Eric Ackerson, the VICL Executive Director has produced one of the best and largest fleet of charter yachts for the Fall Boat Show in many years.  What an impressive sight to see the line-up of boats along the promenade of Yacht Haven Grande’s marina.  From mega power yachts such as m/y Runaway to intimate monohulls, such as s/y Honinari, the charter yacht brokers have any option available for their customers seeking the vacation of a lifetime experiencing the Caribbean from their own luxury yacht with a rock-star status crews.  In addition to viewing the charter yachts,  Erik has scheduled a variety of programs for the crews and charter brokers to attend.  From Mr. Joe Hosie – Commercial Banking,  presenting an overview of the Territories economic health, to Ms. Carolyn Stevens-Lanchlos from the Department of Tourism regarding the critical role of the charter industry is to tourism in the Virgin Islands, the participants will certainly leave the show with a clear understanding of the economic health of the Virgins Islands. Read the rest of this entry »

So, I am traveling to Road Town, Tortola for the BVI Charter Yacht Show, flying American Airlines through Miami, San Juan, and then to Tortola.  You may remember that on my way to the 2007 Boat Show I was stranded in Miami on my way to St. Thomas overnight with my American Airlines flight being cancelled because of mechanical problems.  I ended up flying the next morning to the Caribbean on American 1780.  Two of the crew members on my new flight were Eddie and Tammy.  Well, guess who was a crew member on my flight today – Eddie?  As he was serving the passengers I swore I had met him before.  Near the end of the flight I asked if I could speak with him.  I told him I knew we had met before during my flights back and forth from the Caribbean.  He paused, then smiled, and let me know that I was correct.  He named the flight and even reminded me I had given him my business card.  He has been following my articles about the Caribbean and welcomed me aboard.

During our conversation I asked what had changed in his life since we last met.  He gave me a great quote, “Nothing has changed sine we met two years ago except the light bulbs in my home.”  I knew there was more to the story so I probed a bit more.  He had actually moved from Miami to Seattle, and is now stationed in San Francisco.  What a fun surprise for both of us that he is just 35 miles from our Bay Area office.  During our conversation he asked if I had ever been to Alaska.  I let him know that I follow the sun wherever it is in the world.  He said, that before Alaska’s pristine beauty ends that I needed to get there.  Eddie has been flying since 1986, and as long as he still finds it interesting he will keep flying.  He did say that when he decides to quit he will buy a Winnebago and travel North America with nothing but is dog, Mason, and beautiful views each day.

As I was departing the plane, he let me know that I will see Tammy, another of the crew I met in November 2007, on my flight from Miami back to San Francisco.  I look forward to catching up to her, too.  This world is way too small.  If a person travels back and forth to the Caribbean as much as I do, I am bound to run into many of the same people who have become members of my fun community of friends.  Glad to see you again, Eddie.  I am now off to the Admrial’s Club to get a little rest before my last flights to Tortola.

I arrived in Tortola about 11PM, dropped my stuff off in my room at Maria By The Sea, and wandered over the line up of yachts to see if Jonny and Kelly from Best Revenge V were still up.   They were still up after four hours of hosting the boat brokers for a martini party.  Lots and hugs and then a bit of catching up since I had not seen them for over a year.  In addition, there were a couple of crew that had stopped by to help clean up and have a final-final.    Barry and Bridget ( Barry proposed to Bridget at Jonny and Kelly’s wedding last September in Wales!!! ) from s/y Ad Star, and Alastar from s/v Marmot are now new friends to add to the world of the crews that I look forward to following over the years.   Jonny served me a Rum Punch just for old times sake, and I was off for a few hours sleep before the marathon of four days writing and posting articles about this unforgettable charter yacht show.   Stay tuned…lots more fun to come in the next eight days.

So, I have started my travels to Tortola to begin my internet reporting of the 2009 BVI Charter Yacht Society Boat Show  that will be headquartered at Village Cay Marina.  This is the annual gathering of the charter yacht community from all over the world that shows up for four days of previewing the finest charter yachts you will ever see.  Each of the crew members have worked for a months preparing their yacht for this show.  The Brokers will be inspecting the boats and their crew in order to see which ones they will have in their inventory of vacation yacht charters they will recommend to their clients back in their specific regions of the world.  It is a stressful time for the crews to make sure everything is perfect, inside and outside of their yachts, for each of the four days of the show.  They will also be preparing dishes to be sampled and some of their favorite rum drinks will be mixed  in order to intice the Brokers to stay on their yacht long enough to get a sense of what it would be like to have clients on board for a week or more of fun in the sun on a fully crewed yacht.  I am fortunate enough to be the one that is doing the internet reporting on the show each day while posting my many articles on this site for the enjoyment of all those who are unable to be here personally.  I look forward to you checking in and leaving your comments over the next week of my reports from both shows. Read the rest of this entry »

Jim Walberg will again be providing the internet reporting to the Virgin Island Charter League Fall Boat Show at Yacht Haven Grande next week.  Below is the Show’s schedule and all of the sponsors and event participants.  Check in each day for the Show’s updates.  It is always an unforgettable event.  Until next time…fair winds!!!

