Black Boaters Summit’s Rainbow Expansion

When we first met Richmond sailor Paul Mixon in the Virgin Islands 20 years ago, we never would have guessed that he’d someday be operating one of the biggest sailing events in the Eastern Caribbean. At the time, he was just a typical friendly cruiser, enjoying a seemingly carefree lifestyle with his former wife.

After returning to the Bay Area, however, Mixon, who is African American, decided he ought to find a way to introduce more African Americans to the joys of sailing. He came up with the Black Boaters Summit, an all-inclusive bareboat flotilla circuit through the British Virgin Islands. After more than a decade, it has now grown to two dozen boats annually and has garnered attention from national press — including a special National Geographic segment, featuring Mixon and Captain Bill Pinkney, the first African American to solo circumnavigate (via the great capes).

"Now I’ve got my sights set on being the #1 party flotilla in the BVIs." To achieve that goal, this year’s flotilla will include both power and sailboats, and nationwide invitations to join have gone out to YC members of all ethnicities. Although the majority of past participants have been African American, we should clarify that, despite the event’s title, sailors and would-be sailors of all ethnicities have always been welcome to join the BBS.

The August 1-10 event will include stops at all the BVIs’ most popular haunts such as Foxy’s, Leverick Bay, Anegeda, Cane Garden Bay, White Bay, The Baths, and Norman Island’s Willie T. See the website for more info.