the bar now reads, “The rum in OJ On The Rum has been doubled!”

What has brought this topic back into our lives was the event that happened yesterday with OJ getting into more trouble by violating the conditions of his bail. He apparently left a nasty message on his bail bondsman’s voice mail telling him to relay a message to his co-defendant about how angry he was about the testimony he gave at the pre-trial hearing. OJ was picked up on a violation of his bail and yesterday the judge let him know that his bail was now raised to $250,000 because of either arrogance or ignorance, or both.

Obviously, OJ’s case was never meant to have an impact on the choice of Caribbean drinks, but the incident yesterday has now increased the consumption of rum on Jost Van Dyke because the rum portion of the recipe has been DOUBLED!  Here is the new version:

Start out with a really TALL glass tumbler filled with ice.  Then…add

• 4 oz. of Pusser’s Dark Rum, Cruzan’s Dark Rum, or Bacardi’s Dark Rum. (Notice that the amount of rum in the original recipe we invented has doubled!)
• Fill the remaining room in the TALL glass tumbler with OJ.
• Include a splash of Grenadine, just for color and sweetness to cut the acidic OJ taste.
• Garnish with a speared orange slice with a tiny rubber football.  Place it on the top of the drink.

You are guaranteed to have a smile on your face at the end of your first glass, and after two or three more you will barely remember OJ has anything to do with the rum.Now, remember, this drink has nothing to do with what is happening with real estate in the Caribbean, but it is certainly part of the “Caribbean experience” that I report on almost everyday.  Next time you are on Jost Van Dyke, stop by and see if the drink is still on Mick’s menu. If it is not, bring the recipe so he can make if for you. You will love it!  Isn’t it an amazing world we live in where what happens in one part of the world has such an impact on another part of it?

The place to celebrate Old Year’s Night is Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke - BVI!

Forget Times Square in New York City on New Year’s Eve.  Those who are fortunate enough to get to Foxy’s on December 30th – by boat, water taxi, dingy, or windsurfer, are in for the time of their lives celebrating Old Year’s Night with Foxy and the amazing band line-up he has planned for this year’s 48 hour Caribbean bash – the last Caribbean party of 2007!

Foxy’s Bar & Restaurant on Jost Van Dyke in the BVI is well known around the world for throwing one of the biggest and best Old Year’s Night parties – ANYWHERE!  The Millennium party was over the top!  Foxy built a huge stage behind his bar and brought in the Beach Boys for a celebration that had over 500 boats rafted up together in the small harbor.  You could literal walk to Foxy’s across all of the boats instead of bringing in your dingy.  In fact, some of the revelers did just that. 

The biggest challenge you will encounter if you show up by boat will be finding “your yacht” once the 48 hour party is over.  Many of my sailing friends have awakened after the party to find some lost souls passed out on their deck because they were unable to find their own boat.  In addition, you will want to bring along a chain and lock for your dingy if you do motor in to Foxy’s dock.  The scramble the next morning for sailors to locate “their” dingy is a hysterical event to watch. (Put your key in a place you can find easily even though your alcohol level may be sky high.  Or, get back to your boat early New Year’s morning, put a pot of coffee on, and sit back and be prepared to be amused all morning watching the dingy chaos.

At Foxy’s there’s always special entertainment for Old Year’s Eve. Headliners and local area bands are onhand to provide non-stop music from dusk till dawn. This year, they will kick things off Sunday evening (Dec 30th) with Extreme Band, which is one of the top bands of the BVI and Caribbean. And on Monday, they are bringing out the Eric Stone Band to help get the party going early with his Nautical Americana style. Shifting to the Outback Main Stage, Maxx Cabello Band is on next and is sure to jam their blues-rock tunes. Cool Sessions Brass swings their sweet Caribbean vibe next on the Outback Main Stage. And if you’re still partying strong, we’ve got DJ Avalanche to keep things going. . . the only reason to stop partying might be for breakfast!!!

After breakfast at Foxy’s on New Year’s Day we often pull up anchor and sail right around the corner of Jost Van Dyke and anchor at Soggy Dollar Bar for our first painkillers of the year – “A Sunny Place For Shady People”.  You’ll  remember  Soggy Dollar Bar and Mick, the bartender, from my past postings. It’s always an forgettable moment laying in their hammock and watching the New Year unfold.  It is an awesome way to spend your first day of 2008.  Let me know what adventures you create for your New Year’s Eve and the first day of 2008.  Happy New Year!  And, remember the quote from Dean Martin, “If you drink, don’t drive. Don’t even putt.”  Until next time…

A pirate ship has been spotted at Norman Island.

It appears that a ship used by the Pirates Of The Caribbean is anchored in the sheltered anchorage of Norman Island called The Bight on this mainly uninhabited jewel in the British Virgin Islands. The truth is better than fact regarding this sighting. It is the world famous pirate ship, the Willie “T”! The Bight is typically the first anchorage one uses when on a week’s charter yacht vacation in the BVI. And, if you don’t have cocktail hour on the Willie “T” you will be missing one of the most unforgettable bars in the Caribbean!

The real name of this pirate ship bar and restaurant is the William Thorton. It is a 98 foot schooner that was transformed into one of the many “hot spots” sailors visit in the Caribbean. The original Willie “T” sank and is now party spot for parrot fish. You will need to make friends immediately with Zeus, the bartender. Just in case you don’t know the rules of bar hopping in the Caribbean, meet the bartender first, tip him BIG before you even order a drink, and you will become the center of any craziness that unfolds for the hours you are there.

