CharlestonManTheSummer2022
58 Simpatico GALLERY 63 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401 843.478.4537 simpaticogalleries.com A St. Ives Time Tower After Eight, 40x30” Oil on Canvas byPaintingsMatthias Lupri Iceland Dark, 48 x 72” Oil on Canvas Simpatico GALLERY 63 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401 843.478.4537 simpaticogalleries.com A St. Ives Time Tower After Eight, 40x30” Oil on Canvas byPaintingsMatthias Lupri Iceland Dark, 48 x 72” Oil on Canvas
59 Camilia After the Opera, 60 x 48” Oil on Canvas, by Matthias Lupri
REVISITING HIS CUBAN ROOTS
Ike Behar is reintroducing its storied Havana 32 collection. Ike Behar Havana 32 is an exquisite line of sport shirts inspired by the sights, sounds, and styles of Havana in 1932, the year of Ike’s birth. Ike was born in Havana, Cuba where his father, Samuel, was a respected tailor who owned a shop called La Confianza (the Confidence). From a young age, the store was something of a second home for Ike, who spent countless hours observing his father's work, while learning as much as possible about the trade. Before long, Ike was stitching fabric beside his father, and, by age seventeen, was experimenting with his own designs and producing hand-crafted custom shirts to compliment his father's luxury Insuits.1952, at the age of twenty, Ike immigrated to New York City in pursuit of the American Dream, bringing with him his passion for tailoring.
Now, seventy years after Ike left Cuba, Ike Behar’s Havana 32 is a fitting homage to the place and time that shaped Ike and the brand he built. The collection features a stunning mix of sport shirts meticulously constructed in Italy using the same time-honored techniques Ike perfected while working in his father’s shop. Havana 32 sport shirts are made from gorgeous 100% cotton & 100% linen fabrics in vibrant and pastel colors and exciting graphic prints. The new collection is available now at Ike Behar’s luxury boutiques in Charleston, Georgetown, Downtown Washington D.C., and New York City as well as online at ikebehar.com.
IKE BEHAR’S NEW COLLECTION
Spotlight
DYLAN & WHIT of BLOCK+INK
Dylan Roukous is an entrepreneur, investor, and author who grew up in Richmond, VA. He moved to Charleston to expand his sunglasses brand and found a community full of unique personalities who share the same passion for living an active lifestyle. Whit Slagsvol is an attorney, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, who first came to Charleston in 2008 for his freshman year at College of Charleston. After college, Whit attended the Charleston School of Law and practices law full time, as a solo practitioner, the Slagsvol Law Firm. Originally from a farm outside of Columbia, SC, Whit is a passionate traveler, a life long movie and music
Whit: I was fortunate enough to have strong role models in my parents, both professionally and personally. From professional advice and sage wisdom of my father, to the empathy and overwhelmingly good nature of my mother, I just try to measure up. Buffett is alright, I guess. What does being a Charleston man mean to you?
Dylan: Being a part of a community of go-getters and freethinkers. My old motto was do epic shit and enjoy the sweet life I think that corresponds directly with this city. I really love helping startups and becoming part of the team to help them grow. My marketing firm Five Palms Media takes ecommerce companies to the next level. I really enjoy companies that are just starting out. Since I have already been through starting an international brand, raising capital and successfully exiting I provide consulting and
Dylan: You could say I’m a hobbyist. I’ve figured out a great work/life balance. Most days you can find me golfing, surfing, kiteboarding, boating, playing tennis or skateboarding around in the garages downtown. I try to get better at one thing everyday whether that be in business, body or sport.
enthusiast, and he spends most of his time outdoors and with his dog. What’re your favorite things to do in Charleston?
Whit: Charleston has so much to offer, but it is hard to beat the restaurant choices, so I am usually eating with friends, if I am not at the beach or surfing. Who are your personal inspirations?
Dylan: Richard Branson and Jimmy Buffett have always been inspirations in my life. I’ve read all of their books! They both figured out a way to live a fulfilling life while implementing their passions into their respective brands.
Whit: Being a Charleston Man means to emulate what Charleston embodies. Charleston is a city steeped in history and tradition, but at the same time this is a vibrant and young city that is trying to shake off some of the weight of that history and those traditions; equal parts southern conservative and young progressive. Charleston has a style and grace that is unique to such a town. Charleston is a city fueled by ambition, a port city where the best can make their mark with hard work, but still lay back and enjoy the slow moments. As a lawyer, my day to day
coaching, not just growth online. Over the past few years I’ve learned the value of connecting people and that has opened up massive opportunities for growth.
is working with small businesses and startups. It is the energy and creativity of these people that fuel a city like Charleston. A Charleston man is someone with some style and swagger.
What is the brand Block+Ink?
With Block+Ink (block and ink) we wanted to create a brand that was unique and high-end, catering to the go getters and the risk takers. This product is fully tailored and handmade. There are no machines used to make anything but the buttons. It’s for the people that live a life worth sharing. Trips, friends and those who enjoy a beautiful life. We wanted to create a unique brand built around sustainable products for the modern man. All of our products are hand tailored and we use vegetable dyes. Block printing is the oldest and slowest form of printing on garments and we want people to think about that when wearing each piece. We have a few projects coming up this year that should be very exciting. We have a product coming out with a popular subscription box brand that caters to beach and coastal style, Beachly, and we have future projects for new products with them in the fall; and we are working with a local band, Doom Flamingo, as well as a local nonprofit, The Warrior Surf Foundation, to produce some collaborative products that look awesome. We are also just starting to work on designs for some major brands, including one that is probably the quintessential lifestyle and beach brand, a Southern Charm cast member, as well as one major men’s fashion brand. We won’t get too far ahead of ourselves and get into the details, but we can promise you that you will never be “Wasting away again” … without a Block + Ink shirt.