St Thomas Fall Yacht Show – November 10^th-12^th – Yacht Haven Grande Marina

Monday November 9^th

Check-In: Noon – 6pm Pool Side – YHG

Dress is casual and swim wear is encouraged.  After a long day of preparing your boat for the show, cool off with your fellow yacht crews and catch up on off-season exploits while enjoying cocktails and appetizers around the pool. Sponsored by Hooters of St Thomas, Wikked,  Budget Marine,  and Bellows International Read the rest of this entry »

The BVI Boat Show opens next month at Village Cay Marina on Tortola, BVI November 5th – 8th.  This is one of my favorite Charter Vacation Yacht events of the year and I will be doing the internet reporting during the show.  The Charter Yacht Boat Shows allows the Vacation Yacht Brokers from all over the world to view the Caribbean charter fleet at one location the week before their charter season officially begins mid-November.  The Charter Yacht Society was founded in 1982 by the owners of crewed yachts in the BVI.  Charter Yacht Society is the education arm, and advocate for the issues facing the charter industry within the BVI.  Crewed chartered vacations in the BVI serve clients from around the world, and the member-yachts of CSY are viewed as the best of the charter industry.  Janet Oliver is the Executive Director of BVI Charter Yacht Society, and is the hardest working advocate for the industry that you will ever meet.  Her efforts increase dramatically during all the planning for the Boat Show each November. Read the rest of this entry »

The Caribbean Charter fleet is getting polished and varnished  for the 35^th Annual Charter Boat Show hosted by the Virgin Island Charter League  November 10^th to 12^th in St. Thomas.  The location will be the beautiful Yacht Haven Grande Marina  which is one of the headquarters for the maxi-yachts in the Caribbean.  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 will be at their sparkling best! Read the rest of this entry »

There are 25 Caribbean countries that Jim Walberg  follows relating to their real estate economic trends.  The trends he follows includes Caribbean fractionals, villas, townhomes and condos.  In spite of the current global economic crisis there are international real estate markets that are still thriving.  Remember, all real estate is local.  Four of the locations in the Caribbean that are thriving are the Dominican Republic,  Belize, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Dominica.  There is an amazing amount of cash that continues to sit on the sidelines waiting for smart values in the world of international real estate.  The Caribbean is one of those locations where the cash is being spent.  Read the rest of this entry »

The first week of January 2009 the Virgin Island Water & Power Authority  made a commitment to begin moving away from the use of fossil fuel as it’s only means of energy.  The long awaited agreement was signed this week with Denver-based Alpine Energy Group  to build waste-to-energy facilities on St. Thomas and St. Croix.

This project has been a long awaited event that will now use USVI waste and convert it into energy for the islands.  Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority  has also contracted Alpine Energy Group to reduce the Territory’s two landfills that are bursting at the seams.  Both of these critical contracts are for 20 years.

“The project clearly demonstrates that two government agencies can really work together and reach a turning point from which they can both move into the future as they responsibly are guardians of our natural resources.”  Gov. John deJongh Jr.  said during the press conference. Read the rest of this entry »

When a yacht leaves the docks for sailing adventure, the family and friends of the crew are standing on the dock waving your hands goodbye, and shouting “Do not be fearful!”  This well known sailor’s mantra is because the crew have no idea what is going to happen during their voyage. 

This phrase, “Do not be fearful,”  is in many aspects of my life, not just sailing.  How about real estate today.  It is the phrase that is used by both the crew and the family and friends staying behind.  My experience with this mantra is based on the fact that no one knows what will ever happen on a sailing adventure.  The only certainty this is known by the crew and their family and friends is the latitude and longitude of the destination of the voyage.  What happens from the moment you set sail to the moment you drop anchor at your destination is what is called “a sailing adventure”,  or maybe we could substitute it with a business phrase – “a real estate adventure.” Read the rest of this entry »

There is a very BIG disappointment In the sighting of your home port in the Caribbean islands after a week of decadence on a chartered yacht vacation!

It is always a challenge to end a crewed charter sailing vacation in the Caribbean.  It is when you know you are going back to the mainland.

Usually on the third or fourth day of a charter vacation in the Caribbean the watches seem to disappear, the conversation slows down, and books seem to be read at galactic speed in between the snorkeling and SCUBA diving. There is an amazing transformation that happens when you are in a tropical paradise on a yacht while being pampered 24 hours a day by your captain and 1st Mate, and 5-star chef.

Mark Twain was on a Caribbean voyage a 75 years ago and had a similar experience. This is how he described the moment when the yacht was coming into port:

“There is no unhappiness like the misery of sighting land after a cheerful and carefree voyage.”

I can’t tell you how many times this has been my experience.  Have you had a similar experience when you have ended your charter yacht vacation, or, really, any unforgettable vacation? Let me know your thoughts… Again, if you are on-island in St. Thomas the first week or so of November, look me up at Yacht Haven Grande during the VICL Caribbean Charter Boat Show.  I have done the internet reporting for this amazing week of previewing the most luxurious charter vacation yachts in the Caribbean.  And…I we would be glad to be your guide in setting up your Caribbean charter yacht vacation.