Virgin Islands Property & Yacht | April 2019 | BVI Underwater Paradise

VIRGIN ISLANDS

PROPERTY&YACHT

T H E L I F E S T Y L E G U I D E TO PA R A D I S E

KITCHEN INSPIRATION

SEA STYLE

TRAVEL

F RESH IDEAS FOR T HE H EA RT OF THE H OM E

A SMALL GALLEY M EA N S B I G F L AVO U R

A VAC ATI O N FRO M VAC ATI O N I N ST. JO HN

r e t a w r e d Un dise Para

The incredible photographic legacy of Armando Jenik

AP R I L 201 9 B V I P R O P E R T Y YA C H T. C O M

Competence is our global language. Always with a local accent.

The qualities our local clients value are to be found in VP Bank the world over.

For you we are present in select locations, whose many benefits open up new perspectives. Working with partners who are familiar with the markets and the specific concerns of our clients.

VP Bank (BVI) Ltd · VP Bank House · 156 Main Street · PO Box 2341 Road Town · Tortola VG1110 · British Virgin Islands T +1 284 494 11 00 · F +1 284 494 11 44 · info.bvi@vpbank.com VP Bank Group is based in Liechtenstein and has offices in Vaduz, Zurich, Luxembourg, Tortola/BVI, Singapore, Hong Kong and Moscow.

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Outer Island Living The Art of Living Living in the British Virgin Islands means having an intimate relationship with the ocean and our tropical they permeate our daily activities.

Beach relationship day or forestwith hike?

Living in theclimate; British Virgin Islands means having an intimate theNorth oceanshore and surfing or South shore marina?

Tortola or Virgin Gorda?

The choices are many and varied. our tropical climate; they permeate our daily activities. Beach day or forest hike? North shore Choosing eat shore out could take Tortola you to orone of numerous restaurants on many several surfing or to South marina?

Virgin Gorda? The choices are anddifferent varied. islands with countless beaches and hidden coves, all an easy boat ride away ‐ power boat or Choosing to eat out could take you to one of numerous restaurants on several different sailing yacht ‐ you choose! islands with countless beaches and hidden coves, all an easy boat ride away ‐ power boat or sailing yacht ‐ you choose!

INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS, LOCAL INSIGHTS INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS, LOCAL INSIGHTS BVISIR.COM Each office is independently owned and operated BVISIR.COM Each office is independently owned and operated

TORTOLA OFFICE +1 284 340 5555 (Maritha Keil) TORTOLA OFFICE PO Box 188, Road Town +1 284 340 5555 (Maritha Keil) +1 284 494 5700 PO Box 188, Road Town +1 284 494 5700 maritha@bvisir.com maritha@bvisir.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

Home is where the heart is….

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on the cover

THIS STATEMENT PROVES true again and again. Home is where you begin and end your day, where you feel most relaxed and comfortable and where you can just be yourself. And making your home beautiful is easier than ever with BVI-designed decor from TrѐfleHOME in a piece featuring Tortola’s fashion designer, Kristin Frazer.

The kitchen – often called the heart of the home – is front and centre in this issue. Villas & Views serves up fresh ideas on updating your kitchen to be your favourite room in the house. And for those who love to entertain, OBMI offers a modern design concept – the “messy kitchen” – to keep clutter at bay and guests at the heart of the event.

What’s a kitchen without good food? Our Sea Style piece found one yacht chef who isn’t daunted by his small galley kitchen and wows charter guests with gourmet delights.

The ocean has Armando Jenik’s heart and has become his home in our cover feature exploring his incredible life as an award-winning underwater photographer and cinematographer.

Let’s not forget the raw power of the heart. It pumps blood through the entire body and sustains life, therefore proper care is needed. The latest instalment of the Harney’s series provides a look into the future of sustainable, renewable energy in the BVI, thus powering the future of the territory.

The lifeblood of any island is its natural beauty. With pristine beaches and adorable wild donkeys, our travel piece featuring St. John will have it leaving its mark on your heart forever.

Thank you for bringing us into your home each month. It’s an honour to be here.

Enjoy the issue,

Armando Jenik has spent decades exploring and documenting the beauty of the sea.

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Sara

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OUR TEAM / CREDITS

contributors Lauren Hodgins

Jessica Santos

Lauren is a crewed yacht charter broker based on St. Thomas, USVI. Working in the industry since 2004 and sailing over 8,000 nautical miles to date, Lauren now heads Caribbean Yachts International. www.CYIcharters.com.

Jessica has spent the past 20 years living and working in the Caribbean, the majority of that time in the British Virgin Islands. Having worked in the travel industry her entire career, she has a wealth of experience and knowledge of the Caribbean luxury villa rental market.

Paul Mellor

Morgana Tilling

Paul is a senior associate at Harneys’ Private Client Department. He advises corporate and private clients as well as financial institutions on a range of commercial and residential property matters.

Morgana is a key member of Smiths Gore’s team, running a portfolio of exclusive villa rental properties. With years of experience in luxury hospitality, she works to ensure clients experience the very best of the BVI.

James McDonald

Amanda Ulrich

James McDonald brings his design expertise to OBMI’s Destination Creation Studio. His most recent projects include a Private Game Lodge in South Africa and multiple residences and amenities at Oil Nut Bay, a high-end development in the British Virgin Islands.

aLookingGlass Team Erin Paviour-Smith

Sales Director & Project Manager Originally from New Zealand with a background in brand management for three of New Zealand’s top-selling lifestyle magazines, Erin has strong understanding of sales and marketing within the publishing industry. She brings a fresh approach to advertising in magazines and digital media.