A Charleston man is someone who is comfortable and confi dent whether on a boat or in a boardroom. Someone who can navigate life’s serious moments without losing sight of the lighter things. What is the brand Zest?
Zest is our new local vodka com pany based here in Charleston. We started it when we realized that people were burned out by the hundreds of flavors flooding the market from the big brands. We want ed to make something versatile and delicious with a natural, familiar flavor. We already knew that citrus was the perfect companion in many cocktails, but looking at the market we saw an opening. While other Vodkas had made lemon flavors, nobody had made one that was designed to replace a tra ditional lemon drop shot. Now, Zest allows for people to enjoy their favorite shot straight from the refrigerator! It’s also extremely versatile behind the bar, since we bottled it at 30% alcohol. Try it with tea for a boozy twist on an Arnold palmer or just mix it with your favorite seltzer water for a quick and refreshing cocktail.
JAKE MacDOWELLofZESTSpotlight
What’re your favorite things to do in Charleston? Drinking and sharing Zest with friends of course! I was born in Charleston and grew up in Mount Pleasant, where the water was never far. As a kid, my favorite times we're running around the neigh borhood and staying on the water. Jumping off docks, hanging by pools, going out on the boat, you name it. Not too much has changed as an adult. I now live downtown, and enjoy run ning around town on the golf cart af ter a work day (sunset golf cart cruises on the peninsula cannot be beaten), going on the boat with friends (occa sionally while pretending I’m good at fishing), golfing, and trying the many new restaurants that we are continually spoiled with. In all, my free time is mainly consumed by the different aspects of what makes Charleston so great. Who are your personal inspirations?
In business, Sydney Frank. He was the founder of Grey Goose. The guy was forced to leave Brown after his freshman year when he ran out of money, and he had no big liquor background. Howev er, he was able to realized the market trend that people wanted to pay more for vodka. The most expensive vodka at the time was absolute, which sold for $15 a bottle. He priced Grey Goose at $30 a bottle, while making it super exclusive. After winning the best tasting vodka at a competition, he used that to launch a huge marketing campaign and rapidly expanded. I believe he eventu ally sold the company to Bacardi for around 2 billion. Not too bad Personal life, off the top of my head, probably Mathew McConaughey. I read a book called green lights by him that really designated with me in my personal and professional life. Plus, talk about some swagger. The man is a legend What does being a Charleston man mean to you?
The romance of the Italian Riviera has long been a tale worth telling. Positano in particular is the place to be. This sleepy little town with its thousand steps will somehow color your dreams long after you’ve left. The beauty is that the glimmer of the ocean and the coastline’s picturesque views are always brimming at the end of your Borsalino.
I suggest a lazy start to the morning with a macchiato and breakfast on the terrace. Everywhere you go will have a terrace. Then find your “dolce vita” by sailing off to a private beach and whiling away the rest of the leisurely afternoon. A gentle swim in one of the many caves on the coast followed by a light and by FreemanJustineKhakshour
INTERNATIONAL36
MAKING THE MOST OF THE AMALFI COAST
NOV/DEC 2016 37 unhurried Mediterranean picnic. You can never go wrong with a bright Caprese salad made of aromatic tomatoes and creamy mozzarella di Buffalo drizzled with fresh basil and the finest local olive oil. This simple salad is quintessential Italy, even resembling the colors of the flag: red, white and green. Another favorite dish among local Italians is the Prosciutto e melon, thanks to its irresistible pairing of the salty with the sweet. After lunch, the next big event is cocktails at sunset. Enjoy a crisp glass of champagne af ter clamoring up the winding steps to Franco’s Bar at La Sirenuse as you watch the sun sink into the sea and the flicker of candle light come alive. For dinner, stay on site for a Michelinstared culinary experience at La Sponda, or make your way down the cliffside steps to Chez Black, where diners sit by the beach for some sea urchin pasta. The restaurant has the most charming ambience with the decor meant to mimic the inside of a vintage Italian boat where glossy wooden columns adorned with carved mermaids complete the look.
INTERNATIONAL38 Let this put some wind in your sails, because the best way to experience the Amalfi coast is by boat. By car, the windy, single lane roads often get backed up and the drive is far from smooth.
If you are looking to spend several nights here, my favorite hotel is the Hotel Caesar Augustus at the top of Anacapri for its breathtaking views and infinity pool. This Relais and Chateaux hotel sits 1,000 feet above the Bay of Naples and offers the most panoramic views on the whole of the island. The hotel doesn’t al low children under the age of 10. There is a hotel shuttle which takes guests to the piazzetta of Capri Town as well as a local bus service. To be self sufficient and also for a little bit of adventure, a scooter rental is the way to go. The center of town has several nightclubs, the boutiques and designer shops stay open late, and if you’re anything like me, people watching over your spritz at aperi tivo will easily become a ritual you want to continue long after you return home. When your friends or family invite you to join them for an evening of dining al fresco, simply let them know you will be there in a prosecco!
If the grotto is not open, I recommend spending time at Il Riccio restaurant and beach club. It is around the corner from the blue grotto. The sun terraces on the cliff provide intimate areas for sun bathing and for a swim in the blue sea you can just climb the stairs to the water’s edge. For lunch, the restaurant has stunning views and delicious sea food and pasta. The vongole and uni pasta are always a hit but the best part of the meal is upon entering the dessert room, called “la stanza della tentazione” which literally translates to “the temptation room”.
