My name is Willie Odis; I am from Abaco, Bahamas. Abaco is the third largest island of the 700 chains of Islands. During my time in Abaco, the water was my passion. I became a technician mechanic for yachts. I worked for Sun Sail Yacht Charters, the Moorings Yacht Charter, and Florida Yacht Charters in the early 90’s, in both Miami and Abaco. I have also worked as a disc jockey at Radio Abaco 93.5 fm.

I was arrested in 2000 for conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Miami. I was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison. I have accomplished a lot during my incarceration. I have attained my General Education Diploma (GED), an associate degree, a Microsoft diploma, and I have received an Ordained Minister’s diploma. I have also become skilled at crafts such as; leather crafts, crochet, and playing the base guitar.

I work as an assistant accountant for Unicor, which is a private factory at Coleman Medium Federal prison. My duties are preparing the payroll, preparing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and maintaining several accounts. My goal for the future is to return to the yacht industry. I also have inspirations for other business ventures, which I plan to, pursue.
 

                                            Willie Odis’s Story
Throughout the years of my incarceration my fascination and passion for boats has constantly haunted me; especially when I’m reading the yacht magazines. I’ve worked for many of the companies in these magazines; such as Sunsail, The Moorings, and Florida Yacht Charter. Reading these articles brings back many memories. When I was 11 years old my peers and I were always hustling trying to make ends meet; by helping tourist with their bags at hotels or at the docks to help with the dinghies.

Nevertheless my dream was to work on board of one of the luxury yachts anchored in the harbor. One day my dream came through, I was picked up at the public dock in a dinghy by a guy who wanted his boat cleaned inside and out. From that point on I was in love with boats and I earned my first 100.00 dollars.

The Sunsail base in the Abaco, Bahamas was the largest company in the area, occupying over twenty sail and power yachts. There was another company located at the Conch Inn Marina just three minutes south of Sunsail; the Jet Sea was its name. At the same time Sunsail offered various discounts and made many deals; it grew fast and became the largest yacht charter company. Sunsail became a worldwide company.

Jobs did not come easy; my peers and I fought for the territory. I however, had an advantage; I knew of a spot where nobody else wanted to go. It was a marina that was home to Sunsail, formerly Bahamas Yacht Services (BYS). Even so, it was my consistency that landed me the job. My first task for BYS was to paint the bottom of a speed boat. I was a Haitian kid desperately seeking to be accepted; I worked hard demonstrating enthusiasm with each task. I was a fast learner and this made William (Willie) Bridlt) and Ian Robert take an interest in me. I worked only weekends; I attended school during the week.

The employees are the most memorable to me. There was Irene Sawyer who knew me from a child; she also knew my father. My father and Irene used to work together. My father was a great influence on my life; he showed me how to fire and work on the engines. Another employee was Marquis Edgecomb, I called him “Pops”, he took me under his wings and showed me how to fire and repair outboard motors, how to repair a dinghy, and lay fiber glass. Mrs. Anne Mae Lowe who handled the Laundromat was very good to me.
Then there was Mrs. Salvera Sims who ran the grocery store; she was very down to earth. There was “Jokey” who gave me the nick name “Piti Boy” and “Lil Willie” as a way of separating me from “Big Willy” Baidle. Jokey was a good person, a mechanic, captain, and a good sailor. Louis used to repair the sails, (rips to tours).

There was Haitian Joe, who used to take care of the lawn, ice machine, and sweeping the compound. There was the secretary, beautiful Camille, Ali Penn who kept the dock in shape, all of these wonderful people that I have mentioned did their best to install in me a positive attitude, they wanted the best for me and they wanted to be proud of me.

Although my mother didn’t like me going out to sea, every time I found the chance, I’d go without her approval. Sometimes I would go out for two weeks at a time and never return until the trip was over. I was in love with the waters, the sail boats, and the new faces I’d meet on a daily basis were enormous for me.

Willy Baidle was an angel to me; he helped me a lot. In 1992, right after the Hurricane Andrew, the immigration authorities came and took my parents, my sister, my little brother, and the twins, who were only a couple months away. Yet, they left me and my two older brothers behind. I couldn’t hold back the tears; I went to work the next day, still crying and everyone asked “what is wrong?” I told them the story of how the authorities raided my family’s home. Willy Baidle took the day off to help me find a lawyer, however we were not able to find one there. This did not stop Willy; he took a flight to Nassau, where my family was being held, before they were to be sent back to Haiti. Willy spent two days in Nassau and he resolved the problem. After Willy returned he moved me in with his family in Royal Harbor; I was around 13 years old at the time.

