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?

One of THE Caribbean “hot spots” are The Turks & Caicos!

We are “beach people”, so we are always on the lookout for our favorite spots to plop down on the Caribbean mashed potato coral sand, soak in the sun, read a book, and swim in the turquoise waters of this magical part of the world.  Guess what, The Turks & Caicos offers 40 islands and cays with some of the BEST beaches we have ever felt squish through our toes!

Because of our addiction to exploring the world, we hang out with similar people with the same addictions. Our friends, Jay and Carol Rosenbaum are two of them. Just like us, they have traveled all over the Caribbean and their favorite beaches are on the island of Providenciales – Grace Bay Beach. You will be stunned when you arrive there because it is a 12 mile long beach with the softest white coral sand you will ever find!  However, it is not for those that are looking for the most chic action in the Caribbean. It is one laid back experience on The Turks and Caicos.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are just 550 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, just to the east of Cuba. The islands are technically in the Atlantic, not the Caribbean, however you didn’t hear that from me. The language is English, the currency is the U.S. dollar, and they are a British Crown Colony. Tourism is the economy, and the beaches, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and fly fishing for bonefish are a big part of that. In addition, the Islands are BIG in off-shore financial services – one of the most appealing banking and tax havens in the world!  They also used to be the world headquarters for exporting salt, conches and lobsters!

If SCUBA diving is your deal, you must meet Wayne Hall who owns Ocean Vibes SCUBA & Watersports on the island of Providenciales. For over eight years, Wayne has created a spectacular business that is focused just on small group dives – eight to ten max. It is a very intimate experience to dive the diverse waters of The Turks and Caicos with Wayne and his team of professionals.  Check him out the next time you are on-island.

Here are two suggestions for your stay in The Turks and Caicos – remembering there are many other awesome choices depending on your interests.  The first is Paradise Inn just off Grace Bay Beach. It is a little boutique hotel with just 17 rooms – daily rates are under $200 $US.  Several steps up in luxury is the Sands Resort at Grace Bay. It has all of the typical amenities of a world class resort with over 100 rooms available – daily rates are typically in the $350+ $US range. Let me know what your favorite spots are.

The real estate opportunities are some of the best in the Caribbean. You remember from a past blog, some of the top values are Turks and Caicos, St. Kitts, Dominica and the Dominican Republic! On Turks and Caicos you have all of the real estate choices you could imagine – from multi-million dollar villas to beach front studios for $150,000 US!

Let us know your real estate needs and we will provide you with some fun choices to consider. I am off to review another project in Anguilla. Stay tuned for what I discover next as your Caribbean lifestyle reporter. Until then…

The last day of celebrating Family, Community, and African culture.

Today is the final day of the Kwanzaa celebration. After seven days of celebrating, it ends on the first day of the year.  Each of the celebration days has a topic.  The final day is focused on Imani – Faith, “…the faith to believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our righteousness, and the ultimate victory of our struggle.”

For each of the seven days’ celebrations, a specific place in the home is chosen to display the symbols of celebration.  A table is spread with a beautiful piece of African cloth.  The mat is placed on the cloth, and all of the other symbols are placed on it which symbolize the deep roots of tradition.  Next, the candle holder is placed on the mat and the seven candles are placed in the candle holder. The colors of the candles are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle – one black candle, three red candles, and three green candles.

The table is then set with two ears of corn, and the Unity Cup. The ears of corn symbolize that all of us are social parents of the children of our community. The Unity Cup is used to pour the “libation” to the ancestors in remembrance and honor of those who paved the path down which we walk and who taught us about the good and beautiful life.  The final additions to the table are; African objects and books on the life and culture of African people to symbolize their commitment to heritage and learning.

The last day of Kwanzaa, January 1st, is for African people a time of sober assessment of things done and things to do, of self-reflection and reflection on the life and future of the people and of recommitment to their highest cultural values in a special way. It is a time to ask and answer soberly and humbly the three Kwanzaa questions: 1) Who am I;  2) Am I really who I say I am; and, 3) Am I all I ought to be? And it is a time to recommit oneself to the highest ideals of what it means to be both African and human in the fullest sense.  We all need to honor and hold special the many cultural celebrations of this world. Kwanzaa is one of those special celebrations. 

