Alton Brown Goes Offshore!

Imagine visiting St. Kitts and brewing up a bush tea created from fragrant grasses foraged from the roadside. Or, how about visiting a lolo stand on St. Martin and sipping on a local drink called, mauby, or even helping a local family prepare a broiled fish feast with local ingredients and traditions. Well, now your imagination is only a remote click away. The Food Networks' kitchen geek- Alton Brown- and his crew have taken the 3rd season of his popular show, "Feasting on Asphalt" offshore. The four-part series follows Brown's journey on two 50' catamarans as he explores the unique flavors of the Caribbean in "Feasting on Waves." He starts his journey in St. Kitts and travels through the Leeward Islands to the BVI. In the spirit of "Feasting on Apshalt", he seeks out the most authentic, traditional foods of the regions and meets the people who create them. Getting away from the typical "Cruise cuisine", travel with Brown as he ventures to roadside stands, street vendors, farmers' markets, spice houses and the homes of local cooks who make regional specialities. This week features the episode, Won Love. You can find it on the Food Network channel on October 1 at 8pm/7c; October 4 at 6 pm/5c; and October 5 at 2pm/1 c. If you would like to catch the previous episodes of this interesting series, you can go to: http://www.foodnetwork.com/feasting-on-waves/index.html.
And, if you would like to try your hand at Caribbean cooking in your own kitchen, check out our article archive and go to "Got Rum? Part Two: Recipes for Drinks and Delectables" or go to our newsletter, Charter Chatter, to find yummy Caribbean cuisine you can whip up yourself! - Donna

Click for more information on a Caribbean Sailing Vacation.

Barbados: Center for International Business

You probably thought that Barbados was just the main hub of Southern Caribbean flights from North America and Europe on your way to a yacht charter in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Yet there is much more to this low-lying, most easterly island of the Lesser Antilles with its rolling countryside covered with sugar cane and cotton fields. Often referred to as,"Little England", Barbados, with its long-standing stable government, is also a unique center for international business. This Caribbean island is the sixth largest domicile for captive insurance companies worldwide. Captive insurance companies are insurance companies established with the specific objective of financing risks emanating from their parent group or groups, but they also insure risks of the group's customers as well. Using a captive insurer is a risk management technique where a business forms its own insurance company subsidiary to finance its retained losses in a formal structure. The term "captive" comes from the fact that the policyholder owns the insurance company ie. the insurer is captive to the policyholder. The most common use of captive insurance is to cover medical malpractice, due to the high cost of such coverage by traditional insurers. Vehicle insurance, chiefly for physical damage and passenger liability, is also common. There are currently 301 active insurance companies transacting business out of Barbados. --Donna

Click for more information on BVI Yacht Charters.

2008 De Jam Festival

This year's De Jam Festival in Antigua is from September 26-October 3rd. De Jam began five years ago in Antigua as an event for music lovers from the club scene that celebrated the talents of DJs around the world playing the best in music. The event is seven days of non-stop music in some of the most beautiful locations and beaches on Antigua. This event allows visitors from around the world to enjoy some of their favorite DJs and experience the talent of DJs from the UK, USA, and the Caribbean. With an event every night and activities in the day there is more than enough to keep you busy the whole week or you can simply choose to relax for 7 days (yeah right!!!!). On Friday, the party starts at the hottest nightclub in Antigua, The Coast." Don your dark glasses, denims and white t-shirt. Saturday is a free day, but Saturday night is the Masquerade Ball. Hide your identity and surprise yourself with who you are matched up with at the end of the night...Masks required! Sunday is the DeJam Festival Party. Held at Shirley Hights Look Out, one of Antigua's most stunning sites, this event will feature the best in music and the best in DJs! Monday is the DeJam Festival Catamaran Cruise and Beach Party. Forget it all for the day on an exclusive private cruise around the island. Sway to the music on the waves of the Caribbean waters as the best DJs hit the decks...literally! Monday night is the "Pyjama Party Affair." Grab your silk nightwear or cotton jimjams for a night of "rub a dub,dub" through the early morning hours. The best DJs will take you back in time with those ultimate slow jam classics. Tuesday is a free day, but Tuesday night is the "Don't Be Shy On the Beach Party". Let your hair down and kick your heels off. What can I say---this is a mini skirt and short-shorts party! Wednesday is another free day in order to get ready for the night's "The DeJam DJ Awards and Gala Dinner." This is an "all in white event" which means everyone wears white - all night for an event to remember. The DeJam Festival wraps up Thursday night with the "Last Man Standing". Dance till the sun rises....will you have the stamina? The last man or woman on the dance floor will become a DeJam legend. So what are you waiting for....pack your bags and party yourself silly! -Donna

Click for more information on Yacht Charters.