FOUNDING PUBLISHER Colin Rathbun

WEB DEVELOPER Maros Pristas

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nick Cunha

DISTRIBUTION Francoise Frank

nick@alookingglass.com

DESIGN & LAYOUT Sally Fullam sallyfullam@gmail.com

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maros@alookingglass.com

francoise@alookingglass.com

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Erin Paviour-Smith erin@alookingglass.com

Amanda is a news and features reporter based on Tortola. Since Hurricane Irma in 2017, many of her articles have focused on the territory’s recovery process.

VIRGIN ISLANDS PROPERTY & YACHT is published eleven times a year (February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November & December/January). © Copyright 2019 by aLookingGlass Ltd. All pieces reproduced in this issue are under prior copyright by the creators or by the contractual arrangements with their clients. Nothing shown may be reproduced in any form without obtaining the permission of the creators and any other person or company who may have copyright ownership.

The publisher of VI Property & Yacht, assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the content placed in its publications. For the avoidance of doubt, aLookingGlass gives no warranty or guarantee in regards to any information placed in its publications.

PLEASE DIRECT ALL ENQUIRIES TO: EMAIL: info@alookingglass.com PHONE: 284 344 2172 MAIL: alookingGlass Limited, PO Box 3895, Sea Cow’s Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands VG1110 alookingglass.com bvipropertyyacht.com

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contents APRIL 2019

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EXCLUSIVE COVER FEATURE: ARMANDO JENIK BVI legend Armando Jenik talks about a life of underwater photography and adventure

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FASHION FOR YOUR HOME

Accessorize your home with vibrant, BVI-made colour from TrѐfleHOME

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MESSY KITCHEN, CAREFREE ENTERTAINING OBMI Senior Designer James McDonald explores the modern concept of a functional – and messy – second kitchen

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VILLAS & VIEWS

Beautiful ideas from Smiths Gore on updating the heart of the home – the kitchen

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

The latest instalment of the Harneys series delves into wind and solar energy in the BVI

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SEA STYLE A small galley won’t tame the big ideas of yacht chef Matt Proto

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BACK TO BASICS: ST. JOHN

The natural and serene St. John offers a vacation from your vacation

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Casey Bay Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda Fully Restored Post Irma

Once in a while...very, very occasionally...we are asked to list a home for sale in the British Virgin Islands and everything about it is just about perfect. The proximity to a beautiful, very private sandy beach, breath taking views, breeze, design, layout, materials, quality of execution and finish, accommodation layout and furnishings and, of course, price. Casey Bay, perched just above the most private of beaches within the Rosewood Little Dix Bay Estate on Virgin Gorda, is such a home. The design takes into account the Rockafeller ethos of giving guests a beautiful place in balance with nature. The owners of Casey Bay, with the assistance of Berglund Architects certainly achieved this. And all with full access to the beach, restaurants and all other facilities at Little Dix Bay.

X

Asking Price $8m $6m

tel. 1 (284) 340 3000 www.coldwellbankerbvi.com

E XC L U S I V E C OV E R F E AT U R E / A R M A N D O J E N I K

r o f t r a e A H he Ocean t From diving with right whales in Patagonia to working with Jacques Cousteau, Armando Jenik’s life is filled with passion for the sea – and he’s photographed the entire journey

BY SARA SHERMAN P H OTO G R A P H Y BY A R M A N D O J E N I K

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Armando Jenik has turned a lifelong passion for the sea into an incredible legacy of images featuring the power and beauty of the ocean and its wildlife

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E XC L U S I V E C OV E R F E AT U R E / A R M A N D O J E N I K

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, may not be the most obvious place for a life of incredible sea-faring stories to begin. But Armando Jenik has been called to the ocean since he was a little boy, and each adventure is more incredible than the next.

Early Days Growing up with a younger sister and brother, he remembers them all going to summer camps together, but he was the one who loved the sea.

Spending summers with his family at the Mara del Plata, the adventures began to stack up, one after another.

“My love for the ocean began to develop itself in Patagonia,” said Jenik.

Patagonia is the southernmost region of Argentina, where the Andes Mountains divide the area with Chile.

Jenik remembers fondly his days

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of free diving with Southern Right Whales in the San Matias Gulf.

These curious creatures are active on the surface, and Jenik would dive with them, and even hold on to a fin or tail for an exciting ride.

“I remember one day, my friends were sleeping, and I went jogging on the beach. A mother, father and baby whale were very close to shore, so I put on my wetsuit and went into the water. The mother surfaced and I just reached out and held her tail,” Jenik remembers.

It was very difficult to make a living from the ocean, so as Jenik grew up he kept returning to Patagonia to work as a diver making it easier for fishermen to find oyster beds. After this, his diving career took off.

His Patagonian dive training continued in a quarry, where

visibility was very bad – nearly zero.

“We would reach our arms out and feel around until we touched something, and then we had to figure out what it was,” said Jenik.

“We collected a lot of brass nails and china, and found out that they were remains from the Lord Clive shipwreck (1763).”

The First Camera With a world of adventure waiting, Jenik volunteered to help the Israeli army during the Arab-Israeli War in 1967. With the conflict famously ending after just six days, Jenik found himself in a foreign land with no job and a lot of time on his hands. He then walked into a local aquarium

ABOVE Armando diving in Argentina

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and met the director, was invited to dinner with him and as those things happen, he left with a job collecting fish from the Red Sea for the University of Jerusalem zoology department. The aquarium director would compose sea “scenes” in a tank, and Jenik would capture them on film.

Jenik’s father visited him in Israel in 1968 and bought him his first underwater camera – a Calypso.

This was the first 35mm underwater camera conceived by none other than marine explorer Jacques Cousteau.

The ocean had not only provided a hobby for Jenik, but adventures and career opportunities kept coming as well.

