Attendees of the 2012 Black Boaters Summit having a fun at the welcome party hosted by the BVI Tourist Board.

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

Attendees of the 2012 Black Boaters Summit having a fun at the welcome party hosted by the BVI Tourist Board.

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

Despite the bare boat charter industry having to navigate tough financial times globally, the Black Boaters Summit has returned to the British Virgin Islands for its 15th year.

Over 80 persons are attending the event and last evening, they were guests at a welcome party hosted by the BVI Tourist Board at The Moorings.

Paul Mixon, who has organized the event since its inception, said last year was the last time the summit would be staged, but he has returned to take attendees on another 10 day excursion across the Virgin Islands.

"This year, because we are in a worldwide recession and downturn, I am down 50 percent. Last year we had the largest Black Boaters Summit ever, with 27 yachts and about 179 people. My goal has been 50 boats and around 300 people. I have not met my goal as yet. I think we have only scratched the surface," Mixon told BVI Platinum News.

He said that The Moorings contacted him after they found out that he planned to shut down the event. Mixon said that The Moorings wanted to know how they could help grow the summit in the future.

According to Mixon, he is optimistic that a proposal can be reached with The Moorings.

"As soon as I get back, I am working on a proposal of things they can do to grow Black Boaters Summit. One of the things that I do differently that the market does not do is that the charter industry markets to white men age 45 to 65. I market to African Americans; everybody from two to 102 because you don't have to know how to sail or swim to have a good time at Black Boaters Summit. Joan Jackson has been to every one of my Black Boaters Summit and still doesn't swim," Mixon stated.

He shared that over the years, the summit has also enabled the sharing of cultures.

"I don't think I have done anything special," Mixon replied when asked about his contribution to the BVI.

"I hope I have offset some of the images that the people of the BVI are seeing on BET...I think it has been a sharing of cultures. We have learned a gentler way of life from the people of the BVI and I think that the people of the BVI have learnt that everybody that sails is not white; that there are some people of colour who also go out sailing. I am bullish of the prospects, especially in the African American community because we like to go somewhere where the country is black-owned and operated and that is certainly here in the BVI," Mixon stated.

Black Boaters Summit Organizer, Paul Mixon (center) is flanked by representatives of the BVI Tourist Board.

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

Black Boaters Summit Organizer, Paul Mixon (center) is flanked by representatives of the BVI Tourist Board.

Photo Credit: Gordon French/BVI Platinum News

The BVI Tourist Board's Niche, Emerging & Events Marketing Manager, Lynette Harrigan said that the summit is very important for the BVI because it is a market that the Territory can look forward to.

"The organizer, Paul Nixon has really put a lot into making sure that this happens. He goes out for an entire year and markets the event. Last year was supposed to be the last year; they all said no and now they said this year is the last and already they have started planning for next year. The African American market is also a great market for the BVI; it's a market that we have been putting a lot of concentration in for the past few years and we are very happy to at least partner with Paul, especially when you talk about the group coming, renting the boats here in the BVI and sailing our beautiful water," Harrigan stated.

She pointed out that the Territory benefits from the exposure because there are so many videos and stories that summit attendees tell through YouTube and other social websites.