H O R I Z O N S » History

A Private Island in The Bahamas…

johnchristie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:34:16 +0000

Solace for the Hassled, Boundless Opportunity for the Visionary and Pinnacle Attainment

Many say the world is out of balance. Everyone wants to ‘find’ time, ‘find’ peace and ‘find’ privacy.

Psssst…. guess what there is a, not-so-secret, source offering discovery of these desired and all too often elusive elements. It is a ‘secret’ that Celebrities, fortunate folks and notable achievers, such as Francis Francis (we’ll get to him in a bit), have known for decades: private islands can be a path to personal reconnection.

Private Islands are gems of the sea waiting to deliver access to YOUR personal refuge. They hold the unique potential to create YOUR uninhibited personal nirvana according to your definitions AND in the current real estate market, private island ownership is more accessible than it ever has been. > ‘Bird Cay’, presents a gorgeous oasis in the south Berry Islands of The Bahamas awaiting its new owner and ‘creator’ AND that could be YOU!

Johnny Depp, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw , Eddie Murphy, David Copperfield and other recognizable celebrities and high-net worth individuals have embraced the lure and rewards of private ownership and these ‘safe havens’ constantly make headlines.
Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson’s Island, has been touted in headlines recently. Many marveled at how the allure of private island mystique trumped the loss of the main house to a fire in the summer while hosting Kate Winslet and did not deter Branson’s daughter Holly from accessing the perfect private island wedding location just as her father did over a decade ago.

Stories of the well-heeled and their private island experiences are always headline grabbers! The England’s youngest royal couple,
‘Will and Kate’ ,as they are affectionately known, chose a private island honeymoon location as their retreat from a media greedy public.

Private Island retreats and their ownership is not a new choice for wealthy and celebrity personalities. The romantic appeal of island ownership can be traced back to other high profile jet setters decades ago. This is the case of Francis Francis, a handsome Brit and heir to the Standard Oil fortune, who decided in the early 1940’s to buy his own island situated in the south Berry Islands of The Bahamas. He named it ‘Bird Cay’.

Naming a landmass that will grace global cartography can be cited as a distinctive and heady ‘perk’ of island ownership. However, do not be fooled. At this point in time, this was not an acquisition for the ‘faint-of-heart’! These gorgeous landforms set in azure seas may provide the optimal retreat, but in the 1940s their access and ease of development was not what it is today. There were no luxury jets into international airports and no limo in the wings to whisk you away to your luxurious state-of-the-art dwelling. While an island playground born of the owner’s fantasy can be easily accessed today, such as Nygard Cay in The Bahamas, requirements in the 1940s for the owners of these retreats was not just wealth, but ingenuity, a sense of adventure and a visionary spirit. Francis Francis was truly such a person. He embodied success through athletic achievement, financial gain and courageous and philanthropic efforts.

Truly the 40’s were a time that summoned adventurers. It was a time of war and Francis Francis was responding to the call through the manufacturing and marketing of ejection seats . This progressive company still provides these lifesaving mechanisms for 93 air forces worldwide. Francis Francis can be seen in this 1937 photo with fellow founders of the Martin–Baker Aircraft Company.

A tribute to Mr. Francis’ fearlessness and pioneering spirit was his participation in being one of the early ‘live’ test subjects. This practice involved bold souls willing to endure a 16 foot test rig built in the form of a tripod, one of the legs being in the form of guide rails. A seat was propelled up the guide rails by a gun, consisting of two telescopic tubes energized by an explosive cartridge. Studies were conducted to find the limits of upward acceleration that the human body could stand. As a result of the farsighted and intrepid efforts of men like Francis Francis, over 7,300 lives have been saved by Martin-Baker ejection seats to date.

The Bahamas possess an intoxicating beauty. However, Francis’ courageous spirit could certainly be attributed to what led him to embrace the undertaking of owning and developing his own island. Indeed, his pluck was evident at an early age. Among his accomplishments were winning the Swiss Open as an Amateur in 1936 and finishing twice as the leading amateur in the British Open. Ownership of four restaurants and nightclubs in London later in life surely provided additional preparation.
During the war Francis Francis purchased ‘Bird Cay’ from his sister, Joe Carstairs (Marion B.), another spirited soul.