I learned so much from Willy during this time; how to read a map, how to navigate, how to read a compass, how to use jell coat, and how to brief clients on how use a boat. Willy lessons showed me what it truly means and takes to be a captain. My first real test as a minor captain came in 1993, when the there was an attempt made on the Twin Towers. I flew to the Exumas in Georgetown to pick up a 45 foot Benneteau sail boat. It would be about a 200 mile trip, in order to bring the boat back to Abaco. I enjoyed my job and had fun doing it. My job was to sail at night and sleep during the day; however I found myself crying at night not knowing what dangers awaited me. In due course we made it safely to Abaco.

Sunsail decided to publish two brochures and they selected one of my pictures to put in the magazines. My picture was placed on the inside of the front page; when you opened the magazine there I was. I was so excited; I took at least six copies home with me. My mom was so proud of me… seeing her son in a magazine that was on display all over the tourist areas.

In spite of everything that I had learned, I still didn’t understand the business end of the chartering industry… until Willy Bridle sat me down and gave me the full understanding of the business. I was told that I could buy a yacht and that it would pay for itself and provide me with an income. However, it seemed like it was too big and too tall for me to grasp. In actuality it felt like music to my ears; I never thought twice about owning my own boat. For me at the time, working for people was my thing; that’s what I wanted to do and I couldn’t see past that.

Willy was base manager, Hugh Murray, who now owns the Catamaran Yacht Company based in Fort Lauderdale wanted to make changes… Willy went back to England to start his own company. After my guardian angel “Willy” left I felt like I had no hope. There was this guy, Harry, out of Scotland and he didn’t like me too much. I was 13, almost 14 at the time. Eventually, I became corrupted, by people that wanted to take advantage of me. I started smuggling people to Vero Beach in a speed boat, which took about seven hours. I did this successfully two times. However on the third trip I ran out of fuel. I had crew of between 15-and 18 people, we left the boat on the beach. We walked around this rich neighborhood filled with big houses, trying to find a way out. Someone apparently called the cops and we were arrested.

After telling them we were from Haiti, I was sent to the immigration detention center in Miami, seeking political asylum. I stayed there for about a week and then released to my family. Really this is where my hard times begun; everything was moving so fast. I wished that I could have kept up with the fast pace. I remember back home, going to a private school; Saint Francis De Sale and the Seventh Day Adventist School, which is now called “Long Bay” and is a school for all ages of children.

Now, going to school over there was somewhat crazy, but I made it past the eighth grade. That summer I went to Fort Lauderdale from Orlando to work for Sunsail at the main office in downtown Fort Lauderdale, on Broward Blvd. next to the Federal Court House and Barnett Bank. The building was owned by Hugh Murray; my job was to keep the warehouse organized, clean the windows, and tidy up the office. I enjoyed it my job; it was a fun.

I was on my own and almost 15 years old at this time. I rented a place in Wilton Manor by the canal with Scott West. Scott West, I believe is still working for Sunsail somewhere in Maryland. Scott West was a good dude; he came from Rhode Island. Scott was caring, down to earth, and fun to be around. But with every good thing… there will be some unfortunate story. My negative attitude and behavior screwed up our friendship; I did the unthinkable. After our mishap I moved back to Orlando, where later I met with some unfortunate circumstances. I had no guidance and I was somewhat stubborn. I hung out with the wrong friends and got into trouble with the law for aggravated assault with a firearm. I was charged as an adult. I had a ten thousand dollar bond; Willy came from England to bail me out. I was place on house arrest. Later my lawyer negotiated a plea that got me 1 year in the county jail and three years probation.

After I served my time in jail, I checked out the probation office a couple of times; then I jumped ship and went back to the Bahamas. When I got to Nassau I stayed with my cousin in Shirley Street and Montreu. I took a flight to Abaco the next day. I went to Sunsail base and asked for the current person in charge. Camille led me to a slim fellow named Terrence, who was now the manager. I believe he was a native of Nassau. He let me work and then told me they were going to close down. Terrence then referred me SS Ft. Ocean Yacht.

While living in Englewood, I called Bob and Susan to let them know that I was going back to the Bahamas to see if I could get my job back. Once again, I was hired. I flew back to Marsh Harbor with Bob; it was just after Hurricane Floyd. Since the company was no longer at Great Abaco Beach Resort. I had to take a ferry to the Hope Town-Elbow Cay every morning and evening. There was a couple working for them; however they let the couple go. I became the only one in charge of 18 boats at a time, their sizes ranged between 35 and 45 feet.

I was in love with the Manta Catamaran. Before the Great Abaco was finished, I transferred all the boats, office supplies, and parts to the office at Resorts and Yachts docked at Tripple J Marina on Bay Street, in Marsh Harbour. Ultimately, I got everything in top shape. Now (FYC) was back in business, back at the Great Abaco Beach Resort, although I was doing more than the usual, they refused to give me a raise. Despite the circumstances, they told me they me they were seeking for a manger.

