Strive on With Diligence
Well here we are one year after hurricane Irma decimated most of the Caribbean Islands, and caused significant damage to our beloved Kekoa and changed the lives of many.
Kekoa remains in a safe location on Hansen Beach and we are committed to bringing her back to her original glory and beyond. We know that she is a thread that connects so many of us around the world and an integral part of St John. All exterior repairs have been made, we are getting ready to paint, install new engines, etc etc!!
We are also excited to announce that Kekoa has an expected relaunch date of January 2019 and we are therefore accepting reservations for sails on and after January 1st 2019.
We cannot thank everyone enough for all of the overwhelming support we have received over the past year. Your encouragement and financial support are making it possible to move through these challenging times.
-Jamison and Ryan Witbeck
News Flash - February 2018 - We are honored to announce an article - titled Boat Launch 3.0 has just been just published in the February 2018 Caribbean Compass. The writer Andrea Milam, also a victim of Hurricanes Irma- - Maria writes from her heart after she interviewed Jamison and Ryan. We hope you will take the time to read her amazing recap of what it was like to experience 2 Category 5 hurricanes, and the survival of Kekoa and her builders.
"Winds thundered across the landscape, whipping up the sea and tossing boats, cars, and large sections of people’s homes through the air with the ease of a toddler throwing his toys mid-tantrum. Kekoa, a 50-foot wooden catamaran, was tied down in St. John’s Hurricane Hole alongside more than 100 other Virgin Islands vessels in preparation for a direct hit by powerful Hurricane Irma. Slowly, one by one, Kekoa broke free of the 15 three-quarter-inch lines with 75 feet of three-eighths-inch chain per line anchoring her to the ocean floor, and then edged herself toward the shore line. The sleek gray vessel had been here before, alone at sea in a terrible storm. She knew how to take care of herself. Kekoa crawled up on the shoreline, narrowly missing several large boulders and a pileup of wrecked boats that would have torn her body apart, and came to rest where she awaited discovery by her builders, brothers Ryan and Jamison Witbeck."
Click here to read the full article https://goo.gl/NEx8z6 We are so grateful for Andrea's ability to tell our story.
For more of our hurricane Irma tales check out Steve Simonsen’s latest video - https://vimeo.com/288571835?ref=fb-share&1
How you can help:
Merchandise is still available for sale and we have designed a NEW limited edition shirt and Trucker hat that are available NOW! Proceeds will go to rebuild Kekoa. We are so appreciative of the overwhelming response to the Kekoa merchandise sales in November and December!! Currently, we are caught up we are back orders and have a full range of merchandise in stock!
For donations: please visit https://www.youcaring.com/kekoablacksailsvi-982686.
