Politics and Business

It has long been held that the Democratic Party is the party for the laborers and educators and the Republican Party is the pro-business party. I believe this is more traditional rhetoric than actual practice. It is my desire to explain this statement in the following article.

[Sometimes since because of the respective parties the advocacy of the aforementioned that Republican Party is anti-labor and anti-education and the Democrats are anti-business. That is in practice untrue and false logic. Nevertheless, parties do have the particular ideological emphasizes and typical support groups.]

As I have written before there have been significant ideological shifts in both parties to the left in my lifetime. This is particularly true since the Reagan administration economically and with the advent of the Tea Party and the Trump election politically. A characterization of the Republican Party is that it was a pro-business advocate. It was an important aspect of the Republican Party that was good for the nation. I believe that emphasis had now undergone a significant, even radical shift that is bad for the country as a whole.

My premise is that the Republican Party led by President Trump is no longer the advocate of all business but has now limited that focus to being the advocate of large businesses and has left small businesses to their own devices along with the workers in both large and small business.

The reason for this shift if found largely in two places. The first of this shift has to do with lobbyists.  According to Wikipedia, there are currently 1,274 pharmaceutical lobbyists in Washington D.C, that are more than 2 lobbyists per member of congress. That is a whole lot of influence upon congress and they have spent the most in their lobbying efforts than any other business or interest group. It is believed that there are more than12,000 lobbyists in Washington D.C. most of which are in 300 firms. The spending break down according to Statista  (a German online research group for statistics) is as follows in millions of dollars: 295.17 millions by Pharmaceuticals/Health Products, 156.39 millions by electronics manufacturing and equipment, 155.5 millions by insurance companies, 124.7 millions by oil and gas, and 121.27 millions by business associations. That is a lot of money from big business. Note I said big business. The vast majority of these lobbyists work for big business not small business. And this is my point. The Republican Party has become largely supportive of big business and is not particularly supportive of small business.

The second major aspect of the shift to big business support is rooted in “Citizens United.” When the Supreme Court enacted this interpretation that businesses can be regarded as people and therefore may contribute as individual persons that enabled big businesses to invest more in support of candidates in contrast to small businesses and individuals. This means the wealthier the more influence. Thus “we the people” become “we the people of wealth” are the most influential in government. All of which contributes to our government to become an oligarchy (government by the wealthy) over democracy (government by the majority of individuals.)

To get to a democratic system were “we the people” regain control of government we need to get extreme wealth out of the political campaign system. This could be easily done by making part of our taxes, a few dollars, to used for campaigning and no dollars coming from special interest group and business. Lobbyists could remain but should be highly regulated so that special interest groups and individuals cannot unduly influence members of congress. With money more limited and perhaps campaign seasons shortened, members of congress can spend more of their time do the work they were elected to do and not have to campaign for funds so much of their time. Today members of senators spend two-thirds of the time fundraising according to former senator Tim Daschle or as 60 Minutes of CBS suggest today's election methods turn members of congress into telemarketers. After winning a special election in 2014 Republican David Jolly was sat down behind closed doors and was told, “You job, new member of Congress, is to raise $18,000 a day. Your first responsibility is to make sure you hit $18,000 a day.” Then members of congress are given access to places outside capital grounds to go and spend time on the phone fundraising (it is illegal to campaign on capitol grounds.) Since Citizen United v. FEC both parties have told new members they should spend 30 hours per week on calls.

It is time for significant changes in campaign laws.

I wish to share my thoughts on shifts in the political system I have seen in my lifetime and some general comments on our political system with definitions of several classic terms that are pertinent to debate on our political system. Take it for what it is worth. I hope you find it helpful.

Presidents I remember.

I was born in 1942 when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. He was president from 1933 until 1945, dying in office and our only four-term president. His was a remarkable presidency helping the country with social programs following the Great Depression and initiating long lasting programs for the common good such as Social Security. He was a democrat and recognized as one of the great presidents of the country. Roosevelt ran against Herbert Hoover who has a rather poor record despite being from Iowa. Next he ran against Alfred Landon who opposed the New Deal that had brought country back strongly after the depression. Then he ran against Wendall Wilkie who spell check doesn’t even recognize. Finally Roosevelt ran against Thomas E. Dewey in 1944. There were differences between Roosevelt and all his opponents, but they were not all that great. What can be said is that Roosevelt was much more charismatic and had the greater vision for the country than his opponents.

Following Roosevelt in 1948, his last vice president Harry Truman (D) ran against Thomas E. Dewey (R). Truman was a plain spoken man from Missouri who is best known as the president who approved dropping the atom bomb on Japan and ending WWII. Dewey was expected to win and newspapers famously already had prepared headlines announcing a Dewey’s win; oops. There were other candidates: Thurmond and Wallace but didn’t affect the race very much. Truman is also noted for his phrase, “The buck stops here” referring to the responsibilities’ a president must shoulder. Again there were not wide differences between Democrats and Republicans.

Next is the election I remember fairly well. In 1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) ran against Adlai E. Stevenson (D). Truman had decided not to run for a second term. Eisenhower was a famous general playing a significant role during WWII. He was very popular and had the famous slogan in the campaign, “I Like Ike.” Adlai Stevenson was lesser known and was characterized as an “Egghead.” All this seems to prove that the country has consistently liked war heroes and is suspicious of well-educated folk. Go figure. I was pleased to note at the time that whoever won would be a Presbyterian. Politically, Eisenhower could have run as either a democrat or a republican in good conscience there not being a huge divide between the parties, not unlike Colin Powell today. He initiated good number of programs that would be called liberal today. In the political spectrum he and Barack Obama would be very similar in political ideology. The election of 1956 was just a repeat of the ’52 election.

