Comments Off on Meet Grant Tankoos, Longtime Friend to Bitter End and owner of Soundview Millworks
How long have you known of Bitter End, and when did you first visit?
For almost as long as I can remember. When I was about 10 my family made our first trip to the Virgin Islands (USVI/BVI). The trip was a family gift – My parents put plane tickets in a BIG box under the Christmas tree and my brother and I tore it open with great excitement. We took my Aunt and Uncle’s boat from St. Thomas on a week’s cruise and of course Bitter End was one of the stops. Back then boats were slower and it was bit of a haul from St. Thomas but we made it. Like all future visits to BEYC I remember we met up with friends there – The Young’s who we cruised with back in CT. Amanda and I were the same age, and we thought the “golf cart taxis,” candy at the Emporium and being able to charge to the rooms were the coolest things ever (as I recall, we got in a bit of trouble for that one). Later in life I’d get to visit Bitter End a few more times – each time it was special and it felt like home in a way. Funny how certain places make you feel connected and at home.
How long have you known the Hokin Family and extended Bitter End crew?
I first met the Hokin family back in the late 80’s – I was in junior sailing at Noroton Yacht Club with Justin and Lauren – they were a few years older but it was a small group and we were all sailing rats in those days. In recent years I’ve shared boat shows, events, and schedules with John, Lauren, Kerri and the Bitter End team and cruised with Lauren, Wendy and Richard. I still remember one great summer day sailing from Old Saybrook to Shelter Island on the Hokin’s Swan 59 BLUE FLAME: The breeze came up about halfway though; Richard let me drive, encouraged me as a matter of fact – As we made our way, Richard shared stores of the beginnings of the Bitter End – his parents and the early days… It felt special, but again, I think everyone feels special being connected to Bitter End and the Hokin family.
What attributes of BEYC most align with you and your sensibilities personally? And what are you most looking forward to doing when you return to Bitter End 2.0?
Water, water, water… Each time I’ve been to Bitter End by cruising boat, there’s something about getting there and taking your tender ashore. A drink at the bar, a walk down the docks to check out who and what else is there. Maybe a little Laser sailing during the day, a swim in North Sound, and a pizza at night. I regret never walking the trails to the backside of the island and getting more exercise in. Something saved for my next trip, and enjoying the view at Bitter End 2.0.
What’s the cliff notes version of how you founded and built Soundview Millworks? And what are you most proud of with SVM?
I started Soundview Millworks with a childhood friend of mine — he and I also met in junior sailing at Noroton Yacht Club. We wanted to create something cool, something of quality that we were proud to make, proud to give and build. When we came up with the nautically themed cutting boards, Rob said something along the lines of: I can build that, and I sort of thought I could sell it. And just like that, we were off. We both did everything early in the day – we had other jobs as well. I waited tables at night and Rob had a construction business. It’s been 12 years now; Rob went onto do different things but we are still great friends. Soundview has brought me a life full of people, stories, friends and connections. On good days I get create pieces that help celebrate the great moments of people’s lives – Trophies for amazing events (the Bitter End PRO AM to name one), boards with monograms and wedding dates or a logo of special place – these are the moments in life worth celebrating and capturing – and I get to be a part of it – how lucky am I?
Do not miss Grant’s handcrafted maple and mahogany serving and cutting boards—now available at Bitter End Provisions. Grant’s nautical boards make anideal gift for any sailor on your list! You can check them out here.
In the mid 1960s our family pulled up its winter stakes in Florida and headed to St. Thomas. My dad and I were avid inshore and offshore saltwater anglers. Compared to Florida, the Virgin Islands were unspoiled, uncrowded, their reefs and deep waters were ripe for exploration; and their trade wind climate spoke for itself.
My dad’s older sister and sidekick, Zelma, was the family daredevil and free spirit. She could brag that she once managed a steamship coaling dock in Sarnia, Ontario. She and husband number two, Bob, were all-in for family adventures. In contrast to us, they were sailors, not stink-potters. The winter of 1967 was the family’s second in St. Thomas. Zelma and Bob persuaded my mom and dad to charter a vintage sixty-foot yawl, Tontine II, for a week’s cruise in the Virgins. My parents never had spent a night in a sailboat, much less a week.
Tontine’s decks were leaky and foul weather gear was the preferred pajama, but the four of them had a blast, especially my dad. Before the cruise ended, he tasked Tontine’s hired skipper to find a sailing yacht suitable for our family and for the Caribbean charter business. The result would be some sort of joint venture. It didn’t take the skipper long to find a distinctive 60-ton British ketch in Grenada. The rub for him was that Alianora already had a skipper, Mike Tate, a retired Royal Marines officer and a very experienced blue water sailor. To top it off, there were three more crew, a first-rate boatswain, a competent deckhand and a very accomplished cook. Mom and Dad headed straight down to Grenada and bought Alianora, kept Mike and the crew, and gave Tontine’s skipper a cash commission for finding the yacht that became part of our family for twenty-five years. At the time, we knew a bit about Alianora’s history but her more lurid details were only recently uncovered, thanks to some great research by my colleague, Kerri Jaffe.
