CO-FOUNDER OF THE MOORINGS PASSES AWAY
A memorial service for the late Virginia Cary, a pioneer in the yachting industry of the BVI, will be held at the Road Town Methodist Church on Thursday August 24th at 4 p.m., it has been announced here. Mrs. Cary, 82, passed away on August 7th in Asheville, North Carolina. She was born October 31st, 1917 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and is survived by her husband of 60 years, Charles G. Cary, one cousin, several nieces and nephews. Ginny, as she was affectionately known, is well known in the British Virgin Islands and throughout the world for having co-founded The Moorings Yacht Charters 31 years ago, along with her husband.
She graduated from Wilson's Teacher's College, Washington, D.C and the University of Maryland, where she qualified as a Teacher. During the Second World War, she worked for the FBI and the U.S Navy. After the war, the Cary's moved to New Orleans, where Charlie was an Executive of Freeport Oil and Mineral Company and where they co-founded Tehefuncta Club Estates and were active in the Southern Yacht Club. Having sailed into the BVI in 1969, along with partner Tony Rainold, with six Pearson 35's, they established the first bareboat charter operation in the territory. The Moorings Yacht Charters grew to be the largest yacht charter company in the world, with a global fleet of 770 yachts. There are now 22 bases in the world's most desirable cruising grounds, including the Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French St. Martin, the Bahamas, Mexico, Croatia, Miami, Tahiti and Tonga.
Since then, The Moorings has introduced many innovations, from the company-owned resort bases to a total fleet concept for crewed yachts to the latest in cruising yacht design. Ginny's devotion to Charlie and dedication to The Moorings attracted countless friends and admirers from within the BVI and from around the globe. She possessed an indomitably positive spirit, boundless energy and endless kindness that was always present and available to everyone. After retiring from The Moorings, Ginny divided her time between their home in Florida; first at the Ocean Reef Club on Key Largo and more recently at Vero Beach; their summer home in Cashiers, North Carolina and their winter residence on Stocking Island in the Bahamas. A memorial service is planned for the First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard, Vero Beach, Florida at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 20th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Here in the BVI, donations may be made to the BVI Cancer Society. The late Virginia Cary was a member of the Royal BVI Yacht Club and gave generously to their programmes. She and her husband were made Honourary Belongers in 1983. During her time in the islands, she played an important role in the establishment and development of the BVI Hotel and Commerce Association and the Caribbean Hotel Association. Through her efforts in training and training programmes, she set a standard for the Charter Yacht Industry, which is the envy of the Caribbean. As Charlie's wife, she was always a staunch supporter of the Rotary Club of Tortola. The management and staff of Sun Enterprises (BVI) Ltd. and The Island Sun newspaper join in extending condolences to those who are left to mourn.