The election of 1960 is one I remember very well. The candidates were Richard M. Nixon (R) and vice president under Eisenhower and who had married Eisenhower’s daughter vs. the young and charismatic senator from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy (D). This was also when TV debates were initiated. Nixon had a terrible 5 o’clock shadow and sweat a lot; Kennedy had the looks and demeanor and intelligence of a rock star. Kennedy’s presidency, cut short by his assassination is well remembered historically. He led the nation into a space race with Russia; he was the first Roman Catholic president, and the youngest president. He accomplished a remarkable amount during his short presidency and was a charismatic leader of the nation. Yet again, there was not a huge difference between the ideologies of the parties at that time.

Lyndon B. Johnson (D) became president following the assassination of President Kennedy. He ran for the presidency in 1964 against Barry Goldwater (R). I was in college at the time and found Goldwater very interesting and a purist as a Republican at the time. I voted for him but not many others did. I also greatly admired a young blonde lady I met in philosophy class, which may have led to my short foray as a Republican as we attending Young Republican rallies. Once again Republicans and Democrats were not widely divided with a Republican emphasis on business, very limited government regulations and generally against much change and Democrats more open to change with their emphasis on common workers and the common good restraining and regulating business through government regulations.

In 1968 Johnson chose not to run for president again, likely due to the unpopular Viet Nam war. Richard Nixon (R) ran against Hubert Humphrey (D) and George Wallace who represented radical right sentiments in the mix there as well. This was when violent protests of anti-war disrupted the Democratic convention in Chicago. Nixon was the law-and-order candidate with a “secret plan” to end the war. Again, not wide differences between the parties.

In 1972 President Nixon (R) ran against George McGovern (D) well know for his anti-war position despite a party split over that concern. The war was the primary issue of this campaign. Nixon won this election in a landside. It was during this presidency that Nixon resigned from the presidency due to the Watergate investigation where he was found culpable. Again, not a wide divide between parties with Nixon supporting many liberal common good causes in today’s terms.

In 1976 Jimmy Carter (D) ran against Gerald Ford (R) who had assumed the presidency after Nixon resigned from office. This was a close race with Carter as an outsider to Washington. Carter is often regarded as having the most active and most involved president having more influence after than during his presidency.

In 1980 President Carter (D) ran against Ronald Reagan (R). This, in my opinion is the beginning of the greater divide between Democrats and Republicans. Carter had been opposed by Edward Kennedy during the Democratic convention and Reagan’s opponent of George Bush at the Republican convention. Reagan won the race in a landslide and Republicans gained control of both houses of Congress. Reagan term saw cutbacks in social programs of the government, and emphasis over states rights vs national governmental power, and a significant changes in the tax program. This was the beginning of “trickle down economics” that had been previously demeaned by Republican leaders including George Bush who called it “Voodoo Economics” with the idea if major businesses other holders of great wealth receive tax deductions there would be greater profits and would “trickle down” to common workers. Reagan, as most Republican had supported a balanced budget for the nation. However, he made great increases to the military increasing expenditures and cutting taxes decreasing government income, and thus there was an significant increase in the national debt. Reagan promised it would work because of increased productivity. As most economists (Keynesian/supply and demand theories) predicted Reagan’s Austrian economic theory (Supply Side Economics) would fail. It has. And thus the big divide between the have’s and the have-not’s began. The highest tax rate before Reagan was 70% that Reagan lowered to 28% in 1986. Reagan increased the national debt from $900 billion to $2.7 trillion. This is the beginning of significant divergences of the parties.

In 1984 Reagan ran against Walter Mondale for the presidency. It was a peaceful time and the economy seemed good, despite the huge increase in the national debt. The conditions led to Reagan’s re-election.

In 1988 George H.W. Bush (R) ran against Michael Dukakis (D). The times were large quiet and Bush easily won the election.

In 1992 Bill Clinton (D) ran against George H.W. Bush, with an interesting sideshow by Ross Perot. Again, the political climate was fairly calm but by this time Bush’s very high approval rate had diminished. Clinton’s big phrase for the day was, “It’s the economy stupid). While pushing social welfare programs Clinton was also strongly connected to business and Wall Street folk. Bush was the 4^th president to lose a re-election. Clinton seemed more popular candidate and was a centrist politically.

In 1996 Bill Clinton ran against Robert Dole. Clinton easily won the election. We still do not see great wide divides between the parties. What we did see was a diminished support of Democrats in the South. Prices for elections continued to escalate with the major candidates spending over $2 billion on the race; a increase of 33%. The high cost of campaigning has risen higher and higher and more time spent by congress members campaigning since then.

The year 2000 held the race for president between George W. Bush (R) and Al Gore.

For the 4^th time in history the candidate that won did not receive the highest popular vote. Still no wide divides between parties and the effects of “trickle down” economics is still debated. Though the debates were intense the political positions still were not that far apart.

President George W. Bush ran again John Kerry in 2004. There was a great voter turnout for this election, a 15 million increase. Voter irregularities continued to haunt the elections.

In 2008 Barack Obama (D) ran against John McCain (R). This was a historic election with Obama being the first black-America to become president. On the other hand, if McCain had run he would have been the oldest president in history and Sarah Palin the first woman Vice-President. It is interesting to note the amicability between the candidates.