The next step in Jenik’s ocean career was to become a dive instructor in Italy. After achieving his CMAAS certification, the warmer waters of the Caribbean came calling.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A dive team with a 300

year-old cannon, Jenik’s beloved Goldielocks dive boat, Jenik and friends in St. Thomas (sister Vivianna in the shark cage!), Jenik photographing a sail in his signature “split shot” style, Jenik (right) standing in as Bernie Lomax in the 1993 film Weekend at Bernie’s II, Jenik with famed ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau in the 1970s

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E XC L U S I V E C OV E R F E AT U R E / A R M A N D O J E N I K

Virgin Islands Adventures Armando headed to St. Thomas, USVI, in the 70s and lived there for 18 years. He opened a dive centre at Bolongo Bay hotel, and didn’t even have a dive boat. He began taking Bolongo Bay guests to Coki Beach on the east end of the island by bus to teach them how to dive.

Jenik’s sister Viviana came to visit in 1972. In architecture school at the time, Jenik remembers dating some of Viviana’s girlfriends and remembers that time fondly. Viviana later married and began living in Tortola, becoming a much-loved and respected architect of the BVI community.

After working at Bolongo Bay, Armando bought his favourite 42-ft dive boat, Goldielocks. It was at this time that famed conservationist Jacques Cousteau and his crew ventured to St. Thomas to film humpback whales for the film, The

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Singing Whale. Jenik jumped at the opportunity to work with Cousteau.

Spending time with the crew and paying close attention to the filming, Armando experienced a once-ina-lifetime master and knew that photography and cinematography was his future.

Desperately wanting to work and dive with Cousteau, who at the time only had European divers on his team, Jenik remembers watching him leave St. Thomas.

“He was climbing the stairs onto the plane, turned around and threw his red stocking hat at me and said ‘Armando! See you in Marseille in a few weeks!’,” said Jenik.

However, having a wife and family to care for this dream wasn’t meant to be.

Jenik wanted to further pursue underwater filming. He sold his beloved Goldielocks dive boat and moved to Tortola to manage the research vessel, Okeanos.

Film and Future From adventure charters on the Okeanos, Jenik further developed his filming career and environmental work.

In 1993, Weekend at Bernie’s II was filmed in St. Thomas and released as a major motion picture. Jenik was tapped to teach the talent how to dive.

The director felt that not only should Jenik be the principal dive instructor, but that he looked enough like Terry Kiser, the actor playing Bernie Lomax in the film and should be his stand in for the underwater scenes.

Jenik remembers being recognized at the supermarket and locals shouting “Hey Bernie!” at him.

“They couldn’t believe that the guy in Tortola was Bernie underwater,” said Jenik.

ABOVE Jenik has spent decades

photographing underwater and advocating for marine life RIGHT A spotted eagle ray glides through the sea and divers explore a BVI shipwreck

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L A N D / E XC L U S I V E C O V E R F E AT U R E : O I L N U T B AY

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E XC L U S I V E C OV E R F E AT U R E / A R M A N D O J E N I K

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With filming lasting nearly a month, Jenik taught the crew how to oxygenate the body before diving and donned 90 lbs of lead to walk like a dead man under water.

Many other filming jobs mark Jenik’s long and storied career. From filming scenes for multiple soap operas to working on underwater footage for “The Magic of David Copperfield”, the list of credits for Jenik’s work is long and rich. He also worked on an episode of 20/20 with Hugh Downs and Geraldo Rivera, searching for the wreck of San Ignacio in Anegada, and even trained longdistance swimmer Diana Nyad to free dive in Patagonia to prepare her lungs for one of her marathon swims.

Jenik has been honoured with the distinguished Mobius award for environmental excellence, and his work in Mastercard’s “Priceless” campaign won him the Emmy.

After a 2018 knee replacement, Jenik is working on rehabilitating his body and looking forward to returning to the sea soon.

“Every picture tells a story,” said Jenik. “I’m trying to do my own Cousteau thing; being in love with the ocean, chasing sharks and filming underwater.” ■

LEFT A mother whale and her calf

on their annual trek through warm Caribbean waters; a curious dolphin poses for the camera RIGHT Colourful coral is one of Jenik’s favourite subjects BCQS_ThridPG_November-Issue_PRINT.pdf

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LAND / TRÈFLE HOME

Fresh and vibrant home goods on display at Cooper Island Beach Club are part of the TrèfleHOME collection

FASHION FOR YOUR HOME 20 | V I P R O P E R T Y & YA C H T

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A stylish and BVI-made homeware collection is the latest project from top designer Kristin Frazer

BY J E SS I C A SA N TOS P H OTO G R A P H Y BY R I C K I R I C H A R DS O N A N D S H A R N E L L E Y U S U F

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LAND / TRÈFLE HOME

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“ENJOY MY HOME, your paradise…” are the words of Kristin Frazer, Lead Creator at Trèfle: a motto to live by and the ethos behind a uniquely BVI brand that has been steadily growing over the past ten years. With her passion for design and love of vibrant colours, Kristin has already built an international reputation as a leading swimsuit designer in the Caribbean with a cult following of A-listers and island girls alike. However, not content to dominate the swimwear and resort wear market Kristin has now turned her prodigious design talents to the world of home furnishings.

Having launched privately in 2016, the TrèfleHOME Collection was officially unveiled to the public in May 2018. Featuring table linen, indoor and outdoor throw pillows, curtains and bed runners this exciting homeware range contains everything you could possibly need to give your home a distinctly Caribbean makeover. The eclectic mix of colours and textures gives such a versatile palette to coordinate with existing décor and brings an injection of Caribbean chic to any home, villa or yacht.