When the war ended he moved with his theatrically renowned bride, Patricia Francis (nee Leonard) to The Bahamas and worked to settle their private island. Initially, the brave hearted Francis and his operatic and theatrically talented wife lived on their freighter “The Mereghan”. It was anchored just off of the point of ‘Bird Cay’ until the first buildings were completed. Today, the remnants of his personal republic built from harnessing the raw materials of rock quarried from the island can still be seen on the island.

During a glamorous and glittering era of Bahamian history, ‘Bird Cay’ was where Francis chose to raise his children and entertain his friends from the likes of the Duke of Windsor to Greta Garbo
; all while practicing golf on a custom-designed driving range.

Today, ‘Bird Cay’ remains an Exotic Private Island Paradise. Now in the center of a new Marine Reserve for the Berry Islands similar to the Exuma Cays. Prices in the Land and Sea Park in Exuma have skyrocketed and the same is anticipated for the new Berry Island Reserve. ‘Bird Cay’ represents a wonderful investment opportunity as this environmental treasure gains notoriety and stature around the world.

Just as with Francis Francis, ‘Bird Cay’ presents a haven of beauty and tranquility. This 250 acre tropical island at the south end of the Berry Islands chain is just 30 minutes by air from Nassau. Naturally protected on all sides by neighboring islands and sand banks, ‘Bird Cay’ offers an excellent marina opportunity for the right investor with the adventurer’s soul. Chub Cay lies just west of this island prize and has a 5,000 foot airstrip with regular and chartered flights to Nassau that conjures visions of private resorts, exclusive clubs, and exceptional restaurants. With over 4.75 Miles of water frontage
‘Bird Cay’ offers sandy beaches, crystalline waters, spectacular ocean views, gentle prevailing breezes, numerous trails, tropical palms, casuarina trees, as well as citrus and coconut groves. The privately owned island of Whale Cay (Read a bit about “Joe”, Francis Francis’s sister, “The Queen of Whale Cay”) to the east includes an additional 4,000 foot paved runway and harbour. Proximity to the Great Bahama Bank and the Tongue of the Ocean makes this an excellent fishing, sailing, and scuba-diving paradise. Given the considerable flowing grass land, homage can be paid to Francis Francis via the creation of a few easily be constructed golf holes on the island.
Today, ‘find’ your tropical paradise and tailor it to your vision. Now is truly THE time to have a look at Bird Cay, Bahamas. (Read PIN’s article on “Why there’s Never Been a Better Time to Buy a Private Island” ) Engage your inner celebrity or your visionary and entrepreneurial spirit.

Consider all of YOUR possibilities – business retreat, family compound, or a stunning island resort. Ignoring this opportunity would ‘be for the birds’!

Expansion slated for Bimini Bay Resort

johnchristie — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 08:49:28 +0000

March 1, 2011 – The Nassau Guardian reported that an 80- to 100-room boutique hotel expansion is being planned for the Bimini Bay Resort and Marina, with developer RockResorts http://rockresorts.com/eyeing a 2014 opening for the hotel and amenities to come on stream by summer.

RockResorts features a variety of luxury hotels – from snug mountain hideaways to colorfulhigh-desert sanctuaries to dazzling island retreats – in spectacular locations throughout the U.S. and Caribbean.

The expansion of the Bimini Bay Resort will feature a RockResorts Spa, additional restaurants, a beach club and environmental and sustainability projects on the island. Once the RockResorts hotel and spa are developed and completed, the entire resort will be branded as a RockResort, according to a statement sent to Guardian Business yesterday.

Currently the existing Bimini Bay 350-room resort boasts the largest deepwater marina in The Bahamas.

Check out some listings we have in Bimini

What a dive: The underwater realm that inspired James Cameron’s new 3D film Sanctum

johnchristie — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:59:51 +0000

Monday, 21 February 2011 09:17

By Chris Hall / Daily Mail UK

This is a real photograph from one of the most mysterious environments in the world:

80ft below the surface, the Cascade room in Dan’s Cave, on Abaco Island in the Bahamas, is one of the most sensational chambers in the cave system

80ft below the surface, the Cascade room in Dan’s Cave, on Abaco Island in the Bahamas, is one of the most sensational chambers in the cave system

No, it’s not a still from Sanctum – although James Cameron’s new diving film was inspired by a near-catastrophic expedition by the man who took these pictures, Wes C Skiles.