For a change of scenery it is not a bad idea to take short trips be tween Positano and the small town of Ravello for lunch, for exam ple. By boat however, you are free to enjoy the sun and the ocean breeze and soak in the beauty around you. If you are able to take a boat to the island of Capri, do not miss the opportunity. There is also the option of a ferry ride which is pleasant and inexpensive. Alcohol is served on board and the ferry has open air seating. Capri is very stylish and boasts some incredible designer shops. “Jackie O” was known to have custom sandals made for her in the small shops of Capri. You can still do this today. Another big attraction is the Blue Grotto. It is a sea cave where sunlight passes through an opening underwater and illuminates the cave creating a glowing blue reflection. Sometimes the Blue Grotto is closed due to high tides making it impossible or too dangerous to enter. Hopefully you are lucky enough to enter during your time in Capri because the experience inside the grotto is magical.
Single-handed sailing is relatively easy, so long as nothing goes wrong and the weather is working for you. You do what you can before you ever leave the dock: go over every aspect of the boat, research the weather, chart the course. As pre pared as one may be, there is always something that inevitably appears to turn your attention. Weather, for one.
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 0730hrs, OFF SULLIVAN’S ISLAND
by MarkCaptainStetler,Alliance
Sailboats cannot sail directly into the wind, and as any sailor will tell you, the wind always seems to be on the nose. Moving against the wind means tacking back and forth to get where you are headed, making an offshore passage that much lon ger. No matter how much I plan, when it’s time to leave and safe to do so, I go. BAHAMAS
As the song goes, “You can’t get there from here.” Somebody in R.E.M.’s crew must have been a sailor.
SAILING TO THE
Sunrise off Sullivan’s Island: let the adventure begin
The weather was beautiful when I left Charleston. Pleasant temperatures, nice wind, and a promising extended forecast. While the wind speed was ideal, its direction was not. And it was not forecast to change for at least a week - south wind on the nose for my entire voyage south. My planned 450 mile jaunt turned into a longer-lasting journey. When I charter the boat, I tell my curious guests that 2 hours in a car averaging 60 miles per hour is about 24 hours on a sailboat with perfect wind conditions. Since my first stop was set to be Fort Pierce, Florida to get a required COVID-19 test necessary to enter the Bahamas, I cast off and Alliance set sail.
After a successful (negative) 8 a.m. COVID-19 test, I weighed anchor and left for the Bahamas. The weather forecast was spot-on, and for the next 30 hours Alliance enjoyed idyllic sail ing conditions. As fate would have it, even my heavy weather jib was perfect for the crossing. When crossing the Gulf Stream you cannot just point the boat to where you want to go, in this case Matanilla Shoal. So I laid in a course to Settlement Point and let the stream push me north, adjusting as necessary. The day was windy, Alliance was in her element, sailing faster than we had for the entire
THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2300, FT. PIERCE, FLORIDA
THREE DAYS AT SEA Working my way south in 2-4-foot swells and a 10-15-knot wind, I settled in for the first leg. My girl was beating into the wind and slicing through the waves with only dolphins, flying fish and a few sea turtles to keep company. Even the shipping traffic was non-existent. Alliance performed magnif icently. That is until the clew ring on her genoa tore free from the sail. Flogging back and forth (and making a hell of a lot of noise), I realized I needed to take down the 140 percent sail and replace it with the 90 percent heavy weather jib sail. Me, myself and I. Single-handedly.
The other thing about being tens of miles at sea - alone - is that any thing you do outside the safety of the cabin or the cockpit can be very dangerous. Think “spacewalk Beforedangerous.”Ileft Charleston, I ran the jackline, both bow to stern and port to starboard, for my own safety. Ev ery time I leave the cockpit I wear an inflatable life jacket, and always use a tether to attach myself to the boat. Tethers are a mixed bag. If the boat is moving at a good clip through the water and you fall over board, your chances of making it back on board are slim to none and challenging at best. Tethered to the boat, at least you are not in the wa ter forty miles from shore watching your boat sail away on autopilot. So, spacewalk dangerous. Thankfully, none of that transpired and I was able to heave to and fro to get the sails changed without is sue. Mission accomplished.
Sunrise at Ft Pierce Florida. Next stop the Bahamas...
It was well past dark when I was arriving into Ft. Pierce. No slips were available at any of the marinas, so I decided to drop anchor in a sweet little spot just outside of Safe Harbor Mari na. I went below decks and fell fast asleep.
FRIDAY, MAY 6, 0700, FT. PIERCE, FLORIDA Weather and the Gulf Stream. The next day was a busy one. When sailing, you live by sunrise and sunset. After three days at sea, and no way of updating my weather reports when well offshore, I passed the time planning my crossing. As it turned out, I had no time to rest. The wind was backing to the south west and increasing from 7-12 to 15-25 knots. I wanted to be on the other side of the Gulf Stream before the winds picked up.
Of the traffic, there were only two vessels that gave me pause; one was a cargo ship and the other, a sport fishing boat. I called the first vessel, the container ship, on the VHF radio. They picked up and we confirmed that we saw each other. I explained that I had zero options to adjust my course and requested they give me a couple degrees to starboard just in Thecase.second vessel was cause for serious concern. The captain was on autopilot and apparently asleep at the helm. I called him several times on channel 16, used my DSC to call him privately, ship to ship, and never got an answer. So in the dark of night I watched him narrowly pass an eighth of a mile in front of me. I could not wait to get into shallower waters. The sailing that night was exhilarating, exhausting and seem ingly endless. As the sun was rising, so was my elation, being engulfed by the Bahama Island.
trip, but 30 hours of great sailing is still a long time to sail with one rail in the water. Draining, actually, and the sun was setting as I approached Matanilla Shoal. Earlier I mentioned that shipping traffic was almost non-exis tent on the way down from Charleston to Ft. Pierce. Almost. It all lay in ambush just as I was about to enter Bahamian wa ters. I was moving along, close-hauled at 7 knots on a pitchblack night when the dormant fleet began its intercept.