The TrèfleHOME Collection boasts a range of different fabrics including chiffon, twill, organic cotton and Ecocanvas and all Kristin’s fabric designs are printed to the highest standards of quality in the USA. All items in the range are produced locally in the BVI thus creating jobs and supporting the local economy. Each design reflects the colour, vibrancy and beauty of the British Virgin Islands complementing the stunning views outside and welcoming the Caribbean colours inside your home. With more than 40 different prints in the range to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect pieces to create your own personal paradise.

LEFT Tortola’s Kristin Frazer and

some of her colourful home creations

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LAND / TRÈFLE HOME

“TrèfleHOME doesn’t associate the label with collection names but rather print names as the defined concept that tell one story of our brand,” explains Kristin further.

Each fabric design has been inspired by and named after places in the BVI that Kristin holds close to her heart. “In all my travels and interactions with people along with my heritage and culture here in the BVI, I’ve been able to connect how this makes me feel and my team and I express this through all of the designs”.

Items in the range cost between $40-$70 so it is not only ethical but also affordable to update the look of your home, reflecting the heritage, culture and resilience of the British Virgin Islands and her people.

The TrèfleHOME Collection is a 100% locally owned and locally made line that is uniquely BVI through and through.

“Buying local is always a great way to show support to a growing

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“Buying local is always a great way to show support to a growing business. My products, whether swimwear, resort wear or HOME goods all evoke such positive moods and anything that is colourful and vibrant is a winner!” business. My products, whether swimwear, resort wear or HOME goods all evoke such positive moods and anything that is colourful and vibrant is a winner!”

At a time when so many homeowners throughout the Caribbean region are completing remodelling and renovations of their homes after the impact of the 2017 hurricanes, TrèfleHOME’s flamboyant use of colour brings a much needed “colour-pop” to homes and landscapes still very much in recovery.

Kristin’s mission to colour the islands (even more) beautifully is gaining pace with the first

TrèfleHOME Collection. Building on this success, she plans to expand the line further to include candles, wallpaper and other fine home décor accessories. ■ The TrèfleHOME Collection is currently available for purchase at Clover’s, 281 Waterfront Drive, Road Town, Tortola and online at www. innerevi.com. The full range will be available on www.treflehome.com later this year.

ABOVE TrèfleHOME

products are available in Road Town and online.

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Bring the Theatre Outdoors Our Brass Pattern Projector Adds Ambiance to Your Exterior

Kailua, Hawaii BeachsideLighting.com Rosie Nichols, USVI & BVI Rep. (340) 642-8981 Local installations include: Cooper Island, Peter Island, Saba Rock, Oil Nut Bay, and residences on St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda.

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LAND / KITCHENS

MESSY KITCHEN, CAREFREE ENTERTAINING From a discreet butler’s pantry to a full-service second kitchen, the “messy kitchen” concept is the hottest trend in modern home design

BY JA M E S M C D O N A L D, S E N I O R D E S I G N E R O B M I

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LAND / KITCHENS

WHEN DESIGNING YOUR dream home, you have a dilemma: you want a beautiful kitchen full of high-end appliances and rich wood cabinets that elegantly flow into the grand living room, but you entertain frequently and hate leaving the kitchen a mess with dirty pots and pans from the meals you’ve prepared. As an architect, it’s my job to determine what can be done to conceal the chaos – essentially giving you the best of both worlds. One of my favourite solutions to this challenge is the integration of a “messy kitchen” into the home’s design.

Often referred to as a chef’s kitchen or multi-use butler’s pantry, a messy kitchen is a small service and storage room often placed between a kitchen and a dining room. Described as the ultimate luxury item for today’s ultramodern kitchens, the multifunctional space is great for homes that have the popular open layout because it keeps your food preparation, storage and cleaning tucked away and out of sight.

Leaving your formal, “entertaining,” kitchen mess-free. The jack-ofall-trades area provides a better entertaining and dining experience for both you and your guests.

When planning a messy kitchen, it’s important to go over with your architect exactly how you plan to use the space as there are endless design options and configurations. When thinking of storage and lifestyle needs, try to list out all the large and odd-shaped items such as appliances and platters you may want to store and use in the space. This will help ensure everything has its own home, as well as the necessary electrical and plumbing requirements.

From small to large, these discrete, customizable kitchen concepts allow our kitchens with furniture grade

RIGHT Open kitchens are desirable, except when a dinner party mess is visible to guests

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LAND / KITCHENS

cabinets, high-end countertops, and oversized islands to remain an elegant focal point. Perhaps the smallest and easiest concept to implement is the multi-use butler’s pantry. A modern spin-off of the traditional butler’s pantry, architects are now reimagining these spaces to serve as an extension of the kitchen with the primary function of storing kitchen essentials and having the extra space out of site for preparing food.

Featuring all the appliances you’d find in your main kitchen.

If you’re just beginning to design your space, you may want to consider adding a beverage fridge or a wine cooler, or perhaps both! As the butler’s pantry grows in size, its functions grow as well, frequently including a sink and dishwasher to clean those unsightly dirty dishes.

Most clients also request the addition of extra oven or built-in microwave to accommodate for the large dinner

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parties they plan to host. These “messy kitchens” are fully functional and can easily accommodate the needs of a private chef, whether for full- or part-time service. A full messy kitchen frequently has all the same appliances and features as the show kitchen, but appliances and finishes don’t necessarily need to be top-ofthe-line, after all, they are out-ofsight. However, if you know you will be frequently utilizing a professional chef you will want to take into consideration their specific needs as well as make accommodations for how the chef will not only prepare but also how food may stay heated/ cooled and be served to guests.

In my experience, butler’s pantries are most successful when designed in close proximity to the main kitchen to be an easy-access, transitional space to service the dining room.

