Jamison Witbeck, captain of the hand-built 55-foot catamaran Kekoa, says the reason he has an all-woman crew is simple: "Guys don't do any work, and the girls do." His wife is cool with the idea.
Witbeck talked about his crew, boat, and his wife and kids and their island adventure, in the second episode of Reserve Channel's Ex-Pats, an online show produced in partnership with Travel+Leisure.
Originally from Vermont, he and his brother built Kekoa in the states. On its maiden voyage to the islands, the folks who leased it ran into horrible weather and abandoned ship. It was found five days later. Witbeck realized he had to be the one to own, care for, and sail her.
This is Witbeck's second experience with St. John. About 10 years ago he and his wife kind of washed up on the shore, had a child, then another and began making a life. Eventually, they moved back to the mainland. But he didn't like the life his family was having. "In the states, the kids would hide out in the air conditioning, play video games and stay inside." He preferred the life they had on St. John, outside, active, self reliant.