It is important to note that the Tea Party came into being in February of 2009. Conservative activists to got together to fight against Obama’s agenda for the nation created the Party. They believed federal government was working against personal liberties. At this time we begin to see the greater divide between the political parties and more intense rhetoric as well. We also begin to see members of the Republican Party commit to confronting everything a sitting president was doing. FOX news also reflects this “my way or no way” type of thinking.

The next election in 2012 pits President Obama against Mitt Romney. Romney is the first Mormon to run for the office. The big issue of this time is the Supreme Court decision to allow increase political contributions in “Citizens United” in which, businesses could be regarded as “individuals”. This makes a major change in the cost of elections and the influence of wealthy over others.

And now comes the major change in the 2016 campaign for presidency between Donald J. Trump (R) who ran against Hillary Rodham Clinton. The divisiveness between the parties reached a level never seen before. Clinton became the first woman nominated by a major party as a candidate for president. Most political experts were stunned by Trump’s winning the presidency. However, again we find the candidate who won the popular vote losing the election.

The extreme negative rhetoric in politics is at a never been seen before height. The outright disregard of truth and fact has never been so extreme. We have never seen such a divide between the political parties and candidates, largely due to our President himself and the extremism of the Tea Party.

Political parties have undergone major changes over the years but perhaps none and large as we see today. In the days of Abraham Lincoln the Republicans were the liberal party and the Democrats were the conservatives. Teddy Roosevelt was elected by the Republican party and initiated broad liberal policies.

In the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and throughout the 20^th century political parties were largely in the hands of party centrists so there were significant but not extreme party differences. That all changed in the 21^st century. Specifically, the Tea Party seized political power to push forward the agenda of extremists of the right. President Trump has milked this negatively to its fullest and is the spokesperson of extreme politics. It is frightening the power of this extreme attitude in our country.

Some key figures in the shift of the political spectrum to the right include Newt Gingrich, while sounding reasonable and flaunting a history degree displayed no computation about lying and fanning divisive fires along with FOX news that is not a news station but an extreme right editorial spokes station. Modern counterparts in this position would include Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham. Of note also should be the Tea Party as mentioned before and shock radio and TV personalities who cater to negative news and milking peoples fears.

Both parties spokespersons today seem to rely on the premise that who is the rudest and speaks the loudest and longest win debates. This is blatantly untrue and enhances lines of divisiveness and produces more political heat. What we lack in political discourse are listening skills and then cogent discussion about issues and honest depiction of differing political positions on issues. This may have been true in the past as well but has reached new highs currently.

As a Christian I have been pleased by assumption of good moral principles found in both parties. Respect for traditions but not enslaved to them; a belief in the need of a “loyal opposition”. That I can no longer believe as we have a president who seems to totally lack in the teachings of Jesus and the ethics of the bible. I am amazed that the conservative churches that hold Trump in high esteem when he exhibits none of the morality of Christianity or of any religious teaching.

Overall there has been a significant shift to the right in both parties. Republicans today would be where the extreme right used to be in the political spectrum. Most Democrats are where moderate Republicans used to be. Clinton and Obama are good examples of this. Progressives such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth are labeled as extremists/socialists by the right, whereas they are seen as centrists in modern Europe.

Terms in vogue also show this shift in labels and viewpoints. The right and members of the left proclaim they are capitalists and then conservatives label progressives as socialists. This is all hype. We have not had a capitalist country almost since the beginning of the country. Rules holding capitalist excesses have been part of the roll of government for a long time; perhaps the Sherman Antitrust Act is the best example. What we have had in this country is a mixed economy – private ownership of most of the enterprises except when it is deemed that government control is in the best interest of the country such as the Postal System. Socialism, by definition is where the government owns the means of production as was true in the Union of Socialist Republics (USSR). The predominant system in developed countries today are mixed economies, capitalist/free enterprise system that use government run systems that are for the common good of people such as: free education, government supported daycare, minimum wages, free health care, and retirement funds for the elderly (social security.) The previous is also known as democratic socialism, the means of production largely in private hands except for the places that work for the common good.

The mark of civilization has been seen as to how well a society cares for it’s poor, disabled, and elderly. Barbarians are those who wish to live by power and force of one individual or group at the expense of others.

One final definition it is well to understand – oligarchy, which means government controlled by the wealthy. That is currently what I believe we have with a mix of fascism/totalitarianism – a form of government that is a type of one-party dictatorship. This is how President Trump appears to see his office, one where “I can do anything I want.” It is, for lack of a better term, evil. I shudder to use that term, but now have a new appreciation of Hitler’s Germany where a majority had been lead astray by hateful rhetoric to embrace the fascist state Hitler led.

Another poignant point I want to lift up is the funding for those running for office. Until we get private funding without limits on individual and companies, we cannot hope for a working democracy. Citizens United is another huge block for a true democracy. Until we have financial campaign limits, such as a small dollar amount as part of our taxes, oligarchy threatens.

If you have gotten to this point in this article I hope it has been helpful in understanding pertinent terms and the direction our country has been changing in my lifetime. It is not held as absolute truth but is intended to be as objective as I can and part of the ongoing debate about the proper role of government.

A final graph on the government’s deficit belying the claim the Republican's are more fiscally responsible than Democrats.

President Trump has continued the Republic spending habit to the tune of $1.1 trillion.

