Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine February 2017

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Each party was attended by around 40 people, including yacht crews, locals,
OCC members and prospective members. A very slow rally because of light and
variable winds caused a rapid change in Host Yachts for the gatherings: the OCC
thanks Tom Hughes of S/Y Unconditional and Derek Bretherton of S/Y Ocean Blue for
allowing their beautiful yachts to be invaded!
OCC Port Officers, Regional Rear Commodores, and Roving Rear Commodores
represent the frontline interaction with existing members and the recruitment of new
members. OCC’s St. Lucia Port Officer, Bob Hathaway, is a yachtsman in his own
right and managed the construction of Victoria yachts in England in the 1990s. After
moving to St. Lucia, Bob managed the Marina at Marigot Bay, and was President of
the Marine Industries Association of Saint Lucia, a Director of the Saint Lucia Hotel &
Tourism Association, and Vice President of the Caribbean Marine Association. He
now runs a marine tourism consultancy (www.marigotsunshine.com).
The Ocean Cruising Club exists to encourage long-distance sailing in small boats. A
Full Member must have completed a qualifying voyage of a non-stop port-to-port
ocean passage, where the distance between the two ports is not less than 1,000
nautical miles as measured by the shortest practical Great Circle route, as skipper or
member of the crew in a vessel of not more than 70 feet (21.36 metres) LOA; associate
members are committed to the achievement of that goal. This standard distinguishes
the OCC from all other sailing clubs. Its membership as a whole claims more
experience offshore than any other sailing organization — in the number of circumnavigators,
in the range of extraordinary voyages members have completed, and in
the number of solo sailors and female sailors among its ranks. OCC members bring
the spirit of seafaring to the association by always being willing to assist any fellow
sailor they meet, either afloat or ashore.
Visit www.oceancruisingclub.org for more information on the Ocean Cruising Club.
Eight Bells
• GEORG SCHMITT died on January
15th. Tim Bittel from S/V Tevai reports:
Our friend Georg ran Arawak Divers
in Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou since 1994.
He sailed to Carriacou on his sailboat,
S/V Rose. He eventually chose
to sink the Rose to create a reef,
which soon became “sting ray city”.
He was a friend to cruisers, always
willing to help. Georg, and his soulmate
and partner Conny Hagen, were true fixtures in Tyrrel Bay.
On January 16th, my wife, Pattie, and I conducted a memorial service for Georg at
the site of S/V Rose. He sank it to create a community, and he certainly has. As we
approached, friends and family began to gather. Before too long, the boat was
absolutely jammed with well-wishers. Well, except for the huge lobster that sulked
under the hull. With most everyone accounted for, our hearts began to beat together.
We headed for the bow. Rays swam above and underneath us (a first), and then
settled into the sand for the service.
I fixed a cross and flowers to the starboard bow chock. Pattie hummed Amazing
Grace, although it was rather bubbly. No one seemed to mind. When we left, we
had no doubt that everyone touched by Georg truly loved him.
New Law Strengthens US-Caribbean Ties
On December 16th, 2016, US President Obama signed into law The United States-
Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act, which calls for a new, long-term strategy to
strengthen ties between the United States and its Caribbean neighbors. The new law
aims to strengthen US relations with the Caribbean by requiring the Secretary of
State and the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID)
to submit to Congress a multiyear strategy focused on enhancing engagement with
the countries of the Caribbean. The legislation puts particular emphasis on energy
security, countering violence, expanding diplomacy and providing educational
exchange opportunities for citizens
of the Caribbean.
Diver Georg Schmitt’s
underwater memorial
in Carriacou
Janso and Ana at their cruiser-friendly bar in Puerto Rico
• JANSO “GENE” LASSUS died on December 20th, 2016. He was the proprietor of
the popular Sal Pa Dentro beach bar in Salinas, Puerto Rico, and a Cruising Station
Host for the international Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA).
Cruiser Sue Klumb writes: Janso was “as good as they come” — always there for
everybody, always helping cruisers and others. He lived his dream of opening his
own cruiser bar with his wife, Ana, and their little dog, Diego. He and Ana won the
2016 SSCA Cruising Station of the Year award.
News from Martinique
James Lovegrove is cruising again, and thus transitioning administration of the
Martinique Cruisers’ Net and associated Facebook groups to Patrick Mazzei and
Frederique (Fred) Flamaz Mazzei aboard S/V Django Mayosa.
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FEBRUARY 2017 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 5