[Cap'n Rob]

Hi Caitlin,

Yep, the link you posted was to some of my pearls. "Tryst" is the name of our trimaran.

Although I have a web site with pictures and information on it porgybay.com is a small harbor in Bimini), I'll tell you a story here, that you won't find on the web site - to keep from sounding so much like a salesman.

Four years back when we were cruising the Abaco islands and visiting with the natives, my wife and I met an interesting chap we named "hole-in-the-boat man".

We called him that because his 6 foot boat had a hole in it. He would paddle out to the banks and dive for conchs and lobster, bailing as he went. We bought 2 pearls from him on two different trips. (I try to train them locals to hang onto any pearls they can find - until my twice yearly visits).

Well anyways . . .

One day while we were at the docks of the Blue Water Marina, he paddled up to the T-head with a very large sea turtle, in the boat with him.

Turtles are highly prised for their meat and shell. Although illeagle to hunt in many areas, I've never seen it affect any of the local's, fishing habits.

He was offering to sell the turtle to the people (locals and cruisers) at the marina. I was down below in my boat trying to fix something (spend lots of time doing that stuff) when my wife of 30 years (the golden-haired-goddess), rushed over to offer me her plea.

"Give me 50 bucks, quick!" she demanded. As I handed her the cash, I asked her what it was for. She then told me 'bout the turtle. It was still alive, laying on it's back.

I told her, "ain't no problem with the money honey, but this doesn't sound like something you'd usually do. You'd usually try to bargain with him!"

So, my ghg ran down to hole-in-the-boat man's boat, with 30 bucks in her hand and a 20 tucked into her swim suit. After a bit of pleading and persistant negotiation, the deal was made. 30 bucks!

When hole-in-the-boat-man asked, "what do you want me to do with the turtle"? GHG responded, "Throw it over the side"!

We all watched with glee, as the turtle swam quickly away from it's captor.

And that's my sea turtle story for ya.

I sometimes wonder if hole-in-the-boat-man, didn't catch and resell the turtle again after we sailed outta the harbor.

Best to ya,

Cap'n Rob