The Virgin Island Non-Voyage 2020

Pre-voyage Announcement Pending  (1)

Nearly as long as I have been sailing I have dreamed of sailing the Virgin Islands. Specifically I have wanted to bareboat sail (no captain aside from yours truly) at the British Virgin Islands (BVI) as they are or at least were known as the better islands to sail, in contrast to the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). Why? You may as have I doted on these islands. Reportedly by sailing aficionados they provide the best sailing in the world; constant 10 to 13 knots per hour winds on the leeward (pronounced “looerd” meaning of the sheltered or downwind side of the islands) for you land-lubbers and constant wonderful weather, discounting an occasional hurricane. And the navigation is easy; you can stay in sight of the island while sailing from one to another. A forty-three foot Beneteau I believe would suffice.

Figure 1 A Benateau 43.3 at the Moorings in the BVI

These thoughts came to mind as I received a response from John Stettler to my query about suggestions for a second non-vacation that Doreen and I might not travel. John has been reading about the voyages of Magellan, you know, the first guy to circumnavigate the world. He suggested that I also sail around the world but in 7 days rather than 3 years. Hmm. Anyway, that brought me to thinking about sailing and my old goal.

Now with any travel of such magnitude and good deal of research has to be done and arrangements made. I will keep you abreast of the preparations and departure date when it has been decided upon. Currently the cats, seaman (excuse me) seacats: Lamont, Pawline, and Patchtricia are demanding that they go along as they do not want to be left at home while we go on a grand adventure.

What do you think?

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Date of Departure and stuff  (2)

When Tim Severin decided to sail the what folk believed was the mythical voyage of St Brenden and prove it was real (as did Thor Heyerdahl who sailed a reed boat the way South Americans may have sailed and populated the Polynesian islands.)  Tim decided to do in a couple of years just sailing so far, took a plane home and after a rest flew back and continued his voyage. I’ve decided to follow suit with no particular departure date in mind or a chronological path to follow. I’ll just write about the voyage as I feel and not be constricted by time and its limitations.

Oh, for those not acquainted with the good St Brendan, he is the Irish fellow who first sailed to America. Note I did not say “discovered” as that seems a bit of an insult to those already there. Rather like the American Indian response to the statement that Columbus discovered America. “What do you mean he discovered America? We discovered him on the beach.” At anyrate, Brendan was born in 484 AD and died in 577 AD; that’s quite a bit earlier than the latecomer Columbus. Or that red headed Viking Eric the Blue or whoever in the 12^th century. Tim Severin noted that winds favored a passage that St. Brendan described and found it perfectly showed the best passage to get to America. He sailed it as did St. Brendan in a leather boat. St Brendan described floating islands that sung while the lit a fire on it and mountains of glass in the water. He surmised that these mythical events described a whale when the pitched camp on its back and mountains of glass well describes icebergs.

The reason I chose the 43 foot Benateau over a leather boat, is that Doreen and I sailed one when we were in Grenada years ago. It had a lot of teak the gleamed brightly, due to the endeavors of our good captain, Cyril, I think was his name. Cyril was called “dat mon wid de skinny legs” by his fellow Grenadians. Cyril only knew one point of sail with the boom hauled tight in whether he was beating into the wind or on a broad reach. Or, he was a crappy sailor, but a delightful companion for our day at sea in this most beauteous of boats. At one point the line from our dingy being towed snapped and we had to retrieve it. Cyril left me in charge of the helm while he was to jump into the dingy but he wouldn’t let me change from a tight hauled boom which made maneuver much more difficult. However, we managed the feat and the runaway dingy was saved.

So, some day I will begin the actual non log my our next non voyage.

[This is the 3 entry for the non voyage log, the one sent before this was the 4th entry of the log. This is just to keep you all as confused as possible.]

More preliminary planning for our great non-voyage.

The other day Doreen and I got new cell phones. We had changed from US Cellular to GreatCall to save money and to get “senior friendly” phones for us; the Jitterbug II. They didn’t get much cheaper and we didn’t find them all that friendly so we changed again. This time we went with Spectrums new mobile plan. It’s definitely cheaper. We were paying $80 to $90 a month previously and now our bill with be $20 for 2 lines and unlimited talk, messaging and data. Well, we are paying more for the first 2 years and we bought new phones again but it is still much lower than what we were paying.

So, what’s this got to do with our non-voyage? Nothing. Except for the conversation I did not have with our phone representative when I was setting up our new phones. Our service rep introduced himself as Sinbad. That caught my ear and I asked him if his last name happened to be Sailor. Stoically he replied that indeed his last name was sailor, he said his full name was Sinbad T. Sailor. Smirking a bit I asked what the T stood for, expecting his middle name would be The. He replied that T stood for Theophilos, a family name. He in turn asked what my name was and I said that my name was Good D. Christian and the D stood for Deeds. Whereupon he said, “Weird.”

Really? Not really.

Back to voyage planning. I insisted that I was perfectly capable of sailing our ship without a Captain as I was eminently qualified as such. Doreen expressed some skepticism with some gagging at this point. I did say however, that I was perfectly will to hire a cook for the voyage if she wanted. I was thinking of a young lass traipsing about above and below deck in itsy bitsy tenny-weeny yellow polka-dotted bikini. I don’t believe the sentiment was shared.

With nothing decided we thought we would just fly to Tortola BVI and look for a boat. Seems like a plan, a vague plan but a plan.

Okay, Time for this Voyage to Begin (4)

After very little conversation, we woke one morning and said, “This is the day we won’t go sailing in the British Virgin Islands. We didn’t make reservation and pack for the trip and didn’t fly down Tortola and hire a cab to take us to the Moorings.  We also did not spend countless hours in line to the go to the plane, in airports and looking for transportation.

Then we did not arrive bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the Moorings.

