Who says that the charter industry is just for the young energetic sailing entrepreneurs?  You are about to meet two crews still showing the charter industry that age and a young heart are still the best combo!

So, did you stop by and spend time with s/v Fidelity  and s/v Glory  at the show?  If not, before they leave the docks tomorrow, make sure you meet Captain David from s/v Glory and Captain Owen and Chef Mary from s/v Fidelity.  Bring a pad of paper and be prepared to glean some GREAT STUFF from these “old salt” crews that have contributed so much to the charter yacht industry over the years.

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, every charter yacht has a “story”, and Captain David Kummerle from s/v Glory is one of a kind.  He was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY and grew up with boats.  After graduating from State University of New York in 1965, he moved to St. Croix “for a year or two”.  He taught high school there in science and art for nine years, SCUBA diving for two years, owned and operated several businesses.  Well, the two years have turned into over 40 years!

Within two years of moving to St. Croix, David bought a 30′ yawl as a bare hull. He completed the boat and logged more than 10,000 miles in the Caribbean. David then logged another 7000 miles racing and cruising a variety of his own and other people’s boats. “I know the United States and British Virgin Islands quite intimately” says David. “Besides printer’s ink, I guess I have boats and saltwater in my veins.”

David bought s/v Glory in 1987 as a home for him and his daughter with chartering as something to consider in the future.  Well his daughter grew up and moved away a new adventure of creating a charter yacht business was staring him the face, and he went for the gusto!  David’s reputation is as a “sailor’s sailor”.  Glory is a 3-PAX, and David is the Captain and the Chef.  Also, if you want to learn how to sail, this is the charter for you!  He is a Master sailing instructor, too.  David is probably one of the longest standing members of the Charter League and someone that all of can learn from.  Please meet him.  I promise you will enjoy every moment!

Then there is Captain Owen Jones and Chef Mary Jones of s/v Fidelity.  Even though Owen and Mary are member of “old salt” charter yacht society, you will be hard pressed to keep up with either of them.  So, I walk up to Owen and the second or third sentences out of his mouth was, “So, a man was telling his neighbor, “I just bought a new hearing aid.  It cost me $4,000, and its the state-of-the-art of hearing aids. It’s the best one I have ever had.”  So, the neighbor replied, “Really…what kind is it?”  The man said, “Twelve thirty!”   Do you now get a sense of what you are in for with Owen and Mary?  They have the warmest hearts, and they love to laugh.  Plus, they are incredible sailors and charter yacht owners.

Mary and Owen had been really quite ordinary people before deciding to live their dream of living the sailing life full time.  He was a university professor and Mary an employment manager at the same place of higher education. They retired and traveled the world for ten years with sailing as a major part of those adventures in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Mary and Owen now own s/v Fidelity, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45.2, with the best of all configurations… three staterooms with three cabin-accessible heads. Over the past five years they have sailed her all over the British, U.S. and Spanish Virgin Islands as well as down-island through St. Maarten, Antigua, Montserrat and Dominica, and completing their island-chain sailing experience through St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Grenada.  Booking s/v Fidelity for charter vacation adventure is not to be missed.  You see, age is still in your mind and heart.  You have just met two crews that may be in the “old salt” charter yacht society, but you will never believe it by hanging with them for a day or a week. 

OK, so we all better get cleaned up and ready for the Hawaiian Luau awaiting us tonight on the great lawn of Yacht Haven Grande.  I learned that shoes are even optional.  Barefoot, or flip-flops are my choice of foot attire.  See you there!