The Spanish Virgins are islands between St. Thomas and San Juan

Today many of the yachts will be shoving off for either charters or home ports to prepare for their charter season. This has allowed me to take it a bit slower today. While I was in the Yacht Haven Grande downloading the posting for last night’s Paradise Point Party, I ran into Captain Pierre and Chef Adele from Honiara I. They had spoken to me several times during the past few days and asked me to keep my ears open regarding any deals they might find in purchasing a Beneteau 51 so they could expand their charter capabilities this next season.

By keeping my ears tuned to conversations about yachts for sale, I kept hearing that there were yacht owners in Venezuela that were getting VERY nervous about Chavez nationalizing EVERYTHING in the next few months as he continues to want to be the next Castro in Latin America. Because of their fears, they want to liquidate as many of their assets as possible.

Margot Rose – a charter broker in St. Thomas, told me about a yacht in Venezuela that a friend of hers owned that was a great value at $150,000, that would likely sell for $75,000! (The typical yacht bargains are in April and May in Ft. Lauderdale after a new boat owner discovers that a season of sailing the Caribbean is WORK, and they want out.) I connected Pierre and Adele with Margot this morning at breakfast, but Margot shared with them that the boat had actually sold yesterday. (This is not the forum yet to discuss the ramifications to the Western Hemisphere of the mess that is going on in Venezuela.)

Late yesterday I rushed by yacht Blu Moon and only spent a moment with Captain Chris and First Mate Julie. So, after breakfast at my new favorite hangout, Wikked, I stopped by their yacht for an extended chat. I am so glad I did. They have chartered for over ten years and have been married for almost 25 years. They met in Kansas and the story is to long as to how they ended up in the Caribbean. What was most interesting to me was their favorite chartering area – the Spanish Virgin Islands.

I have seen them from the air when flying to the Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico, but I have never actually have sailed around them. The stories that unfolded let me know I have missed a very special part of the Caribbean the last 30+ years. And, the experiences they shared happened with their eyes gleaming and big smiles on their faces. They are passionate about the unspoiled beauty and very laid back style of the Spanish Virgins.

As I walked back down the Boat Show docks I waved to many new captains and crews that have been added to my list of Caribbean friends. One of those is Killian from ONDECK Ocean Racing. He was preparing one of the four racing yachts that were at the boat show providing daily match racing for the Charter Brokers. We sat and shared stories for a few minutes that focused on how some of the very best people we know are connected to sailing.

As we wondered why that was the case, I came back to the experiences I have had the last few days while mingling with courageous Captains and crews who are living their dreams everyday. You must be in a state of commitment to leave the comfortable “shore” of life – both figuratively and literally. You will never get to “new lands” standing on the shore and wishing you were there.

You must get in your “boat of life” and GO in order to have that happen. Everyday the captains and crews of yachts are demonstrating that commitment. It is very inspiring. As we were talking, Clive – one of the owners of ONDECK, stopped by for a bit of a chat. In the midst of our chat he realized I was the one doing the internet blog reporting for the Boat Show and asked if I would stop by their St. Thomas office in Havensight and speak with Pamela Busby – the actual manager of ONDECK, plus she is his darling sweetheart. How could I resist. (Hang with me on this posting. It is a bit long, but it will hopefully be worth the read.)

I took a stroll over to the ONDECK office and walked into to what appeared to be a sail loft. At first glance there was no one there. From the upstairs loft a voice said, “Welcome home!” It was Pamela, and she had no idea it is one of my favorite greetings. I looked up and smiled and asked if I could come up the loft stairs and join her in her office. She said, “Of course! They are around back.” The next hour that unfolded was another magical moment for me in the Caribbean.

What occurred were two strangers that actually happened to be old friends who had not seen each other in 40+ years. We started talking about the purposefulness of life and how no human connection is a coincidence – a life lived “on purpose”. So, since we were destined to meet today how could we create a spectacular experience in the time we had? That is exactly what happened. Not only did we explore the work required to participate in a purposeful life, but I discovered that Betsy, from “Betsy’s Bar” – the person I met and wrote about in my first posting for the Boat Show, is one of Pamela’s dearest friends.

I let her know that it was such a pleasure to share a dinner with Betsy on Tuesday night in Miami. She said that I really had no idea that I had spent an evening with one of the most special people in the Caribbean. I assured her that I was well aware of that fact because of the experience I had. Pamela wanted to know more about the power of blogging and it’s effect on getting you on the first page of Google or Yahoo!. I explained to her what I have learned and let her know that after you learn the “rules”, strategies always win over rules.

What I have been doing is the practicing of strategies and let her know how it could benefit ONDECK or really any business. There are many topics still waiting for Pamela, Clive and I to explore, but they will need to wait for another time – which there will be. Another magical Caribbean moment came to a close. The afternoon is young and there are more inspirational people to meet.

Plus, the Boat Show Pirate Party is tonight. My plane leaves tomorrow. I may need an ambulance to meet me at the San Francisco airport. See you soon…