This concept is also the easiest to include when renovating your home

as former closets or hallways may be able to be adapted into a fully functional butler pantry.

As the oversized butler pantry concept develops it may turn into a full-fledged messy kitchen, designed to be more of an extension of the kitchen. Modest and tucked away, messy kitchens don’t need to stay clean, at least while you entertain your guests, living up to its name of being a little bit messy.

Regardless of size, working with your architect to define your needs for a butler’s pantry, messy kitchen or even full chef’s kitchen, will ensure your open plan kitchen remains a pristine gathering and entertaining area of your home keeping the mess of a kitchen out of sight and out of mind. ■ ABOVE An expanded butler’s pantry can keep prepping and serving dishes out of the way but close at hand

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BRING GREAT DESIGN HOME

To discuss your Project, contact Roy Keegan: Office: 284 494 5240 Cell: 284 541 7483 roy@arawakvi.com Arawak Interiors, Road Reef Plaza #9, Road Town

Arawak Interiors offers home interior design advice, custom designs and sourcing from Asia, Mexico and USA. We also offer an extensive range of furniture, fixtures and fittings to choose from at our interior store and warehouse located in Road Town.

Arawak Interiors manages all the shipping and logistics to deliver to your door anywhere in the BVI. Overseeing projects for Private villas, Private Islands, Resorts & Restaurants.

LAND / VILLAS & VIEWS

ANY REAL ESTATE agent will tell you that when it comes to selling your property, the two most important rooms in a house are the kitchen and the bathrooms.

Even if you are not planning on selling your house, you will spend a great deal of time in both and therefore it makes sense to make them as

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functional and appealing as possible.

Are you someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen? Are you someone that has to have all the latest kitchen gadgets? Are you the one that loves entertaining and wants the kitchen to be the social hub for both family and friends? Here are some tips for making that space

both practical and attractive.

The fundamental aim of any kitchen is to be functional. Making sure the layout fits the purpose, ensuring enough storage space, deciding the best place for the stove, providing ample workspace surfaces and accommodating all of the labour saving devices you would like to have

BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN IDEAS Whether you’re designing a new kitchen or wanting to refresh your current one, these ideas will brighten any space

BY MORGANA TILLING, SMITHS GORE

are important elements to consider.

Even better: can it be located by a window for extra light and as a distraction from those kitchen chores you don’t really enjoy doing, do you have space for that wine refrigerator you always wanted?

Obviously, not everybody has as much space at hand as they would

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like. In such a case it is important to prioritise. You need a stove, and a fridge and of course a sink. As much storage space as is practical, both under counter and wall mounted and you may need to utilise such devices as pot hangers from the ceiling or rotating shelves in cupboards to maximise the space available to you.

If you are lucky enough to have more space than is absolutely necessary then you can start to add some of those once luxury,

ABOVE A large kitchen island doubles as ample prep space and a communal eating area

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now commonplace labour-saving appliances that most homes now have and at the same time add other nonessential but still important items such as artwork or plants to make the room more interesting, individual and personal.

Once the functional needs have been assessed, you can then begin focusing on the aesthetics of the space to make your kitchen into something really special. You can start with a focal point in your kitchen; this could also become a conversation starter.

Consider adding a dramatic eyepopping colour or tile design to an accent wall in your kitchen to draw attention or perhaps one or two pots of fresh herbs on the window sill or worktop. Choose coloured pots and

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The fundamental aim of any kitchen is to be functional and make sure the layout maximises the space.

pans instead of the standard stainless steel or cast-iron options; the same can be done with certain electrical appliances such as kettles and toasters. Your whole kitchen could become a microcosm of colour in one single tone or marriage of different colours that compliment each other.

Make it a fun place to be!

Many homes in the Caribbean are blessed with glorious views of lush tropical greenery or Ocean vistas.

Make the most of these blessings

from Mother Nature by designing your kitchen and dining area with these views in mind so that you can enjoy your garden or sunsets while enjoying the fruits of your labour in the kitchen. Need more lighting other than the traditional windows?

Including a vented skylight will bring

ABOVE Pops of color and

live plants bring a kitchen of any size to life

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Focused On Designing Your Dream Listening and responsive design are just some of the ways OBMI is focused on helping to design your dream home.

ARCHITECTURE MASTER PLANNING & DESIGN OBMI.COM

LAND / VILLAS & VIEWS

natural light in and can eliminate cooking odours.

One obvious area to make a statement is the floor covering.

Whether it be travertine tile or painted wooden floorboards or even just a non-slip synthetic floor covering there is a real opportunity to change the whole persona of the space available to you. Practicality is obviously something you should take seriously when choosing your floor covering. Carpets and rugs are obviously NOT a good idea for various reasons. Tiles should be non-slip and easily cleanable and the grout resistant to oil and grease.

Linoleum was popular for many

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years but has rather gone out of fashion now, but there are lots of synthetic floor coverings in hundreds of designs and colours that now come with fatigue-reducing padding and non-slip finishes perfect for the modern kitchen.

Kitchen islands can also play an important part as the focal point of a kitchen if you have space. They can serve as storage, worktop space and as a place for friends and family to sit and chat and perhaps enjoy that glass of wine while the meal is being prepared. They make the kitchen more intimate and lessen the distance between one task and the other, which is important when standing

while you work for long periods.

In some cases, a second sink can be incorporated into an island for use in food preparation, a much healthier option than using the dishwashing sink for both tasks.

Whatever the size of your kitchen and whatever your budget, you should spend time on getting the design of your kitchen just right for you and make it a place you enjoy spending time in. But remember, functionality first! â–

ABOVE Make the most of natural

light, but don’t forget good lighting for after the sun goes down

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Residential Sales Homesites For Sale Dreaming of your vacation home in the BVI? Now you can purchase land, and create your dream home.

