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…

Late last July I began to inform the World about my passion for the Caribbean…

WOW! Yesterday I received a call from Marisa Katz who is doing an article for the London Financial Times regarding what is happening in the Caribbean real estate market, specifically in The Turks & Caicos. I asked her why she called me for this information. She stated that my Caribbean Islands Realty blog site, that I launched the last week of July, was viewed as one of the most credible and easy to read blogs in the Caribbean! I have to tell you that I was blown away.

You know that I have been hanging out in the Caribbean since 1975, sailing and participating in the real estate markets of the Virgin Islands. I still have much more to discover, but I DO know the Caribbean – from the Turks & Caicos to Aruba. And, I have my “shellback” earring as a symbol of sailing across the equator. All I am doing with this blog site is being a “…citizen journalist noticing what is going on in the world in which I live, work and play.”

My original intent with this blog site was to learn how to implement what I learned from the books “The New Rules Of Marketing & PR” by David Meerman Scott, and “Influencer – The Power To Change Anything”, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler. My thoughts last July were to learn the rules and strategies of blogging on a site that no one would really notice, and then implement the strategies with my San Francisco real estate company. My game plan was to really focus on the Caribbean in about five years. However, the world discovered what I was writing about regarding the Caribbean, and the power of blogging surfaced in such a dramatic way that it has launched our Caribbean real estate business five years early!

Since late July we have signed over 15 marketing agreements with international Caribbean real estate developers who are creating full-deeded and fractional-deeded ownership properties. The access that has been created in the Caribbean for me with influential elected Caribbean officials, and the Caribbean sailing community has been amazing. Because of this access I did the internet reporting on my blog site for the Virgin Island Charter League’s 33rd Annual Boat Show in St. Thomas, USVI. That experience allowed me to interview Gov. deJongh, Lt. Gov. Francis, and Senator Hill from the USVI.

During those interviews I was able to introduce them to one of the key issues facing the charter yacht community – the U.S. law that limits the number of charter yacht guests that can be picked up from the USVI to six guests. If there are more than six charter guests they need to be picked up on some other island – 99% of them are picked up in the BVI. This issue alone robs the USVI of all the money spent by charter guests being picked up in the BVI for hotels, taxis, restaurants, souvenirs, etc. If the USVI were allowed to have charter yachts pick up seven or more guests it would significantly increase the tourist dollars spent in the USVI! Each of these elected officials listened to my opinions and are now in negotiations with the Virgin Island Charter League to see how this law can be changed – a very specific example of the POWER of blogging!

Who would have ever dreamed that this “Old Salty Dog” at 60 years old would ever be noticed by anyone in the Blogisphere? See…there is hope for all of us who are willing to notice what is happening in the worlds we are living and working in, and putting our experiences into writing. Until next time…Comments?

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…

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

Let our lives be entertaining.

What do you say?  Lets all commit to at least an entertaining life. OK?  Some further perspectives from the Caribbean have to do with the Captain and the crews of the charter fleet who get up each morning with a huge task of creating unforgettable experiences everyday for their guests.  As I mentioned in an earlier blog posting about the tough job of Captains and crews,  they are the cowboys of the Caribbean Sea.  Captain Chris from Blu Moon sent me this email today.  There was no other message other than this quote.  Enough said.  Enjoy!

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intent of arriving safely, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, my body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

Jason Kumpf from Raffles Tortola sends in his experience at the Boat Show

I spoke with Jason Kumpf, one of the key marketing people for Raffles Tortola at Lambert Bay. You remember the two postings I had in September about this eco-friendly ultra-luxury resort that is being developed at this gorgeous tropical paradise on the back side of Tortola, BVI? Our company is one of the representatives of this project to our worldwide clientele. Here are some of his thoughts about attending the Boat Show last week

“I heard about the Virgin Island Charter League Boat Show from Jim Walberg, a recent business partner, and now a dear friend. Besides the beautiful Yacht Haven Grande at Charlotte Amalie,, and the manner in which their staff delivered memorable customer service every day, and the amazing charter boat fleet, the “people” are the real story of the Boat Show.

From the local people I met, like Big Mama, to the captains and crew, like Captain Simone from Clasship I, to the USVI Governor, Lt. Governor, and Senator, to Jim Walberg. The “people” always create the extraordinary experience, plus Jim is a unique part of that group of Caribbean “stars”.

To give you a perspective on Jim that I gained over the two days I spent with him at the Boat Show, you need to know that what you see is merely the surface of a very deep and thoughtful person. In order for you to understand why he is incredibly outgoing, upbeat and the wise person he is, you must understand that he has lived and died four times in the past three years. Literally died!