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1500hrs, GREEN TURTLE CAY (clockwise from top left) Mark Stetler offshore to the Bahamas; Sunset at sea; Caroline at Sundowners, Caroline, walking in the village, Green Turtle Cay
Sunset(above) off shore; (right) Our Islands.thethroughcourseAbaco
How thrilling to pull into Green Turtle Cay Club and Marina!
Next stop: Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar for an infamous Goom bay Smash! The famous drink originated here at Miss Emily’s and I was warned against drinking more than two. Yes, they are delicious. And strong! Though I’ve heard stronger in With a number of small and cozy restaurants and bars, there is a lot to talk about in New Plymouth. On beautiful Gilliam Bay, we had the cove to ourselves with sugar-fine white sand and crystal clear waters to swim.
The Admiral arrives! Assuredly, I am the Captain of Alliance; Caroline, her Admiral. In most cases, admirals do not sail in with their fleet. They typically fly in and meet the fleet upon arrival. Caroline is no different in this regard. After departing Charleston and a two hour layover in Miami, Caroline boarded her one hour flight to Marsh Harbor. From there, she took a taxi and a ferry ride to Green Turtle Cay. Safe and sound. Our vacation begins!
MONDAY, MAY 9, GREEN TURTLE CAY Settling in and signing in. By 10 a.m. on Monday the line to see the customs officer was ten deep. Sailors of all experience levels were scratching their heads, dumbfounded by this new system the Bahamian government had just put in place. It was several hours in the sun to finally clear, and once I did, I felt like I had just received a master’s degree in Customs Management. Everyone in line was very friendly and helpful. In the end, it all made sense to us, as we all walked away with new friends. If you are going to fly or sail a private vessel to the Bahamas, do your homework. Everything is done online now through click2clear.com. Know this site well. Exploring GTC. Finally, the adventure begins. GTC is one of the bigger cays, so a golf cart is helpful here.
Now, the next challenge: getting through Customs. I had missed the Customs officer by just a few hours, so I would have to wait until Monday to submit my paperwork. In the meantime, I cleaned up the boat, took my first real shower in five days and settled in to wait for the Admiral. I took in the surroundings, enjoyed a great meal and fell hard asleep.
TUESDAY, MAY 10, NO NAME CAY Swimming with the pigs. The plan was to sail Alliance to No Name Cay, anchor out, din ghy in, snorkel and swim with the Cay’s world famous swim ming pigs. The Admiral had a better idea. Let’s hire a captain on a small boat and let them take us. Sold! So off we went with Captain Jason on his smallish, wooden fishing boat. How nice not to be at the helm.
First stop: New Plymouth - a quaint town in the outer Aba cos settled in the 1700s by Loyalists fleeing American col onies during the Revolutionary War. With its winding streets and pastel-colored, stucco buildings, it’s rich with history in its Bahamian, English and American colonial architecture.
SUNDAY, MAY 8, 1200hrs, GREEN TURTLE CAY
What better day than Friday the 13th to make our way through the north passage dreaded Whale Cay Cut and onward to wards Elbow Cay? Just the night before, the wind had shifted back to the SE, so I thought “why not?” The waves were still up a bit when we closed in on the cut. With the waves on our nose, Alliance effortlessly took the pass. Watching other Big O’s Bar sign and Dancing with the Pigs in No Name Cay
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 AND THURSDAY, MAY 12, GREEN TURTLE CAY Stuck in paradise. As aforementioned, the velocity of the wind and the direction of the wind and the cur rent are very important when traveling by sailboat. Thus, the reason we were stranded on GTC for a couple of extra days. Out of all the islands in the Abacos, especially since the devastation of the last major hurricane, GTC has a lot to see and do com pared to some of the other Cays. This is not a good or a bad thing as each and every Cay has its own flavor. GTC is also somewhat isolated from the rest of the Abaco Cays to the south by a pass called Whale Cay Cut. Whale Cut is basically an inlet that separates the Abaco Islands from the Atlantic Ocean. When the winds are blowing 20 knots and out of the north, Whale Cay Cut is not a good idea, so we sat back and took in all GTC had to offer.
After a stop at a nearby coral reef for amazing snorkeling, we pulled up the anchor and headed to Big O’s Bar on No Name. When we arrived, we shared the beach with pigs, and only the pigs. Another scrumptious fish burger and beer later, we gathered up our leftovers and a couple of cut up apples we had brought with us and headed down to the beach to say “hello” to the pigs. If you read reviews on the swimming pigs you will get a wide range of opinions. You do feed the pigs at your own risk as they can be assertive, but we absolutely loved our time in the water with them. As we spent more time with our newfound friends, more people arrived by boat. We had so much fun that many people thought us to be part of the act. True pig whisperers, we are.
FRIDAY MAY 13, 1200hrs, ELBOW CAY
boats running with the waves in the opposite direction made me glad to be going in the direction we were headed. The south pass of Whale Cut was not nearly as bad and the waves following were much smaller than on the north end.