SHANNON, TORTOLA

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Several lots available. Prices Vary.

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Flanked by incredible beaches, minutes from Road Town.

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Coveted development on Tortola, incredible views and centrally located.

Beachfront and hillside parcels available. Freehold, private and secluded.

For more information on these listings or additional offerings, call 284 494 2446 or email residential@smithsgore.com

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TORTOLA Britannic Hall

VIRGIN GORDA Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour

LAND / THE HARNEYS SERIES

RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE BVI Creating a sustainable (and storm-worthy) energy future begins with bringing the power grid up to speed W O R D S B Y PA U L M E L L O R 38 | V I P R O P E R T Y & YA C H T

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AFTER THE HURRICANES of 2017, many of us experienced firsthand what it is like to be without electricity for an extended period of time. The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) did a sterling job in difficult circumstances to reconnect its customers, but the experience led many to question whether there might be a better way to power our homes and businesses.

The BVI, like many other countries in the Caribbean, relies almost exclusively on fossil fuel imports to generate electricity. This makes the BVI susceptible to fluctuations in the underlying cost of fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels are a finite resource, release harmful emissions and are relatively expensive in the Caribbean,

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as a consequence of the long transportation process from the point of production to the point of use.

Many Caribbean nations, including parts of the BVI, are low lying and susceptible to rising sea levels caused by climate change. Caribbean nations are also at risk from changing weather patterns and more extreme weather events, exacerbated by global warming.

Even before the hurricanes in 2017, there was a general consensus on the need to shift the focus of electricity generation in the BVI from fossil fuels to more localised, renewable sources of power.

Energy mix In determining the best energy mix to

ensure a reliable supply of energy, it is important to note limitations imposed by local geographical features. While the BVI is blessed with plenty of sunny days, the availability of flat land on which to site photovoltaic cells is limited, meaning that rooftop solar schemes are likely to play a more significant role than largerscale photovoltaic generating plants. Some potential sources of renewable energy, such as hydropower, are unlikely to have any role in the BVI’s energy mix, given the lack of permanent running water features.

Based on current technology, it seems that solar and wind are likely to be the most achievable

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Based on current technology, solar and wind are likely to be the most achievable sources of renewable electricity generation, but future advances in technology will no doubt introduce additional options.

sources of renewable electricity generation, but future advances in technology will no doubt introduce additional options. Fortunately, both wind and solar electricity generation represent proven technologies that are able to compete favourably with the cost of generating electricity from fossil fuels in many countries, without subsidies. This is likely to be the case in the BVI and many other Caribbean countries where the cost of generating electricity from traditional fossil fuel sources is generally high.

Variable supply The supply of electricity will need to be carefully managed and have infrastructure upgraded to cope with the peaks and troughs in electricity generation that are associated with

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renewables. Sunny and windy days will inevitably lead to the generation of more electricity from photovoltaic cells and wind turbines than cloudy and calm ones.

Unlike many other countries, the BVI is unable to take advantage of a cross-border interconnected electricity grid, so that electricity may be imported from a different country when conditions in that country are more favourable for the generation of renewable energy.

While it is no doubt feasible to link the BVI to the USVI by way of an interconnecting electricity cable, the proximity of the two territories suggests that if conditions are not conducive for renewable electricity generation in one, they are also unlikely to be conducive in the other.

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Solutions Some of the possible solutions to managing the issues associated with the variable supply of electricity generated by renewables include the following: • Managing demand; • Storage; and • Flexible base load generation.

MANAGING DEMAND

Energy efficiency leading to lower overall demand is one way in which the BVI will be better able to cope with fluctuations in electricity generating capacity. Examples include designing buildings so that they can be cooled by prevailing winds, rather than air conditioning, and painting roofs with a solar-reflective white coating so that less heat is absorbed from the sun.

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STORAGE

Consideration should be given to capturing and storing electricity generated during the days when “excess” energy is produced and releasing it to homes and businesses when it is needed. Battery storage solutions are used for this purpose to good effect in many countries. Electric vehicles are also a good option for storing the energy produced and incentives could be put in place to ensure that such vehicles are charged when there would otherwise be a surplus of renewable energy.

FLEXIBLE BASE LOAD GENERATION

Given the constraints of current technology, it seems unlikely that electricity from renewable sources will be a complete solution and

there will need to be an element of electricity produced by traditional fossil fuel sources, at least for the time being. Such electricity production will need to be flexible so that production can be increased or decreased according to the level of power produced by renewable sources of energy, which may require investment in existing generation and transmission infrastructure.

Recent legislation The British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (Renewable Energy) Regulations came into force on the first of November, 2018, and provide an additional legislative framework to previous updates to the British Virgin Islands Electricity Act that were introduced in 2015.

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These legislative changes were introduced to facilitate and encourage the generation of electricity from renewable sources in the BVI. So far, as the generation of electricity from renewable sources is concerned, the relevant legislation distinguishes between the following: • A consumer-generator; and • An independent power producer.

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A consumer-generator is a person who has installed renewable energy generation facilities at that person’s premises (commercial or domestic) for their own usage with the intention that the excess power generated will be sold to BVIEC, with such electricity being fed back into the electricity grid.

An independent power producer

is a person who wishes to build, own and operate a renewable energy generating facility in the BVI and who has been issued with a Green Energy Licence, authorising that person to do so and to sell all of the power generated to BVIEC. In each case, the legislation provides for an agreement to be entered into between the consumer-generator or

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independent power producer and BVIEC as appropriate, governing the terms on which the electricity generated from the renewable source will be sold to BVIEC. Much of the focus to date appears to be on creating a framework for private investment in renewable electricity generation and it will be interesting to observe the level of participation,

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what further steps will be taken by the BVI Government to promote and encourage the development of the renewable energy sector, and what further steps will be taken by BVIEC to develop its own renewable energy generation capacity.