I can’t fully comprehend the experience of being resuscitated even once, but I can fully appreciate the state of mind in which a survivor like Jim is in everyday. He is a survivor of prostate cancer. He had ulcerative colitis in such a severe way that his colon and rectum were fully removed. He also had several additional major health issues that showed up because of the battering and beating his body took over a two year period of time – having a ten and half hour surgery to repair heart damage from these events, water on the brain, shingles, and a gall bladder that blew up.

So, do you understand why each moment is a blessing for Jim, and he shares those blessing with everyone he meets. He gives everyone he meets permission to recognize their own blessing which is actually calledl their daily lives. Jim, thanks for the insights, and see you soon on-island! I thought I was spending time with a Realtor representing properties worldwide. What I discovered was how to look at life in a much different manner.”

Jason Kumpf – Raffles Tortola

Shelly Tucker from the yacht Three Moons finally is regaining her voice and has logged in.

Shelly’s Comments: I’ve finally had a couple of days to breath and have begun the process of sending formal “Thank You’s” to everyone that attended the show. (I still haven’t fully regained my voice!) Jim, thanks so much for your personal support of VICL and the 33rd Annual Show with your Internet reporting! The wave of excitement is continuing to carry us on to more positive projects for the local marine industry in the Caribbean.

The grand opening of the 33rd Annual Charter Boat Show, in my mind, was like unwrapping a long awaited present. I never dreamed when I contacted Governor John deJongh, Lieutenant Governor Francis R. Gregory, Senator Lewis Hill, Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson Doty, and West Indies Corporation’s President Edward Thomas, that they would not only attend and speak at the Boat Show, but also stay and enjoy the festivities on Thursday night that was in their honor.

The island is still buzzing with the news of the success of the first show at Yacht Haven Grande. Media releases are being typed, the best photos from the show are being collected & chosen for release and our thoughts are already turning towards the planning for next year’s Boat Show.

Yacht Haven Grande has already given their formal approval for hosting the show next year! Ken Criswell, Island Global Yachting Caribbean Regional Manager, Marina Manager Kristin Fritz and Derrick Franklin have all given their approval to proceed with planning for the 2008 show. We need to finalize the dates with the BVI Charter Yacht Society; but right now, it looks like it’s going to be November 10th, 11th and 12th of 2008. Announcements will be made soon to the Charter Leagues and the Charter fleet.

I feel we’ve developed a good working relationship with Yacht Haven Grande with respect and trust for each other. With the feedback we are receiving from the show attendees, we should be able to easily surpass this year’s event in size and scope of creating three days that deliver value to all attendees.

Everyone at Yacht Haven Grande was wonderful to work with. Their professionalism and willingness to jump in there and help get the job done was much appreciated. They worked hard to facilitate a good experience for everyone. Many of the yachts had not docked at the marina before. It can be nerve wracking docking at a new marina; but not at Yacht Haven Grande! They were completely smooth and efficient! All the restaurants did a beautiful job of making sure that our show attendees were well fed and happy. Excellent service at a world class marina is what Yacht Haven Grande is all about and they exceeded everyone’s expectations!

I suppose the funniest thing was simply seeing all our friends and brokers that we’ve known for many years go all out with their costumes for the Pirate Party! It was amazing to see so much “Piracy Participation”!

I really enjoyed seeing how many yacht crews and brokers attended the seminars hosted by the West Indies Corporation. One of the requests that we had from everyone this year was to “educate us”! The wine seminars, rum seminars with the Bacardi Ambassador, and the marine related seminar hosted by lawyer Mike Fitzsimmons were well attended. They all had great reviews!

Michael Fitzsimmons, the local Virgin Island admiralty and maritime attorney, and former charter boat skipper and dive instructor, spoke about several unique aspects of maritime law including maritime liens, insurances issues, and common causes of lawsuits against vessels and owners. He took questions from the audience concerning liability waivers and limitation of liability laws. The attendees of this seminar raved about the information provided.

One of the members of the VICL Board of Governors happened to be on a plane full of charter yacht brokers departing St. Thomas. He reported that the brokers were ecstatic with the success of the show and cannot wait to come back for next years event – the 34th Annual VICL Boat Show! Just wait ’til you see the events we are planning for next year’s show! It will blow your socks off. ( You know Jim, I don’t remember ever seeing you with socks on – ever! )

Shelly Tucker – Yacht Three Moons

33rd Annual Virgin Island Charter League Boat Show – a post-event perspective

I never dreamed what I committed to do with four postings a day for this event.