Capt. O.M. Watts designed Alianora for Thomas A. Clarke, laird of Brecqhou, a seventy-four-acre speck of land near Sark in the Channel Islands whose massive tides explained the robust fittings she had for beaching legs. She was built in Scotland, launched in 1938 and featured in the May 1938 issue of Motorboat & Yachting. Her lines were those of a classic North Sea sailing trawler known as a Zulu. She was sixty tons, seventy-two-feet, double-ended, built of oak and yellow pine, and had a massive, slow turning Gardner diesel. By 1967, she had been refitted from stem to stern, above and below deck, and re-rigged for tradewind sailing. Her expansive deck included a cozy deckhouse situated around the companionway, plus plenty of space for a seaworthy tender, gear stowage and lounging. Below, she had roomy accommodations that included three double staterooms with lower berths, a huge main saloon, a vintage galley and plenty of space for captain and crew.
And then, there’s the history, much of it written. According to Simon Hamon’s Channel Islands Invaded, in the spring of 1940, Mr. Clarke, the original owner, sensed that the Nazis were about to invade the Channel Islands, so on June 20, he and Alianora left Brecqhou and the seventy-four-acre island’s staff of five behind for good. Alianora made it to England’s south coast in time to be pressed into service during the Dunkirk evacuation and, then, drafted into the Royal Navy as a tender, stripped of her spars, sails and rigging. At war’s end, she found herself orphaned; neither her elderly owner, nor her spars, sails or rigging had survived the war.
Alianora’s first postwar owner was a British businessman, D.B.W. Markham, who is said to have re-rigged her using a J-Boat mast cut into three pieces. The lower part served as her main mast, the middle portion as her mizzen and the top, her main boom. Mike Tate told us that Markham or her next owner, the notorious British fascist, Oswald Mosley, had garishly restored her accommodations to a garish un-yacht-like state.
Mosley and his equally notorious wife, Diana Mitford, were anxious to escape England following release from wartime detention. But, the Labour Party refused to issue them passports, so they couldn’t book conventional air or sea passage to a more ideologically friendly place. The solution turned out to be Alianora, purchased in 1949 through a proxy, Robert Heber-Percy. Alianora became the Mosley family’s ticket to Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean, where their connections with Franco and Salazar required neither passports, nor ideological apology. Diane Mitford wrote extensively about their two-year cruise in her autobiography, A Life of Contrasts. Alianora’s proxy owner, Heber-Percy, better known as the “Mad Boy” was a lifelong and equally infamous Mitford family friend. His obituary described him as “an English eccentric in the grand tradition” as did Sofka Zinovieff’s autobiography, The Mad Boy, Lord Berners, My Grandmother and Me.
Mike Tate’s boss, Robert Turner, bought Alianora in 1963. Beside Mike’s pre-war blue water sailing experience much of his wartime service was aboard Royal Navy ships escorting convoys to Murmansk. He went to work for Turner after the war and Mike’s sea stories infected his boss with the circumnavigation bug. To that end, he bought Alianora, and Mike prepared her for a leisurely sail around the world. The adventure lasted only as far as the Caribbean and Grenada. When they reached dry land, Turner’s wife and daughters declared that they liked ponies and horses better than long passages in a sailboat, the family jumped ship leaving Mike and Pam on their own with the task of caring for and selling Alianora.
We kept Alianora in Grenada for the first couple of years. We took advantage of that with cruises that took us to just about every island and anchorage in the Windwards and Leewards. When Mom and Dad bought a home at the east end of St. Thomas, Cowpet Bay became Alianora’s winter base. This made Alianora’s distinctive profile and rig a familiar sight from Charlotte Amalie to Anegada and especially North Sound. From our first visit in 1964, all of us were enchanted by North Sound’s remoteness and solitude, unspoiled shoreline and reefs and the calm, breezy anchorage off John O’Point.
We started noticing activity ashore at John O’Point in the late ‘60s when Basil Symonette, a former St. Thomas charter skipper, bought thirty-odd acres along the North and Eustatia Sound shoreline. This turned into The Bitter End Yacht Club, a colorful, rustic beach bar and restaurant with a cluster of somewhat finished bungalows on the hillside above. Basil made no bones about Bitter End being a yachting hangout. Everyone who came in a boat was welcome, that is if they obeyed the simple house rules, prominently displayed at the end of the dinghy dock:
Welcome to Bitter End
No one ashore before 10:00 AM
No dogs
No children under 16
Alianora’s visits to John O’Point were frequent, and the custom was for Mom and Dad to have cocktails ashore each evening with Basil. I wasn’t privy to the conversation during one of those cocktail hours but it resulted in our buying Bitter End in 1973 and making it our family retreat. Alianora’s base moved from Cowpet Bay to John O’Point, where she became the queen of the John O’Point anchorage and Captain Mike the king of the Clubhouse Bar’s north corner.
