Having a cold one after making landfall in St. Bart’s during my early career.

Mary Anne and me at Capt. Tony’s Saloon in Key West.

Headed out for a day sail in Fort Myers Beach. Building the sea time.

On our way to the Dry Tortugas aboard Rickshaw before the steering cable snapped and I got some of the worst food poisoning known to man, courtesy of accidentally drinking the water this fish was being kept in.

Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico on our way to Key West.

One of my earliest commands, Rickshaw. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears went into her (Fort Myers Beach).

Some live music at our place in Turks and Caicos, the Columbus Club. That’s how we rolled down on the island.

No idea what I was thinking inside the Columbus Club, but it looks important (Turks and Caicos).

Our bar in the Turtle Cove restaurant. The bar was literally a boat sawed in half. That should have told me something right then . . .

My son’s eleventh birthday, and his first time on the ocean on the sport fish named Sandbox (Turks and Caicos).

Getting sea time on Mombo, sport fish style. Going from Turks and Caicos back to the States.

Best first mate I’ve ever had, my wife, Mary Anne, on board Rickshaw.

Night watch on Rickshaw. Gotta be vigilant (Fort Myers Beach).

This is how you celebrate Christmas at sea: helm station cluttered with decorations courtesy of Mary Anne (Fort Myers Beach).

At the helm of Southern Nights on our way to Nassau. I didn’t realize until after the Coast Guard boarded us that it was a drug boat.

In the cockpit of Mombo, the sport fish I cut my teeth on with Captain Rick.

Captain Rick and me getting ready for the St. Thomas Boy Scout Invitational sport fishing tournament. This was right after almost getting killed delivering a boat to the British Virgin Islands with an eccentric character named Crazy George.

Interior shot of our open-air restaurant over the water in Turtle Cove, Turks and Caicos.

Always on the lookout on Rickshaw (Key West).

It’s always nice when the rainbow appears. The worst is over. On our way to the Bahamas on Rickshaw.

Taking a break from day sailing on Rickshaw, nothing better. Sails up, autopilot on, and someone else doing lookout.

Me manning the DJ station before I got bit by the call of the sea (Turks and Caicos).

Our new restaurant in Turks and Caicos in 1986—lots of work to be done.

My son Josh and his friend on their surfboards under our restaurant in Turtle Cove (Turks and Caicos).

Checking the rigging during a blow in the Bahamas.

Weather isn’t always pleasant on a small sailboat (Bahamas).

Stopped in Key West and had a Captain and Coke, my signature beverage, at the famous Capt. Tony’s Saloon.

One of my very first solo trips on Rickshaw with Mary Anne, offshore of Little Palm Island, just before Key West.