Elbow Cay is a very long cay, so a golf cart is a good idea when
Opening into the cerulean waters of the Abaco Sea, where the water was so clear you could see the shadow of the mast on the sea bed, a dolphin appeared as our guide. After a few more hours of sailing, we bypassed Great Guana Cay and Man-O-War Cay to visit Hope Town on Elbow Cay. With a chance of rain looming, we thought we would just ride out the weather in Hope Town.
(above) Hope Town Lighthouse in Elbow Cay; (right) interior of light house
Arriving just before high tide, we slid easily into Hope Town Harbour and picked up a mooring ball from the Hope Town Marina and Inn. This, along with a small fee, allowed us usage of the showers and pool. Famous for its red and white striped lighthouse, Hope Town is full of things to do and places to see, but even after three years since Hurricane Dorian, some of what is advertised still has not re-opened. This is true through out the Abaco Islands, but definitely not a reason to stay away.
SUNDAY, MAY 15, - MON, MAY 16, GREAT GUANA CAY Snorkel, drink and dine. When you rise with the sun, you get to experience a lot of the islands all before the bars even open. We arrived the night of the 14th and woke up to a beautiful sunrise. Grabbing our backpacks and snorkel attire, we set out on foot. It was Sunday morning and we figured every thing would be closed. Walking the area around the harbor, we made our way to a section of the beach just down from Nippers. Earlier that day we saw some waves breaking just off the beach and figured it was a reef. We swam out about 100 yards to find a pristine coral reef, spending an hour or more swimming and exploring the many fish and coral growing just below the surface. Afterward, we spread out our blankets and enjoyed the virgin white sand beach with not a single human in either direction for miles. Glorious! (clockwise from top left) Sunset, Hope Town, Elbow Cay; Caroline Knopf, Great Guana Cay; Hiking the Island, Great Guana Cay; Caroline shopping for bags at Aubrey’s Sail Shop, Man-O-War Cay
SATURDAY, MAY 14, MAN-O-WAR CAY Man-O-War Cay was one of my favorite places to visit. A very cozy cay on a rocky spit of land, it is most known for its boat building legacy. Founded in 1798 as one of the early Loyalist settlements in The Abacos, its residents started farming the land. In 1820, a shipwrecked sailor named Benjamin Albury met Eleanor Archer, who worked on a farm. They married in 1821. Over 200 years later the family traditions continue with a population of around 300, most of whom are their direct Carolinedescendants.andI walked the entire island. We paid a visit to the local museum and bought a couple of really great bags at Au bury’s Sail Shop. The people there were very friendly and we struck up fascinating conversation with the lady shopkeepers. Walking along the bluff, there was a breathtaking sight of the Abaco Sea and open ocean, all within the same view.
exploring. We rented bikes and were able to sneak in a great workout. Some of the places to explore: Elbow Reef Light house, Wyannie Malone Historical Museum, Cap’n Jack’s, Hope Town Canvas, On Da Beach Bar and Restaurant, Grab bers, Firefly Bar and Grill and so much more.
After clearing Customs and a big breakfast, I left Caroline in Marsh Harbour and set sail for Charleston.
The next 72 hours we saw the wind at our back and a follow ing sea. I had stitched my 140 genoa back together and my repairs were holding as we flew downwind and in the stream at 8 knots. The closer I got to Charleston, the higher the waves and faster the wind. The last evening, we sailed at 20 knots with a following sea, tossing us around a bit. Nothing my girl and I couldn’t handle. On the third day, I couldn’t wait for dawn. I imagined the sun coming up and seeing the bridge and the lighthouses. That wasn’t quite the case, but by 0800 hours, there she was, and by 1030 hours we were back in our slip off Patriot’s Point, ready for our next adventure.
My course took me back to Man-O-War Cay and through the cut just north of the Cay. There was zero wind on Wednesday, so I spent the first thirty hours of the return trip motoring. My goal was to get into the gulf stream and ride the magic car pet back home before my four-day weather window turned against me. Off we flew, Alliance and I, just a boy and his boat on the final leg of our journey.
All is well until it isn’t. The daylight hours were uneventful but as the sun began to set, so did my autopilot. I would set it for the course I needed to steer and off it would go. I spent hours trying to figure out what suddenly went wrong and finally came to the conclusion that I need to reset the damn thing in the middle of the Atlantic, the wind now behind me and Butincreasing.here’s the thing: if I reset the autopilot and could not re commission the thing then I would be forced to hand steer Alliance for the next 72 hours. Some of what is required when recommissioning an auto pilot is done at the dock. No docks to be seen for about 30 miles, so I faked it. I dropped all the sails, stuck the boat into the wind and did the dockside com missioning. After three attempts it took! This called for a shot of rum. Crisis averted.
TUESDAY, MAY 17, MARSH HARBOUR
If Nippers is the place to party during the day on the beach, where to watch the sunset and paddleboard in the bay is TheGrabbers.great thing about Great Guana Cay - all the cays, for that matter - is that the mooring balls run around $20 a night. With a golf cart rental at $45 USD, you can basically stay three nights, rent a golf cart for a day and spend just over a hundred dollars for your entire stay, which helps offset the pricey food. On average, it is hard for two people to back away from the table for less than a C-note, tip included, which makes sense when you consider the logistics.
I figured if I had three days of undesirable weather I’d kick back and visit a few more cays. But as fate would have it, my weather window was perfect for a quick three-day return trip to Charleston’s harbor. I set sail at 0800 on Wednesday.
Virgin beach all to ourselves with great snorkeling reef just off shore, Great Guana Cay
Caroline’s flight was set to depart early af ternoon, while my departure, by sea, de pended on favorable weather conditions.
