BVI Olympic Sailor Needs Help
Donation protected
Hailing all sailors who ever sailed the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, danced to calypso music under the stars, or listened to tales told by native island seaman. This page is a story about a man, Presley King, who grew up on the Island of Bequia in the Winward Islands. At 13 years old he was sailing fish to market over a nine mile open ocean passage to St Vincent in the doubleender he built with his dad. Although he didn’t receive much formal schooling, he is a wise and knowledgeable seaman that is well respected by some of the world’s best sailors. Presley was on the BVI Olympic sailing team in 1992 and sailed in the Pan Am games. He was the one to beat in many races around the Caribbean for many years. Presley has been described by many as a generous man with an engaging smile, a big heart, a love of music, and a contagious love of the sea. He was one of the most requested charter captains at the Moorings for 30 years. His charter guests were charmed by his demeanor and joie de vivre. They were fortunate to see the real Caribbean through his eyes.
Unfortunately, Presley suffered a stroke as a result of atrial fibrillation caused by dehydration after two back-to-back deliveries between the US and BVI. This amazing man is now 74 years old and is unable to support himself after hurricane Irma. Prior to the storm, he was living on a small boat that was renovated with funds donated by his BVI friends and businesses, including his employer for 35 years.
Presley lost all his worldly possessions in the storm and currently is staying wherever he can find a place to sleep, living in situations that are a threat to his health and ability to function. His friends are paying his medical bills and trying to send money when possible to augment his $400 monthly social security check so he can eat and pay for a phone. We have appealed to all BVI government agencies for a food stipend and have been unsuccessful to date. We’re hoping the sailing community will help us take care of Presley’s basic needs, which is food and a roof over his head, by contributing to the renovation of a storm damaged 405 Beneteau that we purchased for him. The boat fell off it’s stands in a boat yard during the storm and was damaged. It requires some fiber glass work, a port and a hatch replaced, keel, mast, and rail repairs, interior cleaning, new cushions, engine and electric panel clean-up. Our goal is to put together enough money to make the boat watertight, clean, and in working order for Presley to live aboard. One of Presley’s friends has provided a dock for him to moor the boat. We believe we can make the boat water tight and livable with $15,000. Any help matters. $10 will provide enough food to make a meal. Presely’s long time friend, Pam Lendzion, is managing his medical care and the project to get Presley situated on a clean and comfortable boat he can call home. She is also organizing his friends in the BVI and the states who are helping in many ways. Pam has a 100 ton Master’s license and is grateful to Presley for everything he has taught her about sailing, sailboat racing, and providing the sea time needed to obtain her license. She is one of many who have learned from the best!
BIOGRAPHY PRESLEY KING
Presley King moved from the small Island of Bequia in the Grenadines to Tortola in the British Virgin Island in 1967. He was 23 years old and worked transporting freight between islands including the Virgin Islands. One of Presley’s favorite stories is about a trip on a small cargo ship to Puerto Rico. As he was heading from Fajardo to St Thomas, the boat lost its rudder. Instead of calling for help, the seasoned seaman canvassed the vessel and found two truck tires, securing one tire to each side of the stern and using them to steer the boat. Presley was able to navigate his crew and cargo 50 miles to St Thomas and successfully parallel park the vessel on the dock. He matter-of-factly talks about traveling with his father and uncles on steam powered cargo ships between Bequia and Trinidad when he was a teenager delivering lobster and bringing back supplies like sugar, flour, and rum. He tells stories of his adolescent adventures in the Caribbean with his brothers and cousins traveling up the island chain in a small sailboat from Grenada to Bequia on the Atlantic side of the islands, alternatively sailing and rowing depending on the wind. When the boat was turned over by a large wave, he and his cousins had to swim approximately nine miles to a rock island and wait until a boat passed by. His crew tell stories about Presley walking a dinghy back to their anchored sailboat when the engine quit. Another tells a story about Captain King at the helm in the BVI spring regatta when they were bearing down on the rocks along the shore, and the crew told him he should tack because the rocks were close. Presley’s response was, “tell me when you can smell the whelks” with that familiar smile on his face.