This is a real photograph from one of the most mysterious environments in the world. You could visit Abaco Island, in the Bahamas, and have no idea that beneath you lies this vast network of caves, accessible by as many as a thousand ‘blue holes’ – submerged vertical caves peppered with entrances to this forbidding domain.

Exploring these passages is the diving equivalent of climbing K2 – you’ve got to be exceptionally well trained and well prepared. Even then, safety is no guarantee; Wes C Skiles died during a dive last summer. Sanctum is dedicated to him.

Of the 1,000 or so blue holes in the Bahamas, fewer than 20 per cent have been investigated, and almost none fully explored. It’s a perilous mission to undertake; the caves are pitch black, vast and labyrinthine: the deepest blue holes can be 600ft deep, and the connecting caves run on for thousands of feet in all directions.

Divers maintain a taut safety line at all times. Without it, it could be nigh on impossible to find your way out before your air supply runs out. Divers carry three tanks of nitrox mix – one to use on the way in, one on the way out, and one for emergencies – and three lights, which are used to communicate as well as navigate. Standard practice states that if any one light fails for any diver, the whole dive is called off.

In Sawmill Sink, another of Abaco's blue holes, bacteria colour the water a violent red, and signal the presence of hydrogen sulphide clouds

Bahamas Breaks Ground on $3.4 Billion Baha Mar Resort

johnchristie — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:19:22 +0000

February 21, 2011 10:22 PM

An official groundbreaking was held in the Bahamas on Monday for Baha Mar, a 1,000-acre, $3.4 billion resort, gaming and entertainment complex, slated to open in late 2014. Present at the ceremony were T. Brent Symonette, deputy prime minister; Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, minister of tourism and aviation; Li Ruogu, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of China; and Hu Dingxian, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Bahamas.

The upscale resort will feature hotel properties from Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Morgans Hotel Group and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, and will also feature a world-class casino hotel, for a total of 2,250 new hotel rooms. Baha Mar will also include the Bahamas’ largest convention center, with 200,000 square feet of space. Other facilities will include a 50,000-square-foot retail village combining an upscale shopping experience with Bahamian arts and crafts, branded restaurants and entertainment venues, and a 20-acre Eco Water Park and pool experience, three spas and an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf. Baha Mar will create 12,000 new jobs generate more than $305 million in annual wages, raising the average annual income for a Bahamian family from $29,000 to $33,500, according to the project organizers, who added that the resort will contribute almost $1 billion to the local economy in its first year.
For more information, visit www.bahamar.com

The Bahamas Women’s Open

johnchristie — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:08:40 +0000

The Bahamas is well known in the world of Sports, especially Track and Field. However, Tennis has been making a major splash, thanks to our very own Mark Knowles (son of Vicky Knowles-Andrews and brother to Samara Albury, HG Christie’s 2010 Top Producers for Nassau and Paradise Island)who has been representing the Bahamas on the International circuit for almost two decades.

Now for the first time in our history, the Bahamas is set to host a major International Women’s Professional Tennis tournament, The Bahamas Open.

The International Tennis Federation has awarded the Bahamas a one-year sanction to host a Pro Women’s tennis tournament, in anticipation that the Bahamas can be a regular tour stop on the International tennis circuit.

This historic event will take place on March 14th, 2011 to March 19th, 2011. The qualifying rounds will start on Friday, March 11th, 2011. The top 100 women pro players in the world are invited to this event, and there will be Singles and Doubles. Almost half of the top 15 in the world are expected to participate in this event as well, even though this is not a mandatory event for them.

The Bahamas Open will feature a classic display of professional tennis for the first time in our history. No other country in the Caribbean have held a tournament of this size either, and the Bahamas is coordinating with our neighbors to host this once-in-a-lifetime event, for the benefit and enjoyment of all. And, even though the prize money is only $100,000.00, the emphasis is on staging a memorable tennis classic, that the world will recognize the Bahamas as a major player in international tennis.