WED, MAY 18, HOMEWARD BOUND
After a couple of fun-filled days on Great Guana, we set sail for Marsh Harbour, and the conclusion of our visit. We stayed at the very posh Abaco Beach Resort and Marina. A clas sic destination established in 1955, it is the only place in all of the Abacos where we just relaxed by the pool. We did go into town to resupply the boat for the return trip to Charleston, but other than a closed art gallery, there was little to see or explore in town in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.
We marveled, noticing that the only footprints on the beach were ours. This was the rule rather than the exception through out our travels. After a quick nap, we gathered our belongings and walked the quarter mile to a no open Nippers Bar and Grill. We settled in and met new friends of all ages. Caroline noticed a black storm cloud on the horizon. Her: “Do you think that’s heading our way?” Me: “No, definitely not, can’t be. We just ordered our food. And besides, the boat is wide open. I left all the ports and hatches open to air her out.” Minutes later, we, along with everyone else, were huddled un der a small awning over the bar, hiding from the downpour. Al liance’s interior got a good soaking. We rationalized that it was only noon, so once we got back to the boat, we could take out all the cushions, pillows, bedding and towels and let them air dry on deck. It wasn’t the proudest moment for Alliance, but by late afternoon everything was dry again.
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a myriad of nations and shades of nylon. Highlights of the festival include Darth Vader, Yoda and “SpyderPig” balloons. No matter their aesthetics, hot air balloons have three key components: the large fabric gas bag called the envelope, the hanging basket or gondola, and a propane burner to heat the air. Their construction has changed little since the first manned flight in 1783. Since their inception, balloons have gently wafted into litera ture and family flicks from Ray Bradbury sci-fi novels to Disney’s UP. However, the habits of balloons and balloon watchers remain largely a riddle wrapped in an envelope duffle bag, stuffed inside a trailer, to be driven on backcountry roads-- to quote Churchill if he were a balloonist. To begin, balloon pilots cannot directly steer their aircraft. They navigate by vertically ascending or descending
by Rachel Appelbaum
Every year during early October, hundreds of ethereal multi-colored creatures converge on a single field in Albuquer que. For nine days they ascend at dawn in a raucous flock. At dusk they congregate on the ground and glow in perfect unison. No, these are not radioactive butterflies- and fairies still aren’t real. These gentle, rotund, hot air filled nylon sacks, come in all shapes and sizes- from plump to “Angry-Bird”-shaped and they are mag nificent.Albuquerque is host to the world’s largest hot air balloon festi val. Over 500 balloons from all over the world launch into the sky daily creating what multiple sources claim is the world’s most pho tographed event. Ranging in design from the standard inverted teardrop to a menagerie of special shapes, the balloons represent
THE CURIOUS WORLD OF BALLOONING
AT THE ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA
The sun rises over a field of steamrolled car toons 1,000 square yards each: flat “Happy Orca”, flat “Sonic the Hedgehog”, and flat “Pigasus”. Bal loon crews methodically roll out their dead, at tach them to baskets and burners, and set about resuscitating them with large cold air fans. Chil dren run through the inflating Technicolor rows while photographers kneel and take pictures of the balloons’ gaping maws. Cold air fans are switched out for propane burners as the balloons are guided to standing. Pilots and passengers climb into the baskets and majestically float off. This event is so immense, that the launch occurs in waves over a two-hour period. As soon as one balloon rises, the crew of a nearby trailer unloads it’s art piece and commences the process. Having been up in a balloon myself in Ohio, I’d like to note that landing is a bit of a happen ing. Typically balloons are flown in rural areas and must land where the wind takes them, often in fields or pastures. A fearless chase crew tails the balloon in flight, keeping in radio contact with the pilot until a landing site is chosen. The crew either gains per mission from or apologizes to the unsuspecting property owner turned balloon-landing-strip proprietor. Although an odd impo sition, the novelty of the experience charms most landowners and the balloon is quickly packed up and transported home by the crew.Now back in Albuquerque, hundreds of balloons have been unleashed, conceivably to blanket every cow pasture and cow for miles. As the balloons ascend, a type of magic occurs. Topography at the park dictates that low-level surface winds prevail from the North to South while higher winds blow in the opposite direction in a pattern known as the “Albuquerque Box”. Pilots can ride out on one current and back on the other, vertically looping multi ple times over the field as if on an invisible Ferris wheel before landing. The air grows thick with balloons in a dizzying display of color and depth. By late morning the balloons have landed. Exhausted and elat ed, I eat lunch and revisit dreamland. Around 3 p.m., the people migration begins again. Groggy and disoriented we return to the field for the evening “Glow”. The balloons rouse themselves. By dusk they stand in solidarity, inflated on the ground. Pilots listen on walky-talkies for the command to release flames. Every bal loon lights up like a giant Chinese lantern in a perfectly timed stationary display. The puffs are only sustainable in short bursts; too much heat and the balloons will accidentally lift off. The flick ering choreography continues for half an hour: 54 football fields
NOV/DEC 2016 25 to catch different wind currents that blow in vari ous directions at certain altitudes. The safest time to fly is at dawn and dusk, when gentle currents abound without the threat of thermal columns. Thermals are hot pockets of rising air heated by the sun and surrounded by corresponding danger ous downdrafts. Accordingly ballooning takes on a strange crepuscular schedule. It is 4am and I am not a morning person. View ing a 78-acre field of balloons is the only scenario that I can imagine in which I would willingly leave my bed. I eat breakfast, layer up and line up to publicly transport to Balloon Fiesta Park. With just under a million attendees each year, the bussing system is remarkably smooth. I and the rest of the bleary-eyed mole people arrive in darkness in time to watch the Dawn Patrol, a handful of expertly trained pilots, take to the sky. This nighttime fly ing is highly demanding. It requires aircraft posi tion lighting specially designed for the Fiesta, and the wherewithal to land a balloon in the dark-- in case of an emergency. Watching these master fliers helps the rest of the pilots to gauge wind speed and directionality for their morning flights.