Nevis' Latest Bid for Tourism

St. Kitts and Nevis are aggressively pursuing new ways to boost their tourism industry, as well as find new opportunities to keep young men occupied and skilled. The latest venture is the opening of the St. James Drag Race Strip at New River, Nevis. Designed in keeping with international standards, the drag race strip was built by Surrey Paving and Aggegate Ltd. of Jamaica. The construction of the drag strip came at a cost of EC$3 million. During construction, several young men from Nevis participated in a training program to learn masonry, carpentry, plumbing and a host of other skills. Now that it is complete, the drag strip will provide a business opportunity for the people of the nearby towns of Butlers, Bricklyn and Zion when they are able to sell food, and provide accommodations and mechanic services. Premier Joseph Parry has declared that tourism, brand marketing and grass roots businesses will get a boost from the drag strip. The hopes are that people from the region will come to compete and they will bring revenue to the island. Brand marketing will take place by brand name products or services that will purchase advertising space on cars or signs in the racing facilities. There will also be some grass root vendors who will sell snacks and drinks. I know difficult times sometimes require difficult measures, but somehow I cannot get a handle around the tranquility of paradise disrupted by the sound of revving motors! What do you think? - Donna

Click for more information on Caribbean Sailing.

The Fourth US Virgin Island

Although inhabited since the 1400's, most people are unaware that there is another US Virgin Island besides St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. The Arawak Indians were the first inhabitants. During the piracy era, it was a popular stop where ships could get fresh water from several ponds, thus earning its name, "Water Island." In the late 1600's, European colonists found it to be a good place to graze cattle and goats that were used to feed enterprising colonists that began arriving to the region to build plantations and trade companies. In 1710, a sailmaker named William Breitz owned the entire island, which he passed on to Albert de Ruyter in 1719. Documented ownership is unclear until 1769 when a free mulatto named, Jean Renaud, came into ownership, built a plantation and worked it with 18 slaves.Water Island changed hands a few more times from 1793-1860 with two plantations working the land. Many of these owners were of African descent. In the 1860's, Joseph Daniels acquired both plantations and converted them into one. His heirs sold Water Island to the Danish East Asiatic Company in 1905 for $21,000. Although the US bought St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix in 1917, Water Island remained in the possession of the Danish East Asiatic Company. In 1944, the US purchased Water Island and began construction of Fort Segarra to protect military installations on surrounding islands. Plans included barracks, watchtowers, gun emplacements and underground bunkers. Although transportation, water, sewer and power systems were in place, WWII ended before all the construction was completed. The US Military then decided to use the uninhabited island for testing poisonous gasses. In 1950, the Department of Defense turned the island over to the Department of the Interior, who leased the land to Walter Phillip for twenty years for an annual rent of $3,000. He developed a hotel and homes. Phillip sold his master lease to Edward McArdle in 1965 under the name of Water Isle Hotel and Beach Club. (There are rumors that this was the setting for Herman Wouk's "Don't Stop the Carnival). In 1972, the lease was renewed for another twenty years, but Hurricane Hugo destroyed the hotel, the resort closed and when the lease ran out three years later, there was no renewal. In 1996, the Federal government transferred ownership to the Territorial government, making Water Island the 4th US Virgin Island. Residents were then offered the opportunity to purchase their homes. Today, 161 residents live on this largely uncommercial island. It is maintained by members of the Water Island Community Association and residents with some help from the US Virgin Islands territorial government. See- you can learn something new! - Donna

Click for more information on a Caribbean Sailing Vacation.

Chris Gourley Charter

The scenery was great, the weather was phenomenal and the winds were close to ideal. It was the perfect equation for a wonderful vacation. What made it truly spectacular was being able to share it with some lifelong friends.


For ten days, eight of us sailed and sampled the British Virgin Islands. One of the surprising things about this trip was that at the end of the vacation we were probably even better friends than when we started. There were no disagreements and there was no whining which is a pretty incredible accomplishment considering that for ten days we were living in close quarters with each other.


Our itinerary can only be described as a being very loose. We had an idea of things we would like to see and do, but nothing was set in stone. Because we had ten days we never felt rushed to get from one place to the next. Most days we would get up early, sail or motor to a morning mooring where we would have breakfast, then do some snorkeling. We would then set sail and try to get to wherever we planned to spend the evening by mid afternoon. It actually worked pretty well for us because we never had a problem finding a buoy at any of the National Parks.


While crew assignments were given prior to the trip, everyone saw that there were jobs that hadn't been assigned and covered them. While most things we did as a group, there were times we would split up and meet again in an hour or two. We were a team and our goal was to have a good time.


It was an adventure at a very relaxed pace, but then a relaxed pace is what the British Virgin Islands are all about.


-Chris Gourley

Click for more information on a Caribbean Sailing Vacation.