Apparently they had found one in Man-O-War Cay; her name was Kaiser. Kaiser had no managing experience, yet they paid her more than me. Although it was a blessing, I had one of the boats that came from Florida with a lot of problems; I fixed all the problems and had a conversation with the person he chartered the boat from. He was a millionaire from Venice, Florida who owned a lot of condos. It turned out I used to rent from him in Englewood Florida. He gave me a 100 dollar tip. The captain asked me how much was I being paid; I told him and he said that I deserve more than that. He said: a man of your caliber should get paid top dollar”. The captain referred me to David Rohr in Miami Coconut Grove, where the Moorings had a new fleet. David called me the next day and asked if I wanted to bring a boat over to Miami, deliver it to Sarah and George managers at the Moorings.

I started working with the Moorings at the Conch Inn Marina and Resort as an assistant mechanic to O’Brien Russell. Working with the Moorings helped a lot; it opened my eyes to the bigger picture of the chartering industry. At this billion dollar industry Sarah didn’t appreciate my work, so I quit. That same day George came to my house and asked me to come back, I did with the option of being given a raise. I worked there a couple of months then I quit to begin a new job with the Bahamas Electric Company (BEC). The BEC provides the Bahamas with electricity. After that I changed jobs a few times, such as the Block plant, Carol Garage, and Texaco, where I fixed tires and also worked as a mechanic. After leaving Texaco, I worked with Scotty’s doing security at the Abaco Town Hotel. I also worked for the fair when it came to Marsh Harbour; since it was a night job I worked for Florida Yacht Charters which is based on Altori Road in Miami Beach owned by Ross, Jeanette, Susan, and Bob Everhart.

Now I was in my comfort zone, at the time Florida Yacht had about 10 to 15 boats and had only two fleets, one in Marsh Harbour at the Great Beach resort and the other one in Miami. I was enthused with Florida Yacht Charters (FYC) because the yacht they carried was different from the Moorings and Sunsail. FYC had the Hunters, while Moorings had the Ben Neteaus, the Lagoons, and Jenneau etc. The experience with FYC was a great one; I quit a few years later and came back to Florida. While in Miami, I went to work for FYC, during my time in Miami Beach Florida, FYC was getting its popularity. As it was getting its popularity I was on the other side of the bridge. I loved boats, so I stayed a few months then quit again because they were not paying well.

I went to Orland, and then moved to Englewood Florida. While in Englewood, I met this beautiful gal named Hannah Sella; I had a good friend there, Randy Elmeida who worked the “Fine Grade” owned by Marcus White. The Fine Grade was a nice fishing boat.
Eventually I flew to Fort Lauderdale; the expense was accommodated by David Rohr. We agreed with the requirements. The Moorings was located on Bayside Drive at the Monty’s Marina and Restaurant. David was a good person, always giving me good advice. I had over twenty boats to maintain. I kept them in top shape. I took good care of their yachts. David was proud of me. I loved the Moorings, they paid me good. I took good care of their yachts.

However, through all of this I had one foot on solid ground and the other on soft sand. Although I learned a lot about the business…the other side of the street was calling me to a life that I never knew existed. I wanted to earn more money than I was making. So I learned about the drug trade…but not the consequences of it. My first arrest was by Metro Dade Police Department for possession of a couple grams of marijuana. I spent a night at the Miami Dade County Jail. A couple of months later the Feds, and several other agencies came to my job and arrested me for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. I was given a three hundred thousand bond. Later it was changed to no bond at all. From that point on I have never seen freedom; it has been ten years since this took place. 

                                       Conclusion

However, what I was looking for was lacking through my journey in the yacht business, was the maturity factor, the proper educational tools, and what the business mechanism was all about. I lacked the patience, the tolerance, and endurance to sustain the rejection uncharted territory. Although I had all the contacts and knew so much financially, I was handicapped. I didn’t know how to put a business plan into prospective that would capture the mind of those that were financially stable. Also, I didn’t know the proper avenue of investing. However, as a teen growing without a firm foundation and moving from place to place, it put some type of burden on me. What I once wanted as a kid had slipped away… now that I had been exposed to a different environment abroad I became adapted to such.

Although, I came to find a better life, the exposure of the fast life derailed me from that course. Yet, it’s not that I didn’t have a good life in the Bahamas…I did. I just wanted to take advantage of the greater opportunities…seeing that I had my twin  uncles that went to school in New Jersey and Nebraska and had become engineers working for the automotive industry I Detroit designing the vehicles of today. My uncles gave me hope, however, I never pondered on the unexpected. Now I know and understand the best of both worlds. I am ready to be a leader and take life seriously and I take nothing for granted. Although, there is a barrier to everything, I can see the end of the tunnel. I can feel and taste success. I am a walking untapped gold mine.