Harneys Private Client team regularly advises clients on the acquisition of

BVI real estate, including devising ownership structures to satisfy the tax, regulatory, succession planning, and other needs of each client. For more information on these solutions or any other matters relating to acquiring property or a yacht, registering a business, or planning for future generations, please contact Sheila George, Johann Henry, or Paul Mellor. â–

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, y e l l a G l l a m S t n e l a T g i B A tiny working space is no match for this yacht chef; his creations wow guests with great style and flavour

BY LAUREN HODGINS P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M AT T P R O T O

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THE TREND OF small-space living is everywhere these days. From “tiny homes” to “micro-lofts,” living small has become something of an art form in itself, something that the yachting world has known since, well, the beginning. Living well in small spaces demands extreme tidiness and the kind of organizational superpowers that could give Marie Kondo a run for her money. This is especially true when it comes to the humble, yet ohso-vital boat galley!

Space optimization and preparing gourmet cuisine in a tiny galley is a tricky business indeed. Storage is sparse, prep space often lacking, and appliances typically smaller than their land-based counterparts. Throw in rough seas, unusual requests, and no supermarket right down the road, and it’s easy to see the challenge of planning, prepping, and serving up to 60 plates a day in a space smaller than the average closet!

With a flourishing charter industry, there is a real need in the business for talented chefs who are willing to trade in the luxury of a commercial kitchen for the unique challenges of small-space cooking on the water. Matt Proto, a professional yacht chef, is just such a pro who swapped work in restaurant kitchens for a more laid back career as Chef aboard Firefly, a 46-foot charter catamaran based in St. Thomas.

Learning to cook pizza at ChuckE-Cheese isn’t what most people imagine as the beginnings of a great chef, but that’s exactly where Matt began his career.

LEFT An unforgettable

yachting experience lives in the details

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“I never had any intention of becoming a professional chef, but I really liked pizza, so I convinced them to let me work on the line,” he said.

Matt quickly outgrew his pizzaprepping position and learned kitchen skills at assorted restaurants before finally being taught the culinary arts by more seasoned professional chefs.

Matt eventually made his way to the beautiful island of St. Thomas where a friend offered him a chef job aboard a charter boat. His position gave him the freedom to combine his love of diving and cooking, and he’s enjoyed doing both on boats ever since.

“I get to take people diving, often for the first time, and still provide a fine dining experience, but in a more intimate casual atmosphere. Plus I’m also a captain, so I still get to take part in handling the boat, as well as maintenance and repairs, which

48 | V I P R O P E R T Y & YA C H T

believe it or not, I really enjoy. I think all that would go away the minute I have to start wearing shoes to work!”

Even with the joys of the barefoot boating life, providing an exceptional guest experience can be tough when chefs are working with limited counter space and minimal storage capacity. Meals that might be a breeze in a standard kitchen suddenly require much more foresight on a yacht. Prepping a holiday turkey, for example, can be difficult when a galley’s oven is only half the size of a standard unit!

For Chef Matt, the most challenging part of small galley cooking on the water is the lack of refrigeration space, the small ovens, and a stubborn off-shore wind that seems determined to blow out his burners! But he notes that provisioning isn’t too much trouble thanks to grocery stores that are happy to order speciality items and

the convenience of the internet for stocking dry goods.

While on charter, Matt relies on a well-stocked galley and constant preparations throughout the day to keep pace with the rigorous dining schedule while on charter. As guests enjoy breakfast on deck, Matt has already finished preparing that night’s desserts. Dinner is ready to go by the time lunch is wrapping up.

This rigorous prep schedule allows him to stay on top of things—and keeps him on his toes for sudden changes in itinerary.

Matt enjoys challenging his guests with menus inspired by whatever is fresh at the local markets.

ABOVE A small kitchen means multitasking is a must RIGHT Creative dishes from different cuisines means guests get the best bites from all over the world

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“I try to challenge myself every week, not only to make something new but also to get our guests to try something new that they’ve never had before.” Matt appreciates the opportunity to regularly change things up. “If I had to make the same dishes every week, I probably wouldn’t last very long.”

Gourmet cooking on charter may be quite the operation, but delivering an amazing experience for guests makes it worthwhile. At the end of each charter, Firefly’s crew members chat with their guests about the highs and lows of the trip, then take a group Polaroid for the catamaran’s guestbook.

“It’s always rewarding to look back and see all of the lives that we’ve had a positive effect on,” said Matt.

“A lot of people seem to like my food, and that makes me happy. I think I’ve made a lot of mistakes through the years, and I think that’s what has helped me grow the most, and get to a point where I am now able to do things properly, consistently. I think that’s what separates a chef from a cook, having enough experience to draw from to overcome challenges to be able to still create.” ■

50 | V I P R O P E R T Y & YA C H T

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There are many advantages to registering a commercial vessel in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Among those advantages are low initial registration fees and annual maintenance fees.

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L I F E / T R AV E L

Back to Basics:

St. John

52 | V I P R O P E R T Y & YA C H T

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For both visitors who are only passing through the Caribbean and residents who suffer from island fever, St. John is a vacation from your vacation

BY A M A N DA U L R I C H P H O T O G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F U . S . V I R G I N I S L A N D S D E PA R T M E N T O F T O U R I S M

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LAND / TRENDY POOLS

IN A LOT of ways, St. John looks like the quintessential tropical island.