Read more…

http://www.thebahamasopen.com/

NASA! Cat Island, Bahamas is a perfect destination for Extraterrestrial Tourists.

johnchristie — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:59:19 +0000

So, last night I was reading about NASA’s news conference scheduled for 2 p.m. EST today, Thursday, Dec. 2,

to discuss an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-167_Astrobiology.html

This got me thinking. As I pondered life in the universe, the synapses triggered associations such as, the lyrics of a great Bahamian Calypso/Rake N Scrape song, that goes,

“We headin’ in ta deep Space an’ we takin’ Rake ‘n Scrape”

The more I thought about it the more I think that the folks at NASA may want to take a look at the Rake N Scrape capital of the world, Cat Island, Bahamas.

Cat Island holds an annual Rake N Scrape Festival showcasing this infectious genre of music comprised of a cast of characters, resourceful musical instruments and clever, often humourous, lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qneSWfo51sU

AND … Should NASA locate our extraterrestrial neighbors, Cat Island, Bahamas is seeming to be the ideal location to invite them to visit.
Renowned actor and Bahamian Ambassador, Sir Sidney Poitier, who was born in Cat Island, Bahamas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Poitier

Sir Sidney, once said in an interview, “… My knowledge of the world was gathered in Cat Island and Nassau. I learned from how people lived and what constituted a good person, in Cat Island. ”
Therefore, I am confident that Cat Island would be sure to provide NASA’s new found guests some great insights into our world.

Without a doubt, Cat Island represents some of the best ‘natural beauty’ our ‘blue planet’ offers. The ‘Family Islands’ or the ‘Out Islands’ of the Bahamas are billed as ‘The Real Bahamas’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwDBPXEQ1ik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAvmiPOLEuc
You know, the more I pondered this, the more I realized that Aliens, Rake N Scrape and Cat Island, Bahamas were closer than the ‘6 degrees of separation to Kevin Bacon’.

A new connection arises.

Could Hollywood, an expert on aliens and extraterrestrials, have known of the association to ‘Cat Island’ when it produced the 1953’s movie “Cat Women on the Moon”? http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1729535744/tt0045609

yet, you don’t need a rocket ship to get there.

So, should NASA find success in their new venture, I wish to advise them that Cat Island, Bahamas awaits the newly tapped potential tourism market.
Make sure to check out our some of our current listings in Cat Island, while you play that Rake N Scrape.
http://www.hgchristie.com/details/cat-island/vacant-land-cs10576
http://www.hgchristie.com/details/cat-island/income-property-cs10551
http://www.hgchristie.com/details/cat-island/greenwood-estates/house-cs10620
http://www.hgchristie.com/details/cat-island/hawks-nest/vacant-land-cs10622
http://www.hgchristie.com/rentals/details/cat-island/house-s91
Other Cat Island related videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvu5wmong5ERake N Scrape

Are Hong Kong and Dubai providing insights for Nassau?

johnchristie — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 23:26:58 +0000

Image courtesy Foster + Partners

Could Hong Kong’s new development plans support my traffic musing for developing downtown Nassau?

So often I sit in traffic heading from the Eastern End of the New Providence Island for over an hour. This slow pace is perpetuated by the business community attempting to get to their place of employment, concomitant with the start of schools, via limited arterial vehicle access to downtown Nassau. While an argument for public transportation, car pooling, biking, etc… can be made within this subject, as someone engaged in real estate, I ponder what opportunities lay in my field of expertise when this challenge is applied. Like Hong Kong, we are an island and the land mass ends at some point.

What if some of these folks don’t need to be near the school anymore? Are there heavy hitters in our vibrant island city that would enjoy waking up and walking to work? What if after work they were able to play downtown? I suddenly have visions of dining, cinema/theater, grocery stores, banking, a cultural epicenter and more swimming in my head. I wax nationalistic and think of the improved experience for our downtown tourist visitors.

I pause and acknowledge my environmental conscious, keeping a watchful eye on the news from Dubai

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/business/energy-environment/28dubai.html?_r=3&nl=&emc=aua22

I am ever mindful of over development or development that does not consider the intrinsic needs of the land and its people. Yet, could this be an opportunity that is good for all? Much of our current prime Nassau real estate remains downtown in neglected conditions. Could commercial and residential combine to create a revitalized area whose benefits extend these areas?

