Bud, my husband, and I arrived at Kidd’s Cove, George Town in the Bahamas with our friend Mike Miller, the skipper, after a 2-day 70-mile sail from Long Island in 2004.

He ran his tanned fingers through his salt and pepper black hair and beard and motioned to Bud, who stood on the bow, to drop the hook.

Sadly, Bud and I will be flying back to Georgia in the morning.

I met Mike 13 years ago in Georgetown. I was single and hitchhiking on sailboats and needed a ride back to the States. Not only did I have a delightful six-week sail but he has since become like a brother to me.

He is the kind of sailor that you want to keep in touch with. His sailing years have produced an unorthodox perspective on life—intelligent, open, direct, witty and knowledgeable.

Mike, who was in his late 50s told us up front, "I turn the air purple when I’m angry." It's true he is intense and does curse like a sailor as the saying goes. But what struck me most about him is his kindness—he is always there if anyone needs something. When Bud and I arrived in Long Island we were impressed to learn that Mike had been helping Baxter, an 87-year old solo sailor who is dying of cancer get back to the States for a number of weeks. Baxter had begun to loose his sight, strength, and hearing.

Mike bought Udi Mvuu in Venezuela in the mid 90s to fix up and sail back to Norfolk to sell. We were stunned to see photographs of how trashy the catamaran looked before he fixed it up.

His passion for sailing started as a kid in Essex, Conn. when a neighbor with a heart problem asked Mike if he would help sail his boat. He jumped at the chance.

Mike studied in college to become a graphic artist and printer but ended up selling his house in the mid 80s to buy a new home: a 37-foot sailboat named Seagull. He started, built up and sold two successful marine consignment and surplus stores one in Norfolk, VA and one in Puerto Rico which financed his solo voyages with his white terrier named Salty Dogge in the Bahamas, Caribbean and South America.

It seems Mike has the Midas touch—both marine consignment stores aptly named the "THE CAPN’S WAREHOUSE" were successful in a short period of time. His working motto, "Want Flotsam? We Got Some! Want Jetsam? We’ll Get Some!" He says the key to being able to offer low priced treasures is low overhead.

While on the boat in Long Island Mike treated us to fabulous fish and lobster meals that he caught and cooked personally. He even fingered his guitar and sang some blues songs in a deep rich voice one night. Bud and I grinned with pure pleasure. He says he’s played professionally and it shows.

Mike is full of boundless energy and imagination—he knows how to work hard and to play hard. But the Rod Stewart quote at the end of his email sums up where his heart is, "Where the ocean meets the sky, I’ll be sailing."

This is the third time Mike has taken my husband and I sailing. But this reunion in Georgetown after 13 years is special. A lot has happened in our lives. Who would have guessed that Mike and the sailboat gypsy from Georgia would be back. We have come full circle.

2013 Update:

Mike and Yliana, his wife from Venezuela, live in Norfolk, VA. He sold Udi Mvuu the catamaran to a man who now uses it as a party boat in Norfolk. He still has Seagull his 37-foot sailboat.

Mike owns and operates his third marine store called the Salty Dog Discount Marine and sings and plays in the popular Doc Robin Band. They've released two CDs titled “Flying Blind” and “First Flight.”

Chris Hamilton, Udi Mvuu, the catamaran's original owner, contacted me recently and shared his amazing story. He said, “I am the original owner of the yacht (catamaran, Dean 365 Oceanliner) and I also named her. My wife and I are Zimbabwean (formerly Rhodesia). Since 'we' declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 Udi seemed quite relevant to our intended way of life.

In our local language (Shona) “Mvuu” is a hippopotamus, our favorite animal. “Mvuu” as we used to call the vessel has a checkered history. After we sold her in Durban, South Africa, she went to the Caribbean and we were contacted by the UK authorities as the yacht had been arrested off the British coast with a substantial amount of drugs aboard!

I built my first yacht from a bare hull and sailed her from Cape Town to Rio in '76, whilst I was in the Rhodesian Army. I couldn't sail, let alone navigate. That was a an interesting trip. Since I learned to sail I have built or bought various yachts along the way. Our twins were born whilst sailing in the Indian Ocean in the 90's (a nine year 'sabbatical') followed by two more children whilst cruising the Middle East. We have sailed at every opportunity. We have recently sold our last catamaran and have taken to a (temporary) land base as the twins shall be off to 'varsity' in about two years. Meanwhile we are casting about for the 'right' catamaran to buy to carry on cruising again. We have had a few moments whilst sailing - from pirates in the north Indian Ocean, we have twice picked up single-handers from sinking yachts, to some fairly rough weather. More importantly are the sheer numbers of wonderful people we have met over the years - its makes the rough times worthwhile.

We recently 'settled' in UK and bought property in the Chiltern Hills. I commute to work in West Africa (lots of air miles!) Home shall always be Zim, though, on the shores of Lake Kariba. Once the children are settled at 'varsity' we intend to sail again - we know not where; as long as there is a breeze and its not cold. Many of our friends have tried for circumnavigations, but most have not completed them as they discovered their home whilst cruising. Perhaps we'll also be fortunate in this regard. One other friend is on his double digit circumnavigation (he is a French guy, now in his 60's) who is still seeking his perfect partner and anchorage, and living via chartering. I am very lucky, having married the most wonderful woman, so many years ago.