We didn’t pick the Moorings based on our experience with them in Grenada when we hired on for a day (see the beginning of the Log). The Moorings were established in 1969 and have flourished since then. Not meeting with the sales for we didn’t rent  a 42.1 foot, 3 cabin fit for 8 people for a mere $7,249, we then didn’t add $3,010 for a cook, and a captain for $3,486 plus $420 each for their provisions. Neither did we add additional insurance for $648, $50 for a BVI national park fee, $4 for a Sisar contributions, and a summer cruising tax at $168 dollars. Since this is not a real voyage we have saved $14,429 plus a thousand or two for incidentals. Wow, we are really saving money on not going on our 2 weeks excursion in the British Virgin Islands. This is the way to not go folks.

A bit more about the yatch we did not rent. At dock we can enjoy air conditioning if it get a bit hot. The daily average temperature is about 77.8 degrees in December. The master cabin has a double bed and en-suite bathroom shower. The other 2 cabins will have to share the other bathroom (head). The overall cabin has nice oak finishings, Silvertex Macadamia cushions. The galley has a flat screen TV, refrigerator, 2 burner gas stove and lots of places to stow cookware.

Obviously we will stay in the master cabin and the cook and captain will each have their own cabin.  The Beneteau 41.1 has an overall length of 40 feet and 9 inches (go figure.) It has a beam of 13’9”, its draft is 5.6 (that’s the width of the boat and how far down the keel goes for you land lubbers.) It has a sail area of 902 sq ft and carries 150 gallons of water along with 53 gallons of fuel. Here is the cabin layout below.

Boy are we not luxuriating in the BVI

Have to not rest up now for not sailing away tomorrow or whenever.

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5^th entry into non BVI log: Tortola

Tortola is the BVI’s biggest island (55.7 sq. mi.) and has the most people about 24,000. So what does this British isle use for currency? The good ol American dollar. And, like many Caribbean Islands “financial services” are prevalent; meaning if you want to hide money from the government this is one of the places to service your money grubbing, cheat-minded, I-Got-Mine-Screw-You, running dog capitalist pig folk.

It is believed that Christopher Columbus gave the island the name of Tortola, which is “turtle dove” in Spanish. Bull, he called it Santa Ana. The Dutch called it Tholen but the British gave it its current name, so far, Tortola. A few Spaniards tried to settle there without much luck – however, the pirates were likely its first permanent resident; rogues like Blackbeard and Captain Kidd and the notorious Captains Dreded Drennan, Felonious Febock, Briny Bindl, Nefarious Nye, Swarthy Stilling, Marading Rumpf, Mencing Mellisa the Galloping Gallick,  Jabberwocky Jesse, Steely Eyed Sal, Savage Sami the Bonny Hoom, and jovial Jumping Jarod the Jason the Argonaut.

Early English and Dutch settlers set up big sugar plantations worked by slave labor from Africa. After our revolutionary war folk from the original 13 colonies received grants from the Crown (spoils of war?). They set up the US Virgin Islands and soon had more slaves than the British. Just makes you proud don’t it. When the British abolished slavery they set out their ships to intercept the now illegal slaves ships. This made it difficult to run their huge sugar plantations; tough. Then they got hit hard in 1867 by an earthquake and a resulting tsunami. Divine justice? Not really as the slaves and locals were hurt the worst.

I think it is probably time for us to meet our Captain which I keep insisting that we do not need on our non-voyage but is required as the charter company does seem to be convinced that I am one of the heroic and battle tested and trusted boat and bon viavant captains of all time. Probably because the proposed captains first made kept making mocking and mischievous and maligning remarks while I was informing them of my credentials.

Figure 4 The Moorings rebuilt after Hurricane Irma

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6^th entry into the non BVI Log: Meeting the Captain

We arose early today in anticipation of meeting our new captain for the cruise and perhaps the cook. After a hearty breakfast of tea, crumpets, kippers and blood pudding we walked down to the dock and out toward our Beneteau where the captain was to meet us. The captain was in the cockpit and we asked permission to come aboard and introduced ourselves. The captain was a smallish man, a bit bigger than myself, with a gravelly voice, sun bleached clothes, a disheveled captains hat and was rotating what looked like metal ball bearings around in his hand. I have a pair balls like that; mine are silvery and chime when you moved them about to improved hand dexterity, I assumed that his were like them. He grunted in our direction while clacking his balls together and mumbled his name. “Sorry,” I said, “I didn’t quite catch your name, what is it again?”

He replied, “Blight.” Then, with a little more vigor he barked, “Captain Blight! I’ve been sailing these waters for years and years…and years. Where do you land lubbers hail from?”

We replied in unison, sounding like an old hippy band, “We are from Wisconsin, Lake Mills Wisconsin.”

“Lake Mills,” he pondered. “Lake Mills, I suppose you have a small puddle there you call a lake. Is that where you got your sailing done.” Not waiting for a response, he continued, “no wonder they required you to have a captain. You’d like to have sunk the good Bunty here the first day out.”

Decided that now was not the time to tell of my vast sailing experience, I said, “Bunty? Our boat is named ‘Bunty’”

“Yep,” retorted Captain Blight with a bit of a sneer. “She was named after the owner’s girlfriend Bunty. She was a buxom bit of fluff. She fell overboard the first time she sailed. I had to think hard whether to turn into the wind and haul her back aboard.” She did fill out a bikini well though and leered at Doreen. Oh my.

Once aboard Captain Blight showed us around the boat. Below he pointed out our master’s cabin forward. He said he had already stowed his gear in the birth on the portside and the cook who should be by soon on the starboard side. He said, “Don’t be a messing with stuff in the galley, that’s cook’s area and she doesn’t cotton to land lubbers messing it up.” We then went on deck and he showed us the rigging that we should leave up to him, unless he requested a hand, the added, “And do be a fallin’ overboard. Boats don’t back up easily.”

