“Sometimes, there are men who, well, there are men for their time’n place, who fit right in there --- and those are The Dudes, in the Islands .”  
                                                                               — Sam Elliot, The Big Lebowski

MOB

This would be Hervé Liegeois, owner of Mama Cocha, stockbroker from Naples FL by day, King of the BVI at all other times.  I know that some people will dispute that distinction, but until they can prove otherwise to me in person, Hervé is King.  He escorted us to every anchorage in the BVI, we met almost every interesting character, and really enjoyed the unique experiences the BVI have to offer.  An expert sailor, he pushed the envelope many times with Mama Cocha, which was a thrill in itself!

How he earned the “MOB” distinction is an interesting story, one that is told in the next section.  Hervé continues to entertain us with heavily embellished, off-the-wall entries in TravelTalkOnline.  His Mama Cocha website is beginning to take shape, and he hopes that someday it will become the authoritative source for BVI cruising information.

Hervé is a sufferer of the dreaded Island Fever syndrome.  He is the charter member of DIFSA (Dreaded Island Fever Sufferers Anonymous) and goes to all the meetings.  You know, the ones that start with “My name is Hervé and I have Island Fever.”  He spends most of his nights and long periods during the day thinking or dreaming about the Islands.   The only known cure for the disease is a regular dose of limin’ with plenty of Painkillers and Bushwackers.  Fortunately for Hervé, they got to him in time and he is recovering nicely.

The Big Leipolski

This would be John Daix Leipold (JD), retired Navy Reservist overseeing the entire Navy internal newspaper system, based out of Washington DC, also known as His Dudeness, Duder, or El Duderino.  Mustachioed, bandanna’d, and pony-tailed 24 hours a day, he is without question, THE Dude.  JD today is what Jimmy Buffett must have been like 25 years ago.   He met up with Hervé on TravelTalkOnline and then in person at the June 2002 TTOL rendezvous at Marina Cay.

Two years ago, without any prior sailing experience, he up and bought a Beneteau 40CC called Daix Dream and placed her in charter with Stardust.  Then, without being forced to take on a skipper (he owns the boat, remember), took her out in the BVI.  Somewhere along the way he learned about tacking, gybing, anchoring, navigating, and all that stuff.  Talk about a crash course!

He was invited aboard the Dudes Cruise to skipper Mama Cocha in an effort to gain time on the helm, leaving Hervé more time to sample the beverages I would be preparing.  He did a fine job of keeping us off the rocks and ensuring our drinks were not spilled.

The Doctor 

Doctor Ray, a podiatrist from Atlanta, had never met any of us before, and like a true Dude, instantly “fit right in.”  He was invited aboard to gain some valuable BVI experience from the King for when he charters Mama Cocha in February and June of next year.   He came with a mission - to study the effects of Painkillers consumed barefoot on the beach on foot bunions.   The results of his research will be published in the November 15 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

An expert chef, he delivered a spectacular dinner for us one night.  Ray ensured that our feet remained healthy since we rarely if ever wore shoes of any type.  He also made sure we did not suffer dehydration by monitoring fluid intake.  He is a welcome guest aboard The Usual Suspects anytime.

Swims With Turtle(s)

The Arawak name given to me by Anouk because of the one time, I repeat, one time, I jumped in the water to join a giant Hawksbill turtle for a swim.  The crew told me that a second turtle appeared, allowing me to use the plural form of the name.  However, until I see solid proof of the second turtle, the plural form will have to be provisional, and the “s” remain in brackets.

Aboard Mama Cocha, I was Chief Beverage Technician, a designation that was temporarily licensed to me for 10 days by the CBT of The Usual Suspects, Round Man.  I was not however, granted permission to administer the FBR,  for fear of permanent Dude damage.  Besides, I am not certain the BVI are ready for the FBR.