But, Alianora was not a homebody. Her horizon always extended well beyond North Sound. She circumnavigated the entire Caribbean on a sea turtle research expedition and represented the BVI in New York Harbor for the U.S. bicentennial. She cruised the Atlantic coast all the way to the Canadian Maritimes and then fulfilled my dad’s dream of navigating his own boat through the St. Lawrence Seaway. When she got to the Great Lakes she stayed for two years. Afterwards, we moved her home port to Camden, Maine.
Alianora was a tender to my racing boat, Love Machine, during Block Island Race Weeks and New York Yacht Club Cruises and she was Vision’s tender when we raced the vintage 8-Meter in Hankø, Norway earning a respectable second and edging out King Olaf in the 1983 8-Meter Gold Cup, the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club’s centennial regatta, celebrating Olaf’s 80th birthday and his farewell to competitive sailing. Alianora even had the honor of hosting the King on board and serving him the bootleg booze that she had smuggled from the Caribbean. She wrapped up that Scandinavian summer with a memorable cruise along Sweden’s west coast.
As the 1990’s approached, Mike and Pam retired back to England, Zelma and Bob were gone and Wendy and I were embarking on the Blue Flame era of our sailing lives, so Mom and Dad decided the time had come for them to swallow the anchor. After an amazing twenty-five years, we reluctantly entrusted the care of this adventurous and worldly grande dame to a new owner.
When Hurricanes Maria and Irma hit Bitter End, our property was devastated, and so were we. Nothing makes us happier than welcoming our family and friends (and friends who are family) ashore. But the support we received from our community worldwide was incredible. And as the well-wishes rolled in, so did the questions:
Would Bitter End Yacht Club rebuild?
You bet! Say hello soon to Bitter End 2.0.
When can we come back?
It’s looking like we will have the marina and waterfront open in 2019, with the remainder of the property to follow!
How can we help the Bitter End and Virgin Gorda community?
Via our Bitter End Foundation.
And perhaps most pressingly…
How can I get my hands on a BEYC hat?
The last query got us laughing—and thinking. Our friends couldn’t come to Bitter End, but we could still bring Bitter End to them. Plus, producing Bitter End gear would be a great way to continue to support the Virgin Gorda community.
And thus, Bitter End Provisions was born. Aiming to provide our crew with gear for their next adventure, our launch collection includes everything from tech apparel to pet accessories, custom SUP boards and more. Most importantly, every piece is tested at sea and is designed to work hard. “Seaworthy goods” that have been approved by our crew.
Still, we needed a home for Provisions. Sure, we knew we would eventually launch online, but that didn’t solve the problem of missing our friends. Always up for a new adventure, we decided to DIY a 1973 Holiday Rambler—a vintage cross-country camper—and we filled it to the brim with Bitter End gear. Then, we traded the high seas for U.S. highways. We sought out our kindred spirits at boat shows up and down the east coast.
And we had a ton of fun doing it! Our mobile home away from home has quickly become the place to swap stories and talk sailing. We’ve poured rum with Don Q. in Newport and Dogfish in Annapolis (yes, they have rum and of course their tasty beer too!). We’ve fielded an endless number of thumbs up through windows as we roll down the interstate. If it can’t be Bitter End, then we’re awfully lucky to have the Bitter End Rambler.
Naturally, when people spot us at the shows, there are more questions. “What is the status of BEYC? When will you be open again?” Big questions with long answers. In brief, we are hard at work on phase 1, with an eye toward having the waterfront open in 2019. That would include the marina and mooring field, beaches, watersports center, and of course a beach bar. As a starting place, we’re are heading back to our roots as a yachtsmen’s retreat, geared toward the needs of boat visitors. Further hotel and resort development will take place through 2020.
Until then, we’ll be on the road and on our new website, www.bitterendprovisions.com, bringing seaworthy goods to our friends around the land. And we’ll be sure to keep you posted with all BEYC 2.0 updates and future Rambler sightings here on the blog. Posts, like our gear, are guaranteed to pair well with a bit of rum.
A Conversation with Jerome and Alec, Bitter End’s Departing and New Watersports Directors.