A blogger is a citizen journalist writing about things he/she observes. Last week, I attended the VICL 33rd Annual Charter Boat show, not as a charter yacht broker, but as an internet blog reporter with a commitment to deliver four postings a day. My task was to find four interesting stories a day to write about and add photos to the posting. I had no idea what I had committed to because I had never written more than four blog postings a week. It was like being a newspaper reporter with four deadlines a day! I needed to have my creative antennas out at all times in order to see if I could come up with a new angle on the events that were unfolding at the Boat Show.

In the process of creating the postings, I took over 400 photos in four days. The photos were also a BIG part of the inspiration of each of the postings. By the end of the second day of the boat show a momentum began to surface of the participants recognizing who I was and what I was doing. Everyday I passed out my business cards and letting people know that I was posting about the boat show on www.CaribbeanIslandsRealty.com . What gained momentum were the number of people who wanted me to interview them and take their photos so they could be on the internet. Hopefully, I did not disappoint the participants in the show.

I like to focus on the service providers of any even environment – restaurant wait staff, bar tenders, yacht marina service people, volunteers, etc. That aspect of my postings turned out to be some of the most fun. Because of allowing this group of people to participate in my work, I always was able to get a table at a restaurant and to get a seat at the bars.

The governor, lieutenant governor, and a senator of the Virgin Islands were at the opening reception for the show. Because I was doing the internet interviews, they were glad to participate and answer my interview questions. It allowed me access to these important policy makers for the Virgin Islands that I would have never had if I was just a charter yacht broker for the show. The savvy marketing people and public figures clearly understand the power of the internet and they want and need the exposure.

Another observation is that if a person opens up their consciousness to having “magic” happen each day, it will happen. Remember in my first posting of the boat show it was about my flight being canceled because of mechanical difficulties? It caused me to spend the night in Miami instead of St. Thomas. I allowed my brain to stay open to having that event be OK because it meant there was someone(s) for me to meet. I met Betsy and Marques. Also keeping my brain open I met Bill Tait while he was checking his email at Yacht Haven Grande. Bill emailed me the quote that encouraged him during his first few months in the Caribbean from Mark Twain. I met Megan and Amber at the Rum Hut as they called taxis for me each night. I met Catherine, the manager of Wikked Restaurant & Bar. I met Big Momma who sold the hats and t-shirts for all of the businesses at Yacht Haven Grande – and so on, and so on. These are the people who help create the “Caribbean experience”.

A final observation about the last five days is the “viral marketing” that occurred because of one person telling another person, and another person about my blog, which resulted in visitors from 16 different countries in the past few days. I never ever dreamed that the “viral marketing” aspect of blogging was so powerful. All of the results from this blogging marathon would not have been possible if it had not been for my Blogging Coach, John Harper. He worked behind the scenes as I sent him my articiles and photos, and then he would transform them into postings that resulted into something that made sense and created continuity on my internet site. I am grateful for the services that John delivered to this project. I have still not fully downloaded on all the events of the past five days, but as I sort things out I will let you know more of my discoveries. Until next time…

Now it is show time for the charter fleet and their awesome service providers!

I am struggling to find a way to put closure to the magical experiences and people mingled with at the 33rd Annual VICL Charter Boat Show. The past four days have seemed like a month of memories. In fact, that is probably true. None of this would have been possible without all of the awesome service providers that most people never notice. So, maybe I should conclude this blog posting project acknowledging as many of them as I can remember. I already seek the forgiveness of those that I miss mentioning. ( If I forget to mention your name, email me so I can correct the blog posting and include you. Bur first – check out the next post which will be a slide show of the entire event!:)