Soon the cook showed up a climbed aboard. Captain Blight introduced her as Lady Beryl Patmore laughing when he said “lady.” He then added, “Cookie, your birth in on the starboard side.”

He then said that we should take a wee sail before lunch to get us used to life at sea. Then he allowed that I could cast of the dock lines (not ropes you landlubber the captain yelled at me) while he eased the Bunty away from the dock under power. The diesel powering the Bunty was a bit stinky.

We sailed around a bit with Captain Blight telling us lots of stuff we already knew, but obediently listened to. Around 1 pm (two bells) Captain Blight pointed the Bunty into the wind and dropped anchor. He then instructed Cookie to bring him some rum punch. While Doreen and I enjoyed a rum punch with Captain Blight.  Mrs. Patmore made some tasty corned beef sandwiches, chips and mangos, which were very good.

After a few rum punches Captain Blight loosened up a bit and began to tell stories about his life at sea. He told about being buddies a sailor, Tristan Jones, and adventures they had. I had read of Jones adventures and with the help of rum punch began to enjoy Captain Blight a bit more.

Captain then announced it was time to head back to the dock to talk of our sailing itinerary and spend the night at the Moorings dock. This time he allowed me to haul up the sails and set the sheets for close haul into the wind toward port.

By the time we had secured the boat at dock Captain Blight said the Sun was over the yardarm and it was time for cocktails. We complied.

Figure 6:  Our good Captain Blight. Notice the silver balls

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8^th Entry into the BVI non  log: Enjoying Norman Island

After lunch at the Pirate Bight Restaurant, we settled our food bill and paid for our mooring, which was only $25, a bargain. Captain Blight told us we should meet a fella who sat a table near us. He then introduced us to R. S. Stevenson, local guide and teller of tales. R.S. said for a small island of about less than aa section, 600 acres to be exact; 2 ½ miles long. It was a part of the cluster of Islands called “Little Sisters” which included Norman, Pelican, Peter, Salt, Dead Chest and Ginger Islands. Norman Island is known for its caves along the western edge of the island, which are great for snorkeling, we passed on the snorkeling. The only inhabitants of the island are goats. R.L. told us that a number of folk like going in search of pirate treasure on the Island. He also said the book, “Treasure Island” was inspired by those pirate tales written by and ancestral cousin of his.

Figure 9: The snorkeling caves on Norman Island

We then took a long walk about the island with R.L. as he continued to tell us about the island and its quirks. For instance, he told us that there was a replica the old schooner Willy T in the harbor until it was until it was destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Its owners rebuilt the ship but for some reason the BVI government would not let continue to anchored on the Isle. It would, however, let it be anchored in the Great Harbor on Peter Island. Sounds like skullduggery to us.

Tired from our walk we bid adieu to R.L. and took the dinky back to the Bunty. We think Capt. Blight spent most of his time at the restaurant while we were walking drink rum punch. Back aboard Cook Patmore then created a gourmet supper including yellow fin tuna with fresh vegetables.

After supper Capt. Blight told us a story while enjoyed more rum punch and we continued to enjoy a fine chardonnay we had at supper. The captain told us that a fella named Henry Jarecki owned the entire island. Jarecki was Jewish and born in Stettin, now called Szczecin, Poland. He and his family had fled Poland during WWII to the United Kingdom and then on the U.S.A. They were able to transfer their funds safely during the time. Returning to Poland he graduated from Heidelberg University Medical Facility in 1957 and was an academic and taught at Yale Medical School where is still a adjunct Professor. He wrote a book, Modern Psychiatric Treatment a huge tome. He was and is quite a guy. Besides his medical expertise in psychiatry he was also quite an entrepreneur specializing in bullion buying and selling. Capt Blight suspected it my have been funded by pirate gold Jarecki hand discovered on Norman Isle while snorkeling and spelunking in one of the caves. Capt. Blight said, the Jarecki also like the movies and became a movie producer. His movies included: Gardeners of Eden (2004), Cuba: Island of Music (2005),  Aint’ Supposed to Die a Natural Death (2007), Tyson, Cat on a Hot Tine Roof, A Streetcar Named Desire, Melvin Van Peebles, and How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (And Enjoy It). Capt. Blight also told us that Jarecki was quite a philanthropist and had set Youth Center on Tortola. He continued that Jarecki make lived in Rye, New York, but also had a house in the BVI and also owns another Island, Guana Island. Among is awards, Jarecki had a lizard named after him, Jarec ki’s Flying Dragon.

Figure 10: Flying Dragon (Jarecki ?)

Figure 11: Henry Jarecki (he is a real person

We grew a bit sleepy as we listened to the good Capt. Blight and fell into our berth to embrace Morpheus.

Figure 12: Guana Island: Sounds shitty but is nice

9^th Entry into the BVI non Blog: A day at Sea; destination Cooper Island with stops

We awoke at 5 bells this morning. Come to think about it, those bells might be Captain Blight’s fiddling with those metal balls in his hand. Anyways, it was another beautiful sun filled day and we could hear bacon sizzling in the pan along with eggs and toast; Cookie Patmore is dazzling us with her culinary skills once more. We joined Captain Blight on deck to eat our breakfast and plan the day. Cookie joined us as well.