Many people got to know Presley when he worked at Marina Cay or the Moorings in Tortola. He enjoyed dancing and singing and playing his guitar. He was excited to show people his favorite places in the BVI or to cook his charter guests freshly caught fish. He never tired of watching the sunset and waiting for the “green flash”. Sailing and making people happy was his life. The pictures included on this page may spark some memories or your imagination. The two year old boy singing with Presley in Bequia, and sitting on a park bench in Winter Park Florida, is now a teenager putting together this funding page. He has inherited Presley’s love of the Sea. We would encourage you to send your stories and pictures which we will share with Presley. He has a good memory and it will mean a lot for him to hear from the people that he has touched during his career. Any contributions, no matter the size, will make a difference in the quality of Presley’s life today and in the future. The funds will be managed well for his benefit.
Unfortunately, Presley suffered a stroke as a result of atrial fibrillation caused by dehydration after two back-to-back deliveries between the US and BVI. This amazing man is now 74 years old and is unable to support himself after hurricane Irma. Prior to the storm, he was living on a small boat that was renovated with funds donated by his BVI friends and businesses, including his employer for 35 years.
Presley lost all his worldly possessions in the storm and currently is staying wherever he can find a place to sleep, living in situations that are a threat to his health and ability to function. His friends are paying his medical bills and trying to send money when possible to augment his $400 monthly social security check so he can eat and pay for a phone. We have appealed to all BVI government agencies for a food stipend and have been unsuccessful to date. We’re hoping the sailing community will help us take care of Presley’s basic needs, which is food and a roof over his head, by contributing to the renovation of a storm damaged 405 Beneteau that we purchased for him. The boat fell off it’s stands in a boat yard during the storm and was damaged. It requires some fiber glass work, a port and a hatch replaced, keel, mast, and rail repairs, interior cleaning, new cushions, engine and electric panel clean-up. Our goal is to put together enough money to make the boat watertight, clean, and in working order for Presley to live aboard. One of Presley’s friends has provided a dock for him to moor the boat. We believe we can make the boat water tight and livable with $15,000. Any help matters. $10 will provide enough food to make a meal. Presely’s long time friend, Pam Lendzion, is managing his medical care and the project to get Presley situated on a clean and comfortable boat he can call home. She is also organizing his friends in the BVI and the states who are helping in many ways. Pam has a 100 ton Master’s license and is grateful to Presley for everything he has taught her about sailing, sailboat racing, and providing the sea time needed to obtain her license. She is one of many who have learned from the best!
BIOGRAPHY PRESLEY KING
Presley King moved from the small Island of Bequia in the Grenadines to Tortola in the British Virgin Island in 1967. He was 23 years old and worked transporting freight between islands including the Virgin Islands. One of Presley’s favorite stories is about a trip on a small cargo ship to Puerto Rico. As he was heading from Fajardo to St Thomas, the boat lost its rudder. Instead of calling for help, the seasoned seaman canvassed the vessel and found two truck tires, securing one tire to each side of the stern and using them to steer the boat. Presley was able to navigate his crew and cargo 50 miles to St Thomas and successfully parallel park the vessel on the dock. He matter-of-factly talks about traveling with his father and uncles on steam powered cargo ships between Bequia and Trinidad when he was a teenager delivering lobster and bringing back supplies like sugar, flour, and rum. He tells stories of his adolescent adventures in the Caribbean with his brothers and cousins traveling up the island chain in a small sailboat from Grenada to Bequia on the Atlantic side of the islands, alternatively sailing and rowing depending on the wind. When the boat was turned over by a large wave, he and his cousins had to swim approximately nine miles to a rock island and wait until a boat passed by. His crew tell stories about Presley walking a dinghy back to their anchored sailboat when the engine quit. Another tells a story about Captain King at the helm in the BVI spring regatta when they were bearing down on the rocks along the shore, and the crew told him he should tack because the rocks were close. Presley’s response was, “tell me when you can smell the whelks” with that familiar smile on his face.
Many people got to know Presley when he worked at Marina Cay or the Moorings in Tortola. He enjoyed dancing and singing and playing his guitar. He was excited to show people his favorite places in the BVI or to cook his charter guests freshly caught fish. He never tired of watching the sunset and waiting for the “green flash”. Sailing and making people happy was his life. The pictures included on this page may spark some memories or your imagination. The two year old boy singing with Presley in Bequia, and sitting on a park bench in Winter Park Florida, is now a teenager putting together this funding page. He has inherited Presley’s love of the Sea. We would encourage you to send your stories and pictures which we will share with Presley. He has a good memory and it will mean a lot for him to hear from the people that he has touched during his career. Any contributions, no matter the size, will make a difference in the quality of Presley’s life today and in the future. The funds will be managed well for his benefit.
Organizer
Pam Lendzion
Organizer
St. Augustine, FL