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St.
Thomas Day Sails, Caribbean Sailing, Snorkeling and Yacht Charters
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Meet our Crews
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Slo
Dancin's Captain, Omar Van Rooyen, a licensed US Coast Guard Captain,
is a Canadian by birth. He learned to sail as a boy on the many
lakes in Ontario. He was on his Royal Military College sailing
team and spent many hours sailing Lake Ontario in the college's keelboat.
With postings around the world, he found a way to sail in most places,
although sailing in Goose Bay, Labrador was a challenge. An
avid curler as well as sailor, he has had the best of both worlds
- curling and furling. In 1993, Lt Col Van Rooyen was posted
to the Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC, and discovered the
pleasure of sailing extensively in the Chesapeake Bay. He purchased
his yacht, Slo Dancin, and sailed the bay and also took occasional
sailing trips to the Bahamas and Out Islands. Upon his military
retirement in 1999, Captain Van Rooyen and his wife, Jan, set sail
for the US Virgin Islands and founded Interlinesail. They reside
today in both St. Thomas, USVI and South Carolina.
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Forever
Young's Captain, Larry "Mr. Clean" Fries, is a licensed
US Coast Guard Captain who grew up on the Eastern Seaboard around
boats. He learned to sail as a young boy, and spent many hours
with his father aboard their boat in Long Island Sound. After
college, Larry was a successful salesman in the paper industry and
owned and operated several successful businesses in the DC/MD area.
After selling the last of these, he set sail with his friend, Captain
Omar Van Rooyen, to relocate to the Virgin Islands. Upon arrival
in the islands, he found and lovingly restored his 42 foot Catalina
yacht, Forever Young. He also found his first mate/wife, Betty,
who had escaped the academic life in Indiana and was making her home
on Jost Van Dyke. Betty and Larry completed a 6000 mile cruise
aboard Forever Young from the Virgin Islands to Mississippi and back
via South America and Trinidad.
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Butterflies'
Captain Norman Walker is a USCG licensed captain with 3 additional
A.S.A. sailing certifications. He is an accomplished racer/sailor
in addition to being a (PADI) certified diver, Norman is also an aviation
pilot, a motorcycle enthusiast, and an entrepreneur who has created
several successful startup ventures.
Born and educated in the north Texas area, Norman adds a south-western
flare to the tropical magic with tall tales and Texas folklore. Norman
first visited the Caribbean in 1984, and made many return trips until
finally purchasing Butterflies and making his home in beautiful St.
Thomas. With years of sailing experience and a true love for the Caribbean,
Norman is well suited to act as your captain and guide to Paradise.
On
fully crewed charters, Norman is accompanied by a professional freelance
cook/mate.
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