I began by telling Capt. Blight some things I had thought of and is appeared to be listening. The Blight said, “Here’s the deal. We will be sailing to Cooper Island today with a stop at Salt Island for some snorkeling. It’s only about 6 and three quarter nautical miles from here.”

“Snorkeling,” cried Doreen, “I don’t think I can handle snorkeling!” and then she promptly fell overboard. Somewhat embarrassed Doreen swam to the Bunty’s aft and we let down the ladder and she climbed aboard.

“See,” exclaimed Capt. Blight. “You’re a natural swimmer and you’ll just love the snorkeling there.” Doreen muttered something and went below to change into drier clothes. We were beginning to acquire some tan but were still sticking with loads of sunscreen and long sleeves and long pants.

The wind was at its usual 10 to 13 knots, perfect sailing weather. Capt. Blight decided that he had given me enough instruction and let me take the helm after about an hour. The Capt. And Doreen handled the sheets, he on the port side and Doreen on the starboard side. We were sailing a close hauled into the wind making a series of tacks. Beautiful. [Ed. You may take note that Doreen and Hugh may seem more spritely and the voyage. Since this is a non-voyage, we can have what physical attributes we like.]

At 8 bells (noon) the Captain once again at the helm hove to and told me to drop anchor. Blight told us, “We skipped Salt Island where the RMS Rhone sunk.  I figured once we were underway that we should snorkel at the wreck of the UK Mail Ship. There was a hurricane here in 1867 where 123 were killed. But the snorkeling there is first rate. I noticed another boat anchored there and on the foredeck I noticed a woman, a rather attractive woman and a blonde haired man.

 

I asked Doreen and Capt. Blight and Cook Patmore, if they didn’t seem familiar. Cookie said, “I think they were after my time.”

Doreen said, “They look remarkably like Nick Nolte and Jackqueline Bisset.

Some of you may recall the movie The Deep (1977). Bisset and Nolte played a couple that were scuba diving near Bermuda shipwreck. There they could an ampule with amber colored liquid and medallion. It was morphine from the ship Goliath that had sunk during WWII containing medical materials and munitions. A man from the lighthouse (Robert Shaw) befriends them and then they encounter a local drug dealer (Eli Wallach). Skullduggery abounds along with many wet t-shirt shots of Bisset. Anyway, it was filmed here.

Doreen and I went below and changed into our swimwear, lathered on more sunscreen and when on deck. Blight handed us our snorkeling gear, we put down the ladder and jumped in along with Capt. Blight who was dressed in cutoffs and a T-shirt. I think he put is metal balls in his cutoff’s front pocket. He made a bit of clang when he jumped in.

Figure 13: Aboard the wreck of the UK Mail Ship

After a significant time in the water gazing at the sights we swam back to the boat, changed back into our long clothes, applied new sunscreen. Blight allowed that I could pull up the anchor, hoist the sails, hardsheet them in as he set the course to Copper Island.

We sailed into Manchioneel Bay of Cooper Island. I tied us up to the buoy, dropped the sails, and put the cover over the sails as ordered by Captain Blight. Then we hopped into the dingy and motored to the Cooper Island Beach Club for happy hour.

Figure 14: Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island

Captain Blight was fortified with rum punch, Doreen with a fine scotch and I with an extraordinary Chardonnay, and cookie with some sherry we climbed back into the dingy and motored back to the good ship Bunty. Cook Patmore, then created a sumptuous feast of flounder, fresh veggies and fruit, mouthwatering rolls and a crème boulet for dessert. Later we all fell into our appointed berths and embraced the sweet arms of Morpheus.

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10^th Entry into the non-log in BVI:

The island where we were anchored was called Bergen Island until 1905 when it became Cooper Island. Today felt like a lazy day so we endeavored to be lazy the entire day. About mid morning we noticed a small plane circling around our boat. Then 3 tiny parachutes popped out the plane and began to descent. Using guiding lines the trio of parachutes seemed to becoming straight towards our boat. The closer they got to us we could make out 3 black furry objects. Then plop, plop, plop the landed on the boatdeck and a chorus of meows showered us. It seems that our 3 cats, Lamont Cranston (Lamont), Pawline (Paw), and Patchtrisha (Patch), had decided that we had been gone too long They make arrangements  via the internet and our credit card, to be flown to Tortola, and then flown on to where we were on Cooper Island. Doffing their parachute gear, they all gathered in the cockpit and meowed the “get me breakfast” meow. Cookie, and Captain Blight just looked dumbfounded and mute. We told Cookie that  any flounder from the might before might be appreciated as we introduce them to the both of them. Captain Blight uttered “Damn,” while Cook Patmore went and found the flounder leftovers. “Damn,” said Captain Blight again.

More used to the shenanigans of our cats and their mystical power we tried to explain how they got to us. “Damn,” said the Captain.

But there were practical issues to deal with. While the Captain and Cook basically just looked at the cats and us with stunned faces. Doreen and I began to ponder and explain how we needed to adapt to out three additional members of our crew. Doreen said she would confer with Cook Patmore about setting water bowls in strategic places food for the cats, probably leftovers and we could search for cat food at provisioning stores on the various islands. After all other boats had cats with them as well. I said I would take care of their sanitary needs. I said I would explain to them that they needed to pee and poop at the back of the cockpit near the drain and that I would clean up and toss solids overboard. The cats would learn about that easily. I told the cats the process and not to use the heads on the Bounty for eliminations. Finally, they could bunk with us but have free rein of the rest of the boat. “Damn,” said Capt. Blight, clacking the metal balls in his hand virorouslyß.

We then considered how to spend the rest our day. We thought we would walk around the Island a bit, and check out the Cooper Island Beach Club and get to meet some of the other boat folk who were moored around us.