INTERNATIONAL26 worth of seven-story-tall designer orbs glow. Fireworks follow. Then, like the tired tide, we retreat back to the busses and back to our hotels. Four a.m. will come again soon.
In addition to balloon watching, speaking with the friendly and knowledgeable pilots is a true highlight of the festival. Own ing a balloon is a bold life choice and transporting these cum bersome creatures is often a fraught but interesting experience. Most Americans attending the Fiesta trailer their balloons across country, whereas international balloonists often ship theirs. Ev ery so often 2,000 pounds of balloon go missing as occurred this last year. Two penguin balloons (Puddles and Splash) and a large pirate ship from the UK disappeared. According to the shipping company, the trio was rumored to be touring LA and New York for the first week of the festival. The British team made a mock news conference video that is still viewable on Youtube: “Puddles, Splash, if you can hear us, we’re not angry at you… we just miss
NOV/DEC 2016 27 you and we want you to come to Balloon Fiesta park.” Eventually the balloons appeared, in need of some emergency re-stitching, but were still able to participate. Between odd timetables, complicated logistics, and colorful road stories, the secret life of hot air balloons is not only captivat ing but also surprisingly accessible. Most states have at least one large balloon rally or event a year open to the public with dozens of balloons. If that doesn’t satisfy your balloon lust, try booking a ride with one of the many privately owned balloon companies dotting the country. Of course, Albuquerque is the world’s bal loon mecca and if you are lucky enough to attend the Fiesta, take in as much of the ballooning artistry, engineering, culture, and community as you can. These buxom airships are truly as riveting to watch as they are to learn about.
Brain Health/Cognition - Berries are not only superstars for brain health/longevity, they also help maintain sharp memory. Anthocyanins are a powerful medicine for the brain as they re duce inflammation, help neurons communicate, and regulate how the brain uses glucose for energy.
Promote Heart Health - Studies show that eating blueberries may reduce some of the risk factors for heart disease. “Re searchers have found that intake of blueberries “acutely im proves vascular [arterial] function…in an intake-dependent manner.” Less than a cup is beneficial, but one to two cups
GOT BLUEBERRIES?
Alleviate Inflammation - “Although inflammation is a normal im mune response that helps protect your body from illness and injury, chronic inflammation is at the root of most diseases.” Thanks to its high antioxidant content, blueberries have been shown to have a significant anti-inflammatory effect in the body.
Did you know that humble blueberries remain one of the most nutritious, anti-oxidant-rich types of fruit in the world? There are certain foods that have been called “superfoods” due to their impressive benefits, like helping to reduce age-related diseases and improve cognition and longevity. These impressive age-en hancing results, verified by many studies, show that blueberries should become a staple in everyone’s daily diet. The long-term benefits are never-ending. Wondering about the enormous health benefits and how they are beneficial for your health? The health site Lifespan explains, “In addition to increasing longevity, blueberries can specifically lower the risk of various degenera tive diseases that reduce human life expectancy.”
Helps Fight Cancer-“Recent research has unearthed some impressive findings on the ability of blueberries to protect against certain types of cancer. According to Dr. William Li, a Harvard Medical School graduate and researcher, “blueberries actually prevent blood flow to cancer tumors. They are almost as powerful as the drug Avastin which his protégé at Harvard invented. Without a blood supply to bring nutrients, cancer tu mors can’t grow.”
by Catherine Ross Blair
High in Antioxidants - Blueberries are one of the best sources of antioxidants. Along with other antioxidant-rich fruits and veg etables, eating blueberries can increase your total antioxidant intake to help reduce premature aging. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that help protect the skin from damage and pro mote skin healing.
Increase Weight Loss -“Blueberry extracts have many positive effects that can help you lose weight and keep it off.” Take a look at the blueberry nutrition profile, and you’ll quickly see why this nutrient-packed berry is great if you’re looking to lose weight fast. It’s low in calories but provides a whopping 3.6 grams of fiber per cup, fulfilling up to 14 percent of your daily fiber needs with just one serving.
Wondering about more health benefits of blueberries? Here are the top eight health benefits of blueberries:
Catherine Ross Blair has a background in Nursing from Clemson University and is a former RN who spent her early years in Pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina. Most of her career was spent in the pharmaceutical industry where she was a highly successful award-win ning executive pharmaceutical sales representative who ranked in the top five percent of her company for her entire twenty-year tenure. Catherine Ross is also a proud graduate of Dale Carnegie training, and it changed her life as there is no limit to kindness. She was not only voted the best speaker over a three month period with fifty-two participants, but what she is most proud of is that she was voted the per son that the entire class would most want to return as their Dale Carnegie assistant instructor. In 2004, she went back to school and became a Certified Professional Coach, Coach Training Alliance. In ad dition, after recovering from devastating health circumstances for approximately eighteen years, she returned to school at the age of sixty-four. Catherine Ross is a proud graduate of Duke Integrative Medicine’s accelerated health coaching program strictly for healthcare professionals only. She is also a gradu ate of the renowned T. Colin Campbell PhD Center for Nutrition Studies, eCornell, and received a Plant-Based Certificate. Cath erine Ross is also the proud owner of Boomers Live Longer LLC which is a holistic, lifestyle and lon gevity company. She is passionate about guiding individuals who are struggling with one or more health concerns and or overwhelm to have their best health and best life ever through taking ownership of their health and lifestyle. Finally, Catherine Ross Blair loves inspiring and en couraging others through her daily Facebook posts and interactions to be their own best health de tectives and own best self- advo cates. In addition, Catherine Ross works part-time as a personal assistant in her company “Cath erine’s Concierge” and provides a variety of primarily healthcare relat ed services. Catherine Ross Blair has also for fun been a professional freelance writer of resumes, cover letters and essays for over thirty-five years, and she loves the creative process and receives great joy every time someone is hired. She is also excited about an extraordinary opportunity to become a TEDx Speaker and is looking forward to spreading her “Big Idea” in the near future! seem better with no benefit to eating more than that in a single meal”.