Is the Capital City of Nassau a prime opportunity for the right investors to create a mirror project, on a smaller scale, such as the one being under taken in Hong Kong? Hmmmm….. this musing is making more sense everyday – honk, honk…

Barron’s Magazine Article Bodes Well for Bahamas Second Homeowners

johnchristie — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:39:09 +0000

Image by BlogMama via Flickr

Vacation Home Interest Is on the Rise
The market for second homes is improving, but prices are still as much as 40 percent off the peak, Barron’s magazine observes.

Potential buyers include not only families but also investors, says Jan Reuter, who heads residential real estate at U.S. Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management.

To entice its readers, Barron’s identified 10 locales with beautiful views, challenging golf, good fishing, fine restaurants and lots of good shopping.

Barron’s editors did warn its readers not to count on a quick flip. “Serious appreciation will require a better economy and, quite possibly, another big rally in stocks,” the magazine said.

Here are their favorites:

Maui
Kiawah Island, S.C.
The Hamptons
Park City, Utah
Aspen, Colo.
Pebble Beach, Calif.
Palm Beach
Captiva/Sanibel Island, Fla.
Asheville, N.C.
Gasparilla Island, Fla.

Source: Barron’s, Steven M. Sears (03/08/2010)

10 Best Places for Second Homes (online.wsj.com)

HGC Agent- Appraiser Elbert Thompson Named Toast Masters’ ‘Best of the Best’ Area Governor

johnchristie — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:59:07 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

In a recent Toast Master’s District 47 Executive Council meeting held in Ft. Myers, Florida, HG Christie’s Agent and Appraiser, Elbert Thompson , was named the Area Governor of the 2nd Quarter for District 47.

Elbert has captured this esteemed honor after 13 distinguished years with Toastmasters International and has competed and won several contests throughout the years. Rising as a leader during his affiliation with this well-regarded organization that is dedicated to enhancing communication and leadership skills, Elbert also served as a club president. His stellar performance within the Toastmaster’s organization has now yielded wider recognition with this prestigious award for a district that stretches across the Bahamas and South Florida, from Key West to Tampa. This represents approximately 5,000 members and 42 areas.

HG Christie salutes Elbert in this outstanding accomplishment. During his professional career Elbert has maximized his speaking talents, knowledge and exceptional training skills in many venues. One of Mr. Thompson’s most memorable posts in the Bahamas where his exceptional skills could be witnessed was as a news anchor and reporter with the national televisionand radio station, ZNS.

When congratulated he remarked, “I was truly shocked and humbled by the honours when my name was called and I thank all of the Area 83 clubs, their executive officers, members and Area 83 Council members as their work and cooperation has made this all possible. GO AREA 83!!!!”

HG Christie is proud to have Elbert Thompson as a valued member of our team. Elbert shines not only at Toastmasters but professionally as well. A respected appraiser, a Top Producing Agent and recently a proficient company trainer. So “GO ELBERT! Shine on!”

Toastmasters Speech: You Say Tomato (exec-comms.com)
What is Toastmasters? (siglaptoastmasters.wordpress.com)

Snowbirds Return to Exuma via Direct Air Canada Flight

johnchristie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:35:01 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Thawing in the warmth of the Bahamian Sunshine nearly 100 Air Canada passengers disembarked the inaugural international direct flight into George Town, Exuma on Sunday.

After just a few short hours, commuters sporting gleeful expressions headed off to play at the new Sandals Emerald Bay resort ready to soak up the gorgeous Exuma seaside.

The island of Exuma is welcoming and grateful for these direct flights and views this as just the beginning of an even greater increase to international arrivals to Exuma. Executives with Air Canada have said that they are ‘booked to capacity for the rest of the month for their flights into Exuma’.

“We are so proud to be here,” said Sandal’s Chief Executive OfficerAdam Stewart. “We are here today and are committed to the people of Exuma.

The executive was present yesterday for the day’s festivities, along with a host of other island officials.
Raymond Francis, executive director of the Out Islands Promotions Board, noted that the inaugural flight came at a time when most big airlines were considering cutting routes to boost cost efficiency – that’s proof, he said, for what’s in store for Exuma in the near future.

“It goes to show that Air Canada and Sandals are confident in Exuma’s tourism growth,” he said. “We are confident this direct service will boost tourism demand [and] we hope this will entice . . . and provide much needed direct service from Toronto.”

The Air Canada flight will operate one day a week servicing the Toronto to George Town routes.