Zeus is the main guy to know at the Willie “T”. Zeus also applies Willie “T” tattoos to any willing lady.

There actually was a William Thornton. He was born on May 20, 1759, on Jost Van Dyke, in the British Virgin Islands, and died on March 28, 1828, Washington, D.C. He was educated in Scotland as a physician, but rarely practiced his profession. As an architect, Thornton was self-taught. He also was a painter, and an inventor. William Thornton’s plantation on Tortola was located in the Pleasant Valley area near Nanny Cay.

Other than the floating pirate restaurant and bar, William Thornton’s greatest claim to fame is the design for the United States Capitol Building! His design was submitted after the competition of 1792 had closed, and was approved by President Washington, who praised it for its “grandeur, simplicity and convenience.” A prize of $500 and a city lot was awarded to Thornton on April 5, 1793; he is thus recognized as the first “Architect of the Capitol”. President Washington later appointed Thornton one of the three Commissioners of the Federal District (later the District of Columbia) in charge of laying out the new federal city and overseeing construction of the first government buildings, including the Capitol building of his own design. Don’t you think he would be proud of how his name is now remembered in the Caribbean – the Willie “T”?

The Bight anchorage at Norman Island is believed to be the fabled site of Long John Silver’s treasure trove as described in Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, Treasure Island. There are still treasure seekers combing the island with the off chance that fact and fiction blur together. For the last 30+ years I have anchored at The Bight the only sounds you hear while trying to sleep were goats and the debauchery happening aboard the Willie “T”. This trip I learned that the goats were finally taken off the island – they were originally put on the island by the pirates that used their meat for food on their long voyages. So, the only night time noises left are the revilers on the Willie “T”. Today on the menu is “grog and grub”.

One of the most treasured t-shirts you can get in the Caribbean is the one from the Willie “T.” This is only given to women brave enough to jump off the stern topless. The stern bar is the center of debauchery on deck where body shots are facilitated by ropes and whipped cream, and where the “shotski” is available for synchronized swilling – a water ski modified to hold four shot glasses.

If you are not on a sailing adventure in the BVI and you want to visit the Willie “T” anyway, you can hitch a ride on the Willie “T’s” supply boat, Wet Willie, that leaves Nanny Cay, Tortola daily at 5PM. Leave your watch behind because there is no scheduled return time. It arrives back in Nanny Cay when the last reviler has jumped off the ship.

Because of my many trips to the Willie “T” and because Zeus is one of my favorite bartenders, he gave me his recipe for Zeus Juice. He said it was confidential and if I ever revealed it he would hunt me down and make me pay dearly. Hopefully he won’t read this post because here it is:

Zeus Juice: Mix equal parts pineapple, orange, guava, passion fruit, and mango juice; add a splash of Coco Lopez, a splash of grenadine, and add dark rum according to your taste and according to your goals for the evening. Mix over ice and top with a sprinkle of nutmeg. (Remember to keep this just between you and me.)

Let me know if you got the t-shirt on your next visit to the Willie “T”. Until next time…

In the Caribbean the fashionable drink of the day is OJ on the Rum. No Ford Bronco and no sports memorabilia, but it will help you “get away” and become a legend in your own mind!

You have got to love a drink that captures the hype of what is happening on CNN this past week. This may have nothing to do with infamous events, but like many great drinks or dishes, it has a name easy to remember. It’s a dark rum drink that is rumored to have surfaced in several Caribbean bars the – “OJ on the Rum”!

Your personal Caribbean lifestyle detective, yours truly, is on the hunt to track down the validity of this new concoction that is apparently sweeping the Caribbean like a run amok hurricane. The word on the street is that its popularity might not last very long, but the ingredients sound like it should be ordered no matter what the name,

Start out with a tall glass tumbler filled with ice cubes.
• 2 oz. of Pusser’s Dark Rum (You could also use Cruzan’s Dark Rum, or even Bacardi’s Dark Rum. The key is the quantity of the rum for each drink – a lot!)
• Fill the rest of the tumbler with OJ
• Include a splash of Grenadine just for the color, and a bit of a sweet taste to cut the acidic OJ taste.
• Garnish with a speared orange slice with a tiny rubber football. Place it on top of the drink. You’re guaranteed a smile at the end of the first glass, and after two or three more you will barely remember OJ had anything to do with the Rum.

I will be trying out several versions of this overnight-Caribbean-success to see if it can be perfected enough to send it to my friend, Mick, at Soggy Dollar Bar, and my friend, Foxy, at Foxy’s – both on Jost Van Dyke, BVI.

Come to think of it, I will send this out to each of my favorite drinking establishments in the Caribbean – Latitude 18, Fort Christian Brew Pub, Duffy’s Love Shack, Pusser’s, Caribbean Saloon, Cooper Island Bar, the Willie “T”, and many more. It may become the most popular drink on their bar menu, for at least a week or two. It will be fun to see if all of them can capitalize on the latest drama that is actually not that important in the big scheme of things.

Let me know if you come up with a fun version of this drink. My guess is, it will be worth all of experimentation. If nothing else, we will have a great time trying. Until next time….