This is Leo’s 7th delivery on avalanche, and on this trip that makes him the crew with the most experience aboard.  Leo began  on avalanche as a “day worker” who could help Jake (and me) with routine maintenance and repairs aboard that were beginning to be overwhelming for arthritic knees, hands and shoulders.  (Besides, Jake loves having someone to work with so he can tell all his stories!)  When we contacted Ken Malone, who runs the local service yard, looking for help, he brought Leo to us.  We have since learned that Leo was (and still is) Ken’s lead worker in the yard.  Ken hoped that working with us would broaden Leo’s horizons and lead to many wide-ranging experiences.  Looking back over the approximately 5 years we’ve known Leo, I think he’s experienced lots of stuff–some of it even positive and enlightening!  The first day Jake taught him how to catch a lobster!  And how to clear his ears snorkeling!  And I keep  treating him to new foods, but still haven’t convinced him that black olives are edible.  On a serious note, Leo has learned so much about boats and their systems and is so conscientious and competent as well as skilled and intuitive, that Dave and Brian (both trained engineers) are mightily impressed by him!

As we described before our November trip south, Leo, who is from Dominica, is 3/4 Carib Indian.  We have been reading about the Caribs and have become very proud of Leo’s heritage.  It turns out that the Caribs were very strong and fierce warriors.  They defeated many English, French, Dutch and Spanish explorers and settlers as well as the Arawak Indians who tried to conquer them and their lands.  Reports say that the Caribs would rather fight to the death or commit suicide than become slaves to the European conquerers.

Leo comes from a family and village of fishermen on the northeast coast of Dominica.  At 15 he had quit school to help his grandfather fishing with hand lines from a small skiff with an outboard motor on the sea offshore.  As a result he is a very fine fisherman.  He knows where fish are likely to be and why, he is very good at actually catching fish and boating them.  Additionally, he has introduced us to the delicious local meal called “fish water” made from fish heads! (He’s broadening our horizons!)  When he was 19 he moved to Antigua where he began working for Ken Malone…and, as they say, the rest is history!

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