“Damn,” said Captain Blight

Figure 16: Cooper Island Beach Club Restaurant

Figure 17: Lamont settling in and taking charge of the boat

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11^th entry in the BVI Non Voyage: to Virgin Gorda and Leverick Bay

I awoke with Paw licking my toes sticking out from under the sheets. Patch was curled up by Doreen’s leg and Lamont was meowing indignantly for his morning treats. We got up and fortunately we had obtained treats and some cat food at the provisioning store; with the cats lining up in a nice row I started giving them their treats. This is the way we do it. I’m on the floor and they surround me, I take three treats from the package, I put one on the floor in front of Patch as she is the smallest and likes treats most, then one for Paw who enjoys them least, and finally I put my hand in front of Lamont and he eats it out of my hand. If I should drop one in front of Lamont he glowers at me until I pick it up for him to eat out my hand. If I am too slow in getting into action Lamont will poke my leg to hurry me up, claws out. Ouch.

With the treats given we all traipse out to the galley where Cook Patmore is preparing another hearty and yummy breakfast. Captain Blight peers down into the galley, sees us and says, “Damn.”

After breakfast I go into the cockpit, clean up what is necessary of cat elimination from around the drain as Captain Blight scowls and shakes his head. I turn to Blight and ask, “Where do you think we should go today. Blight says nothing still shaking his head and clanking in balls in his hand.

I then say, “How about sailing over to the Baths (the south end of Virgin Gorda), spend a bit of time at the Devils Bay National Park and then make our way to Leverick Bay for the night?” Captain Blight just stares at me, seemingly still in shock of our cats parachuting into our boat.

Doreen comes into the cockpit and sets herself at the helm while I cast off the line from the buoy, hoist the mainsail with it’s halyard. Doreen haul the sheets the main to catch the wind and points the Bunty to the Baths. I hoist the jib and Doreen pulls the jib line to take out any luffs in the sail and off we go. Captain Blight just sits the mumbling and rotating his balls. Lamont sees the Blight’s balls as he drops on from his hand and Lamont immediately sets out to grab Blight’s ball and play it in the cockpit. Paw joins in the game as Patch looks on. Blight with one remaining ball goes below walks into his cabin and shuts the door.

The cats, Doreen and I seeing the first destination to the northeast and spend a wonderful time at sea. Since we got an early start and the winds are steady we arrive at the Baths about noon. We dropped anchor, tied up to a buoy, and dropped the sails and covered them, and settled down. After a nice lunch we took the dingy ashore and walked to the Park. Captain Blight was still in his cabin and Cook Patmore stayed onboard to see after him.

We put the dingy in the water then looked the cats. They looked at the dingy, then looked at us, then back at the dingy and said, “Are you kidding me? We jumped into the dingy and the cats stared. Then they went and got their cat carrier bags, dropped them in the dingy and then jumped in themselves. And looked at us. We motored over to shore where the park was, tied up the dingy and went down the path to Park entrance. They charged $3 each, but let the cats in for free. The cats were in their carriers by now and letting us carry them along. The was a restaurant at the top of the Baths where we ate a light lunch.

After lunch the cats and us wandered around this beautiful place then returned to the dingy and motored back to the Bunty.

Back on board we saw Cookie reading a book; still no sign of Captain Blight. Cookie unhooked us from the buoy, I raised the sails, and Doreen got us going. I finished the pulling up the jib, and we made the short trip to Leverick Bay. We tied the Bunty up to a mooring at Leverick Bay dropped sails and secured the boat. Since it had been such a nice day we invited cook Patmore to join us at the restaurant at the resort. She said, she had seen little of the Captain all day except for a couple of times we went to the head.

We stood outside Blights cabin door and asked him if he wanted to go to dinner ashore with us. Silence, we asked again. Blight mumbled “go away” and we thought we heard bottles clanking and the Bunty rolled with the waves. We left the cats, promising them tasty leftovers when we returned and asked them to take care of the Captain. They agreed as they were well behind their need of 14 hours of sleep per day.

The rest of us then motored ashore and walked to the restaurant. We shared a lobster risotto and steamed mussels for appetizers. Berly Patmore (our cook, if you forgot) chose the Caribbean Bouillabaisse consisting fish, shrimps, mussels, clams, lobsters, provincial stew, and garlic toast). Doreen selected the Chef Stanley’s Coconut Curry Shrimp consisting of  black tiger shrimp flamed, Bacardi lemon rum, indi curry, fresh shallot, garlic, bell peppers and coconut mild, season rice, brussel sprouts and baby carrots. I went for the Rack of Lamb –oven roasted New Zealand lamb, rosemary and red wine sauce, sour creamed potatoes, grill zucchini and baby carrots. For dessert Berly had a dark chocolate mousse, Doreen had the cherry apple cinnamon crumble and I had  a slice of key lime pie. Uff da. Of course Doreen had a glass or two of a Usquaiback Scotch blended Malt Highland, I had a Stag’s Leap bottle of chardonnay, Beryl had a couple of bottles of Barbados bear.

Figure 18: The cat's gift to Captain Blight

Figure 19: The resot and resturant

With doggie bags for the cats, and a couple of bottles of Soggy Dollar rum for Captain Blight, we wobbled back to our dingy and returned to the Bunty. Once aboard I gave the cats their treats in the usual fashion and the tidbits from our dinners. They purred loudly. Beryl peeked into the Captain’s cabin and thought he was still living.

To bed once again to slip into the arms of Morpheus.

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