• American Airlines and their awesome crews. If my plane leaving Miami for St. Thomas on Tuesday evening had not broken down I would have missed out on meeting Betsy, from Betsy’s Bar, and Marques from VI EcoTours. On flight 672 out of St. Thomas to Miami, for a moment I was able to stand at the door and say to the arriving passengers, “Welcome to American Airlines! You are about to have an unforgettable flying experience!” The first class crew was Silka and Kathy who let me have this moment of fun and fame. The first class crew on flight 1780 – Tammy, Eddie, and Julie, had their hands full with challenges of small mechanical problems and having too many first class guests asking for their chicken dish and running out of it. They demonstrated what professionals are all about. About a half hour into the flight out of Miami we were told to look out the left side of the aircraft so we could see the launch of the space shuttle. (Holy Moly! I still am in awe of space stuff because I think it is magic.) Thank you American!
• American Airlines Admiralty Club: During my long layover in Miami on Tuesday and my long layover flying home, the Admiralty Club took great care of me. One of the stars was Barb, aka, “Barbwire”. Thank you! ( By the way, her husband, Murphy, owns Contractor Shutter Supply in St. Thomas – (340) 776-6654.) I also met David McBride from International Utility Specialist. ( He lives in St. Thomas with his company HQ in Iowa. He also is good friends with Betsy and recently played golf with her husband, Tom. Go figure.)
• Shelly Tucker and the VICL Board of Governors who produced the show get a standing ovation. It was one of the best VICL Boat Shows in YEARS! Congratulations.
• Charter Yacht Brokers: This is the group from all over the country who work so hard throughout the year to fill up all the charter fleet with wonderful customers. Thank you!
• Yacht Haven Grande was my first impression of the Boat Show. The show would not have happened without their highly professional and kind staff. They opened their doors to me and allowed me to come and go as if I was one of their team as I wrote and posted 14 blogs about the Boat Show. Some of the their Team that come to mind are Christina, Jennifer, Christine, Sherry, Bernard, and Derick. Plus, their office is where I met my new friend, Bill Tait while he was checking his email at the computer next to me. Thank you!
• The Charter Fleet Crews: The Captains are the giants of the sea, but without a First Mate, Chef, Steward, and even a 4th Mate which is the title I take anytime I am a crew member, there would be no “Crewed” charter experience. Thank you all!
• ONDECK: They provided four racing yachts and crews for match races everyday for the Charter Brokers and their guests. It was FREE! What a thrill crew member Killian and Johnny, plus many others gave the Boat Show introducing them to a fabulous new chartering opportunity. Thank you, Pamela and Clive for setting this up!
• Wikked: This was my kitchen and bar away from home. Every meal I had throughout the Boat Show was at Wikked. Here are some of the staff that gave me TLC with every visit; Patricia, Norma, Sha Sha, Romona, Johnny T, Big Momma, and the manager and my special Caribbean lady, Catherine! Thank you all!
• Paradise Point: The party they threw for the Boat Show was amazing and it would not have been possible without Murray’s staff of professionals like James, Tony, Elroy, and, most importantly, Chef Alicia.
• Rum Hut: Thank you Megan and Amber for introducing me to a Voodoo Rum and for calling a taxi for me at the end of each day. You are why I met Joseph my favorite taxi driver. Thank you both!
• St. John Brewers: The Governors reception on Thursday night required many volunteer bar tenders, and Kevin and Cheech from St. John Brewers. In addition, Chrystie and Stacey from the Yacht Haven Grande food and beverage staff were called to duty at the last minute at the cash bar. They did not get all the tips typical of this event because there was also a free bar. So, all of you that put money in the tip jar anyway, thank you, too.

As I mentioned, there are MANY others that need to be thanked who were also the service providers for the Boat Show, for all of those who used the airlines to get their, and who will be delivering an unforgettable experience all year for the charter guests who discover this vacation opportunity of a life time. It has been my pleasure to share the Boat Show with all of you. My next stop is San Francisco where I will need an ambulance to pick me up and take me directly to a detox center so I get the Caribbean rum from taking over the rest of my red blood cells. Thanks for sharing the experience of the 33rd Annual Virgin Islands Charter League Boat Show with me each day! There is magic in the air if you just pay attention. Fair winds to all of you! Until next time…

The last night’s Pirate Party was a fitting end to an unforgettable 33rd Annual Virgin Islands Charter League Boat Show!

What a show! Shelly Tucker from Three Moons and her entire committee delivered one of the classiest Charter Boat Shows in recent memory. It officially ended tonight with the Pirates Party at the huge marina center right in the middle of the harbor.

The planning and work required to create a Pirates Of The Caribbean atmosphere allowed all of us to wander out of our boxes and step into the characters of the pirate world. I guess it is no surprise given that captains and crews are a bit crazy anyway.

I made some unofficial choices for best costume and best pirate pet. I wish you could have seen all of the candidates. If you had you may have disagreed with my selection process.

The rum flowed, there were plenty of wenches and pirates, with everyone remembering the pirates code of ethics – “Dead men tell no tales!” That means, whatever happens at the Pirate Party stays at the Pirate Party. It is similar to Las Vegas.

It was also a night of saying, “Until we meet again, mate!” All of the participants realize they will be together again soon, whether on a Caribbean voyage, or at one of the hundreds of bars as a pint is raised to good times ahead. There are two quotes I felt were appropriate for this posting. Enjoy! See you in the morning…

Let my boat of life be light, packed with only what I need – a homely place to stay and simple pleasures, a few friends worth the name, someone to love and someone to love me, a cigar or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink, for a thirst is a dangerous thing. – Jerome Klapka Jerome

There is no unhappiness like the misery of sighting land again after a cheerful and carefree voyage. – Mark Twain