Bitter End is home to the Caribbean’s premier watersports program, and much of that is thanks to Jerome Rand, its fearless leader and champion for the past eight years. Under his watch, the sailing school was revamped, Corinthian re-powered, and Hobies rose to prominence. Now, he’s moving on to pursue the personal dream of sailing around the world solo and welcomes Alec Weatherseed in his stead. With over a decade of professional experience on the water, Alec is most recently the Sailing Director at Stamford Yacht Club and an avid kiteboarder. Both Jerome and Alec recently sat down to talk Bitter End and swap advice for their upcoming adventures.
Alec: So, I know we’re here to talk about Bitter End—but first, give us the scoop on your trip!
Jerome: My upcoming adventure is one that I have been thinking about for over 15 years, a solo sail around the world without stopping. I plan to leave Gloucester, Mass., around the end of October 2017 and sail south of Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Cape Horn. Then, I’ll return north without stopping until returning to Gloucester after 27,000 miles. It is one of the great challenges in the world of sailing and has been a dream of mine for a long time.
A: I certainly wish you the best of luck, mate. Any advice for me as the new guy on the island before you go?
J: Oh that’s easy—have fun! Bitter End has an incredible community, and I’m sure they’ll embrace you with open arms. When it comes down to it, after safety, fun is what everyone wants to have, whether it be sailing, snorkeling or just hanging out at the beach. Why, what do you see as your biggest challenge coming to Bitter End and the BVI?
A: Acclimating to the Caribbean climate? I’m coming from Connecticut after all. [ Laughs ] No, really, I’m looking forward to learning the ins and outs of island life. Discovering the secret spots, the local culture and island rhythm. Getting PADI certified!
J: Well I can tell you my favorite place to eat at Bitter End—at the West Indian BBQ, every Tuesday night in The Clubhouse. Fresh fish cooked perfectly, and all the sides and desserts you could ever want. Hands down the best.
A: I can’t wait. What do you think you’ll miss most about BEYC?
J: By far I will miss working with the entire team at BEYC. They are a community and a family that have welcomed me and made a place for me in their world. They have been my family for almost a decade. I have had the pleasure to work with all the departments at the Bitter End and have learned more than I could have ever imagined. I only hope that I have returned that as much as possible.
A: You certainly have, and you’ve done a fantastic job growing the watersports program. I know that was a key focus of yours.
J: Hey, thanks. What would you like to focus on once you get here?
A: Ultimately, I hope to continue your legacy, and ensure that our waterfront offerings are consistent with our guests’ needs and goals. Certain sports have really taken off in recent years—SUP boarding, kiteboarding. I want to focus on these younger sports to see how we can introduce them to a larger audience, plus maintain the world-class sailing programs and countless excursions synonymous with the Bitter End name.
J: The excursions! I’ll miss the excursions.
A: Do you have a favorite?
J: Definitely the Best of the BVI. You get to see almost the whole country while visiting some of the best snorkeling spots anywhere. Just being aboard the Corinthian and cruising the Drake Channel is one of the great experiences in the Caribbean. To me it is the full experience of the BVI. What about you, what drew you to the BVI and Bitter End?
A: The dream of living and working in a culture that thrives on wind and water sports, working with a passionate staff that shares a love of all things nautical and the amazing guests who are receptive to our enthusiasm for the sea!
J: I think that’s the most important aspect of the Bitter End watersports program, the way we engage and create a unique experience for our guests. We try to provide a very casual and energetic vibe on our beach. You only hear a Sir or Madam if it is called for, more often you will hear back and forth banter about past trips and experiences at the Bitter End, or funny stories about Hobie rescues and other crazy things that always happen on the water! It is truly a one-of-a-kind place and can be enjoyed by anyone. Ok, lightning round—what’s the weirdest thing you’re packing in your bag? Go.
A: Well, weird to most, but perhaps not weird at Bitter End—all my kites and boards. Since picking up the sport in Sri Lanka in 2012, it has changed my life. Favorite boat at Bitter End?
J: Ouch, like choosing a child! [ Laughs ] I have to say that I love sunset sails aboard the Paranda, ripping around Necker Island on a Hobie Getaway and taking in the end of the day with a gentle sail on our Sunfish. Where to find you when you’re not working?
A: Kiting, SUPing, relaxing in a hammock and planning my next adventure or project. Yoga treehouse studio, anyone?
J: Outside of work I think my favorite pastime would be going off to one of the many beaches in the North Sound and swimming in the warm water. Add a full moon or a starry night and you have one of the most beautiful settings in the world.
A: I’ll definitely add that to my list. Jerome, thank you for the energy you’ve infused into the BEYC watersports department during your eight years here. May your travels be fulfilling and your adventures plentiful. Sometime when you’re crossing the vast oceans and find yourself in the dead calm of night, with a cloudless sky above you, reflecting the infinite stars upon the water, please think of your friends at Bitter End and the great times shared. You will be missed.
J: It’s really been my pleasure, Alec. And I’m so grateful to be leaving the program in such capable hands. I know you’ll do great things here.