Because roughly 60 percent of the island is preserved as national park, large swaths of its lengthy coastline are made up of uninterrupted green hills, punctuated only by sporadic coves and beaches.

And although St. John lies just about six miles to the east of St. Thomas, its more metropolitan neighbour in the United States Virgin Islands, it has an inherently different character. Ferries and smaller boats arrive from the surrounding islands and dock in Cruz Bay: the centre of activity on St. John and home to beachside restaurants and boutique shops. But outside of those town limits, the island stretches out for about nine miles before hitting Coral Bay, a picturesque, laidback village, and finally ending in East End, the last tip of the island.

Along those long miles on both sides of the island – which borders the Caribbean Sea to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the north – lies beach after unblemished beach.

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Secluded beaches For those hoping to avoid large crowds, Hawksnest Beach and Maho Bay Beach can be some of the best options relatively close to Cruz Bay. The latter, which features water as calm as a pond, is a snorkeler’s dream.

Hawksnest is a favourite with St. John residents, and offers grills and picnic tables for hosting picnics or parties.

A short drive down the coast – and likely past lazy groups of friendly donkeys passing time on the road – bring you to one particular jewel

TOP Ferries arriving from other islands dock in Cruz Bay, the main town in St. John.

ABOVE Waterlemon Cay is only a short swim – often involving turtle sightings – from the shore.

LEFT Soft sand and crystal clear water make snorkeling and swimming some of the best in the Virgin Islands

of the island: Leinster Bay Trail. The roughly two-mile hike is easy enough for all ages and spits visitors out onto the rocky beach of Waterlemon Bay, after first winding past the shells of hurricane-damaged boats now beached on the shore.

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St. John’s natural beauty is radiant from anywhere on island

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Lifestyle Protection

From happy beginnings to happy ever after, we intended to make our mark.And we did.

Colonial Insurance has been providing the best insurance cover at the best possible price in the British Virgin Islands since 2005. Our intention was to make our mark as a member of our local business community. Colonial Insurance (BVI) Limited is now rated A- (Excellent) by A. M. Best. That’s an internationally recognised rating for financial strength.

For you, it means more cover and more security for your livelihood and lifestyle. For us, it means we’ve made our mark.

Call 494-8450 /495-6403 or visit www.cgigroup.com

COLONIAL INSURANCE (BVI) LIMITED Palm Grove House, P.O. Box 2377, Road Town, Tortola VG1110 Tel. 494-8450 Valley,Virgin Gorda,VG1150 Tel. 495-6403 www.cgigroup.com A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. insurance, health, pensions, life

Colonial Insurance (BVI) Limited is rated A-(Excellent) by AM Best.

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L I F E / T R AV E L

Once at Waterlemon, snorkelling is typically the main objective for visitors. And for confident swimmers, a little sandbar and connecting island – dubbed Waterlemon Cay – is positioned only a few strokes out into the bay. On the other side of the island, Salt Pond Bay beach makes an ideal, quiet spot for charter boats and, perhaps incongruously, wildlife.

A short trek down a dirt trail brings you to a crescent-shaped beach. If you come early enough, you’ll have it all to yourself. Manta rays can also often be spotted hovering in the deep water of the cove, giving paddleboarders the perfect view from above.

Historic reminders But St. John, like the rest of the Virgin Islands, has much more to

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offer than merely snorkelling tours and Painkillers (for visitors, think locally made rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut and grated nutmeg).

St. John is dotted with ruins from the Plantation Era, many of which are still well maintained even after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

Some of these ruins are easy to stumble upon almost accidentally, like a windmill on top of Peace Hill.

From the North Shore Road, visitors can take a semi-hidden trail to the ruin, which is part of the Denis Bay Plantation. At the summit, Hawksnest Bay shimmers to the left, and Trunk Bay to the right. A short walk downhill brings visitors to Denis Bay beach.

Other ruins, like the Annaberg Sugar Plantation, are more well-

ABOVE Annaberg Sugar Plantation is one of the most famous ruins on the island

trodden – evidenced by hundreds of positive reviews on TripAdvisor – but no less important. Enslaved people working on the plantation once produced sugarcane at the location circa 1780, and now the site offers tours that help to illuminate St. John’s unique, and often complicated, history.

Every summer, that history is put on full display. The St. John Festival, which typically comes to a head on July 4th, celebrates the official emancipation of slaves in the US Virgin Islands in July 1848.

The celebrations usually last several weeks and feature concerts, local food and historical events. ■

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SOL Y SOMBRA VIRGIN GORDA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS STEPS AWAY FROM Little Trunk Bay, this classic and timeless British colonial beachfront villa has five suites, each furnished with custom-made teak furniture. A great room, office/library, dining room and fully-outfitted kitchen offer spacious and elegant entertainment areas. A 45-foot ocean-front infinity pool, observation deck and lighted tennis court are set within over an acre of tropical gardens.

The property is proximate to The Baths, Virgin Gorda’s famous destination, and two unspoiled beaches, Little Trunk Bay and Valley Trunk Bay. A private movie theater, daily maid service, exercise equipment and gym and a chef (upon request) complete the villa’s offerings.

Smiths Gore (BVI) Limited T 284.494.2446 E bernadette.george@smithsgore.com W solysombrabvi.com

Build your legacy.

Discover rare home ownership and luxury villa rental opportunities in one of the Caribbean’s most secluded island landscapes. Oil Nut Bay’s home ownership showcases a distinct combination of quality, art and science mixed with sought after resort amenities.

During your stay explore the new Marina Village, a refreshing destination for unwinding including dining venues and boutique shopping.

Contact us to schedule a tour or inquire about villa rentals.

VIRGIN GORDA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS | 1 284 393 1000 | oilnutbay.com