All of us start 2008 with high expectations of an unforgettable year of special moments with our loving family and friends. Here’s to every aspect of your magnificent life coming true in 2008!  Until next time…I remain your humble Caribbean lifestyle detective.

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…

Kwanzaa means “first fruits of the harvest” in traditional Africa

Each December 26th the Kwanzaa celebration begins.  It is a celebration that lasts for seven days, ending on January 1st.  Each day focuses on a principle that reaffirms the African commitment to themselves, their families, their community, and their black struggle for equality.

• December 26th – Umoja – Unity
• December 27th – Kujichagulia – Self-Determination
• December 28th – Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility
• December 29th – Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
• December 30th – Nia – Purpose
• December 31 – Kuumba – Creativity
• January 1st – Imani – Faith

The seven principles are collectively referred to as the Nguzo Saba, and are intended to serve as guideposts for meditation and daily living.  The greeting each day of Kwaanza is Habari Gani, and the reply is Habari Gani followed by the principle of the day. Kwanzaa is celebrated by people of African descent in North America, the Caribbean and other parts of the world connected to African heritage.  It was created by M. Ron Karenga in 1966.

The St. John gathering was held in Cruz Bay in a small park near the ferry dock. Lucinda Parsons, Sigma Theta Omega Chapter President welcomed the audience of local residents and tourists.
The Love City Pan Dragons played the America National Anthem and Virgin Islands March. The 3 Sweet trio sang the Black National Anthem and South African Anthem. There were other student performances, as well as the St. John Cultural Dancers.
There are celebrations all week on St. Thomas and St. Croix.  Also check out the local celebrations held in all of the Windward and Leeward islands.  Habari Gani!

Fun Christmas traditions have evolved over the past 200 years in the Caribbean.

The early Caribbean Christmas celebrations were typically mirrors of what was happening in England and Europe.  The only greeting cards available were from the countries that controlled the Caribbean islands.  It was very strange to have greeting cards wishing people a “white Christmas”.   Obviously, the only “white” in the Caribbean are sand and fluffy clouds.  Even the music of the early Caribbean Christmas celebrations was from England and Europe. 
 
What has evolved today are Caribbean Christmas celebrations that reflect the local cultures and unique traditions of this tropical paradise.  Today their greeting cards are often times handmade, or they have a Caribbean flavor to them.  Here is one of my favorite examples from Holiday Card Website.

In addition, the traditions that have evolved include decorating homes with fun paint colors, new colorful window coverings and various types of “Christmas trees” that are decorated with ribbons, ornaments, and colorful lights.  There are family feasts, church celebrations and awesome reggae Christmas music.

Santa is still a worldwide magical symbol of gift giving, and the most anticipated visitor of all children.  I did see a unique presentation of the milk, cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer – there was a surfboard on the beach in front of a friends home that had all of the goodies sitting on it waiting for Santa’s visit.  One of the most unusual moments I have had during Christmas in the Caribbean is coming to an anchorage at Soggy Dollar Bar and seeing Santa lounging in their hammock after a 24 hour whirlwind trip of dropping off presents.  If you have some special Christmas traditions you want to share, let me know.  Enjoy every moment of your Holiday Season!  Until next time.

Our family sends you Holiday greetings and best wishes from the Caribbean!

 This is the time of year that all of us spend time with family and friends, and remember the many blessings that we receive each day.  One of my wishes for you today is that you not only focus on your blessings for a few days in December, but everyday.  There are so many grateful moments that we need to pay attention to each day!  There are people to love, to serve, and even to just listen to that will improve whatever condition they are in.  There is a quote I really like, “If you are wondering if your mission in life is complete… It is not, if you are still alive.”  Below is a prayer that we will be using at our Holiday celebration dinner.  Make a copy of it and review it from time to time.  It means a lot to us.