*Improves Immunity - Natural boost in killer cells-Blueberries are packed with powerful nutrients like anthocyanins, proany thyocyanidins and Vitamin C-each of which has been linked to lower cancer risk certain populations studies. So consider upping your intake of the extraordinary blueberry.
*Boost angiogenesis - Seasonal berries like blueberries can boost your body’s angiogenesis defenses. Angiogenesis is the process that our bodies implement to grow and maintain blood vessels. In healthy circumstances, blood vessels are integral to life. They deliver oxygen and vital nutrients to all of our organs. However, when abnormal vessels get out of whack, they can fuel microscopic cancers and create significant issues. Berries help to promote proper angiogenesis function.
RECIPE Blueberry Smoothie Bonus
Finally, did you also know that frozen blueberries are actually healthier and contain more disease fighting antioxidants than fresh blueberries? The literature shows that freezing blueber ries increases their concentration of anthocyanins, which are natural anti-inflammatory agents. And let’s not forget to always buy organic, preferably local to support our remarkable farmer’s markets here in the Charleston, South Carolina area. We are fortunate to have several U-Pick Farms in the Lowcountry that offer succulent blueberries: Bluebelle Farms, McClellanville, SC; Ambrose Farms, Wadmalaw Island, SC and Myer’s Blueberries, Summerville, SC. What are you waiting for? What will you do with your blueberry jackpot? I don’t blame you at all if you want to rinse and eat them right away. With the indelible blueberry the choices are endless!
This omega blueberry smoothie recipe is the perfect breakfast! It’s loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats, and good protein to help you start your day off right!
1INGREDIENTS:cupblueberries
DIRECTIONS: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until a smooth texture is reached.
¼ cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon sprouted flax meal
1 scoop vanilla flavored collagen protein powder
In the United States, this type of shared collaborative experience is particularly rare in the field of mechanical watches because most of the custom timepieces that can be ordered are to be found primarily in Switzerland and a few specialized watchmakers in other parts of Europe.
Any watch can tell the time; a truly extraordinary one can capture it.
NELSON GIESECKE ON HIS LATEST CUSTOM WATCH
The Moment
Giesecke’s Object Design Studio in Denver brings the opportunity for a truly personalized design process closer to home for Americans seeking a watch made specifically for them. The first step in the process is for the customer to identify a place or a time they have experienced that was truly inspirational. That memory is the motif used to create a moving landscape inside the watch that changes throughout the day.
Each watch in the series is built to express the owner’s personal relation to life. As such, it requires a special connection between the artist and the customer. It demands good communication, patience and vision.
The “Living in the moment” series of custom watches developed and built by Nelson Giesecke, at Object Design Studio in Denver, Colorado, does just that. The idea behind each design is to both embody the customer’s memory of a “perfect day” and remind the wearer to “live in the moment.”
TIME IN THE MOMENT
The design features a photographic bas-relief in metal of the gulf of Ft. Meyers, Florida. This miniature, sculptural universe with deeply reflective, iridescence colors graphically depicts the concept of time as the changing of the tides, and via an egret flying in and out of the water. Of course,
For example, the first watch in the “live in the moment” series was commissioned to be an autobiographical tribute to life by the sea.
The case is completely hand machined in 18-karat yellow, white and rose gold. The sides of the case are inlayed in platinum and then painstakingly hammered to create a “frosted” effect.
That’s the magic of the “live in the moment” series. It combines form and function, minute and memory, and image and imagination, into a watch that both tells the time and captures its passing. Giesecke is a uniquely talented artist, architect, and engineer with the mastery to forge these new mechanical dreams.
When it comes to machines and mechanical devices it is easier to describe how they are built or how they function rather than what they actually mean. This is especially true for a hand-built watch created specifically to depict the changing moments of a day. It can be calculated, machined and built but how can it express the day?
Giesecke commissioned an American watch mechanic, Richard Stoller to create the specialized gears and delicately formed watch hands. This “Life by the Sea” is completely hand forged and engraved in bas relief using ancient metalsmithing techniques, combined with modern tools and technology. Metals used include 18-karat gold, platinum, palladium and “shakudo,” an ancient Japanese alloy.
A total of four seascapes are referenced on this watch, including the latticework back with an egret flying in and out of the water on the automatic rotor.
The
TheMechanicsMagic
Giesecke employs “Métiers d’Art “techniques to construct these unique detailed miniature universes on the dial. His years of research and practice in metal arts are employed in precision- miniature to achieve these effects.
the fact that timekeeping developed because of navigation on the sea gives an added historical reference. For this watch, a high end Swiss movement was used as the platform to create moving clouds on the horizon of a seascape.
Designer: Ike Behar
ARTS FASHION
EVENING OF THE
Saturday,SHOWApril 30th