Sneak Peek at Anguilla's Tranquility Jazz Festival

One of the Caribbean's truly authentic jazz experiences- the 6th Annual Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival (November 6-9,2008) began its countdown on top cable network BET J last Saturday. The 2008 Preview Show will re-air on September 27th at 1pm and 7 pm (ET); October 4 at 1pm and 7pm (ET) and October 18 at 1pm and 7pm (ET). The 2008 Anguilla Tranquillity Jazz Festival Preview Show airs on the popular "Island Lime" format, featuring actress and model Claudia Jordan (Jaimie Foxx's co-host on Sirius Satellite Radio's "The Foxxhole"), who will join Anguilla's James Connor, to co-host the half hour show. Organizers of this year's event promise another stellar line-up for the Caribbean festival, known for its "Straight, No Chaser" pure jazz theme in an idyllic island setting. Confirmed artists for the festival include Grammy-winning R&B and jazz music singer, Patti Austin. She will perform along with fellow Grammy winner, American jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater. Also sharing their musical genius will be Michel Camillo, a Grammy winning pianist from the Dominican Republic; grammy winning Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandova; Jamaican Dean Fraser, a top Caribbean saxophonist, and Christian Scott, a jazz musician from New Orleans, as well as other local and Caribbean musicians at a handful of locations around Anguilla. This gem of a festival presents the richest of all Jazz formats. It is the perfect combination of breathtaking music and getaway experience for true Jazz and music lovers. If you have not yet discovered the island's beauty--check it out on BET J. -Donna

Click for more information on BVI Yacht Charters.

Whaling in Dominica

For years, Dominica, along with St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have voted alongslide Japan in favor of commercial whaling. Although whaling was on a limited basis - usually during a specific time of year - it has been a part of the cultural tradition of these Caribbean islands. Now, in the interest of attracting more tourism to help sustain their economy, the government of Dominica has announced a major policy shift. At the 60th International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting held in Chile recently, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said his Cabinet had made the position not to support Japan with its traditional pro-whaling vote. "We are breaking a trend that we have maintained for a number of years....the decision to change the island's pattern of voting is in the best interest of the country,"stated Skerrit. Whale watching trips have long been a part of Dominica's tourist activities, yet now it appears that the government is finally realizing that they would have been better off today if it had decided years ago to vote for and promote the whale conservation concept. "If we had gone that way, we would have a more successful whale watching industry throughout the region," he declared. This change in position on whaling was most likely a difficult one for Dominica in that there was some financial risk involved. Japan has traditionally spent a significant amount of monies in convincing their "friends" to vote for them. The government of Dominica is hoping that that the assistance from Japan will not
be reduced because there is mutual respect between the two countries. In the meantime, as tourists to this garden of Eden, we need to do all we can to support any environmentally friendly endeavors they take, including whale conservation, to preserve the natural beauty and richness of this corner of the Caribbean.-Donna

Click for more information on Yacht Charters.

The Carib Community of Dominica Fights for Survival

If you have been lucky enough to travel to Dominica, no doubt you either saw some members of the indigenous Carib community or you took a drive through their territory and saw how small that community has become. In response to fears that their population will be diminished if they continue to mix with non-Caribs, Carib Chief Charles Williams has called for marriage to non-Caribs to be outlawed, in order to preserve their heritage. The island's 3,000 Caribs live on a 3,700 acre reserve on the north east coast, set aside for them in 1903. Chief Williams said he does not want their culture to be tainted by the rest of Dominica's citizens. Since the government of Dominica recognizes that you cannot legislate how and who people can have relationships with, it is really out of the question that such a law will be passed. The real issue is how to best preserve their unique and rich culture. The Caribs make their living from the banana industry and craft making, yet they still struggle economically, and thus there is no icentive to remain in the territory. There is still a negative perception about the Carib population-especially when the schools teach that they were fierce, warlike, and cannabalistic. And, there is a concern about land ownership in the Carib community. In the Carib community, the land is the possession of the Carib council, however, individual families can gain ownership of land after working on it and then passing it to their children. Some in the community believe that Non-Caribs will see it as an easy way to get land by marrying a Carib and coming into the territory. The answers seem to be that there needs to be some cultural way for them to generate income. In addition, the government of Dominica needs to do more to boast that they do have a Carib community. As unique and beautiful as they are, t he Caribs need to be known more for their heritage than for their physical features. If the Carib community is to survive, they need to be defined not by how they look, but what they are in terms of a cultural identity, their history and a community. If you have any ideas or would like to share your thoughts, we would love to hear from you! -Donna

Click for more information on Caribbean Sailing.

New BVI Motor Vehicle Policy

The British Virgin Islands Cabinet recently approved a new Motor vehicle policy for the transportation industry. As a result of the new policy, a new category of plates referred to as Livery, will be introduced under which vehicles used in services for hire will be registered. Such vehicles will include tours, shuttles, buses and limousines. The proposed plates will bear the Livery insignia, along with the designated letter for the particular class, such as "T" for tours, "S" for shuttles, "B" for buses and "L" for limousines. The new Motor Vehicle Policy is part of the Government's efforts to provide safe, efficient and affordable transportation and infrastructural services to enhance community life and economic growth within the Territory. -Donna

Click for more information on a Caribbean Sailing Vacation.