Dear God, this is the Season of getting together with our loved ones; feast, toast, enjoy the blessings of life – and give thanks.  Thanks for life all around us, under foot, and overhead.

Thanks for the ability to remember the things that we love as well as to forget how much we’ve been hurt. Thanks for fine young bodies and old, venerable minds; for sun on our faces, the rain on the roof, and the food on the table grown by people we don’t even know.  

Thanks that the jets overhead aren’t dropping their bombs, that our healing hands have a place to practice, that children are born every minute of the day, and that death is there to gather us up at the end. And thanks for at least a few days a year when we all take the time to get some perspective.

Best wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season with your dear family and friends!

Have you ever dreamed of participating in the Rolex Cup Regatta or BVI Spring Regatta?

As I reported in my blog posting November 9th, a new competitive sailing opportunity has been created by ONDECK Ocean Racing that allows anyone who is interested in learning about competitive sailing to step “on deck” and have an unforgettable sailing experience.

In the past, in order to participate in any of the Caribbean sailing regattas, such as the International Rolex Cup and the BVI Spring Regattas, you needed to have A LOT of money or know someone who does. Now, you can jump on board one of these high tech racing boats and participate in the most competitive sailing adventures outside of the Americas Cup – and for a fraction of the costs.  I have friends who would love to sail in the Caribbean, but they only want to race.  ONDECK has created an opportunity for these die-hard racers to get the experience they have always dreamed about.                              In addition to the Caribbean regatta series, ONDECK works with corporations for;

• Corporate entertainment sailing days – four to six boat competitions.
• Leadership and team building races.
• Themed sailing events for business client networking.
• Off-site business meetings with sailing as a key activity.
• Exclusive fleet races.

To charter one of the fleet of Farr 65s, or Farr 40s for any of the above charter opportunities and any of the International Rolex Regatta, and the BVI Spring Regattas.  ONDECK boats have even won several of these Regattas with the core ONDECK crews and the charter crew members getting the checkered flags.  I would highly recommend this company and the experience they deliver to their charter racing teams.  Let me know

Kids Are Also Perfect For the Caribbean!

The Caribbean is not just a place for adults to vacation.

Your kids are fully aware of the Caribbean, if not just from watching the Pirates Of The Caribbean series of movies. I am hearing from many of you that have never been to the Caribbean that your kids are now requesting that it be your next vacation destination.  I have done my homework, so here are some suggested Caribbean destinations for your first or next visit:

• Booking a cruise could be your easiest introduction to the Caribbean.  It allows you to scout out many different islands during a week cruise that is not possible by just vacationing on one island. ( A cruise ship doesn’t float my boat, but many people love them!) If you want to take this option consider the 100-passenger Pacific Explorer.)
• The next step into the kid-friendly Caribbean is an all-inclusive resort.  Some resorts to consider for this type of vacation are; Jamaica’s Starfish Trelawny Resort; The Beaches in the Turks and Caicos Islands; Iberostar’s resort on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera; and the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.  All four of these are great choices for you to consider.
• The next step up in kid-friendly Caribbean adventures would be to choose a region.  Three that are family favorites are Jamaica, Mexico’s Yucatan with Cancun as the center of action, and the Dominican Republic. You can visit each of these region’s possibilities on Google or Yahoo! and design your own vacation adventures.
• A charter sailing vacation in the British Virgin Islands would be considered a “theme vacation” with the kids. You pick the yacht together. You decide on your daily anchorages. You decide on your daily adventures. You even decide on your daily menus and beverages. ( This is my personal choice for a family adventure in the Caribbean.)
• A final destination to consider is a 5-star luxury resort like Azul Beach Resort on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. This all-inclusive resort even has “beach butlers”, luxury spas, hair braiding and funky manicures.  This one is over the top for any family wanting to have every one of their needs met at the resort.

So, here is the real deal…the Caribbean can be the most family focused vacation destination you have ever experienced!  No matter how you decide to experience the Caribbean your kids will be really glad you decided to create a vacation that included them.  Let me know if you have some other suggestions we need to pass on.  Until next time…