Jim Dieterich and Bob White...Sailing in the Caribbean.

And so it began!
Say "hi" to Jim Dieterich ('66), his wife Carole, son Todd and lady friend Amy.  Here in the British Virgin Islands aboard the sailing yacht HoloHolo.  The start of an amazing week of sailing, fishing, snorkeling, eating and drinking well with Bob White ('66) as captain and Miriam Molinet holding forth in the galley.

Jim and I graduated together in 1966, went on to study at Univ. of Texas and then wandered apart where we remained until meeting up at a Gloria-organized reunion.  Thanks Gloria.  In my fifties I found my life in a bit of turmoil and so made the decision to pursue a life at sea, a dream I had kept under covers for all those years of chasing dollars, spending them as quickly as they were caught.  And so I went to sea.  After 7 years in the Caribbean running charter yachts in and around the Virgin Islands and south to Grenada, I am now living in Texas and helping my parents in the last chapter of their time here.  My father passed away in February, mom carries on, now aged 95.

Jim reached out to me a few months ago having visited The Home Port, my charter-a-yacht-with-cap'n bob Facebook page where I do a little promo in hopes of taking a few folks each year down to the islands for a sailing adventure.  Seems it had been on his bucket list to do just that...now was the time.  Jim and Carole have two sons, one with a 2 yr. old son...unfortunately that's a bit young for this type of trip...and then there is Todd.  Todd and his lady friend Amy joined us.  And so we were Jim, Carole, Todd, Amy, Miriam (chef and 1st mate) and yours truly aboard a fine 45' sailing catamaran chartered out of Tortola in the British Virgins.

Jim is an avid and skilled fisherman and he made it clear that he was not about to spend a week on/in the water without doing some fishing.  The island of Anegada provided the opportunity for a day of bone fishing on the shallow flats, and Jim and Todd were all over it....caught some nice fish too!  Jim spent hours trolling from the boat, finally catching a really nice tuna on our last day.  And oh that tuna was tasty!

It was very special to re-connect with Jim, share stories and remembrances and learn about the path he has followed since our days, so long ago, at RHS.  Thank you Jim and crew for choosing to fulfill this trip with me as your guide/captain.  I'm ready to get back out there so......who else out there would really rather be sailing?  Give me call, let's make it happen!

Hmmm.....might have been an adult beverage involved here.

heading out to Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke for dinner....with the ever-present fishing rod!

Mate Miriam wondering if anybody else will offer to do the darn dishes...sheesh.

Cap'n Bob hoping other Ro-Hawks would like to take a sailing adventure sometime soon...before I get too old for this!