Unexpected guest has The Meridian Club staff in a flutter

Pine Cay, a private island getaway in the Caribbean, has been a fascinating entry in the travel logs of early explorers. Its abundant supply of fresh water has drawn maritime voyagers to this tiny windswept island in the Turks & Caicos archipelago since the days of Columbus. Today, Pine Cay and The Meridian Club draw a different type of visitor; one who is seeking a break from everyday routine. The kind of visitor who wants to escape the crowds of travelers and the bustle of tourism associated with other more densely-populated islands, to experience, instead, a throwback to the blissful holiday times of a bygone era.

Visitors to this private Caribbean getaway tend to experience a form of addiction to the solitude that it offers. They quickly get hooked on daily doses of walks along unspoiled, talcum-powder soft sand, the unobstructed, startlingly blue vistas, and the unhurried pace of life on Pine Cay. And for most visitors, the siren song that is the Pine Cay experience lures them back year after year.

One only has to imagine the smiles breaking out on expectant faces as the Turks & Caicos come into view through the clouds as planes prepare to land.

It’s little wonder then that the stunning aerial views attracted an uncommon visitor to Pine Cay in early April. Expected to stay only a day or two, this feathered guest has made himself at home at The Meridian Club, sustained by fresh water and helpings of grain offered by the resort staff. Affectionately nicknamed “Juan” after extending his trip past a week and winning over the hearts of staff and guests alike, the beautiful racing pigeon seems quite content to enjoy his flight detour and remain in transit for a while yet.

Easy to approach and extremely comfortable with people, Juan has been spending his days on the roofs of the Club House or the beach bungalows and enjoying the ocean breezes and captivating views. He has embraced the serenity of The Meridian Club by showing his preference for dining alone, arriving on the pool deck to feast on grains and water only when other guests have finished their meals.

Banded IF 2011 UCPR 7534, Juan is associated with the International Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers, Inc., otherwise known as IF. A search of the website http://www.ifpigeon.com/ reveals that Juan’s flight path may have originated in Puerto Rico some 466 miles (749.79 kms) from Pine Cay. Although efforts are underway to repatriate Juan with his “flight” club, they have to-date remained unsuccessful. Staff at Pine Cay continues to makes calls to find Juan’s flock.

As for Juan, he is clearly no bird brain. He alighted on a secluded Caribbean island that has beckoned travelers for centuries. Some have stopped here on their way to other destinations to refuel water supplies, others have returned year after year to lose themselves in the isolation and quiet. And while it is unclear what Juan’s plans are, it seems that he is in no hurry to leave the paradise he has found on Pine Cay. He appears to be relishing this minor detour with the zeal of a pigeon that has flown too hard for too long. Looks like Juan has discovered what other guests at Pine Cay have known for years…that this tiny private island in the Turks and Caicos offers an unparalleled respite from the daily grind.

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JR “Junior” Delancey wins Annual Kite Flying Competition

If you tell JR Delancey to “go fly a kite,” not only will he gladly accept, but he’ll go on to build some of the finest kites in the Turks & Caicos Islands, and then on to repeatedly win the Annual Kite Flying Competition.

Some will tell you he was born to fly kites, others will argue that the man was born with a fishing rod in his hand … and if you continue asking, you will find that JR “Junior” Delancey is also an accomplished calypso musician and keyboardist with his latest CD titled “Where are all the young men gone?” soon to be released.

So who is this man who possesses so many talents?

JR Delancey is in charge of fishing excursions and charters at The Meridian Club on Pine Cay. Working his way up from cleaning and maintenance duty when hired in 1983, to ultimately becoming responsible for running the resort’s fishing charters, he is in charge of organizing up to 2 daily fishing trips for guests staying at the secluded island resort in the Turks and Caicos. Trips to the nearby tidal flats in pursuit of the elusive bonefish, or further out into the deep blue in search of bigger game fish such Blue Marlin, Sailfish or Mahi-Mahi, are JR’s domain. He loves the thrill of the hunt, the adrenaline rush of the catch, and the sweet success of not only meeting, but surpassing, his guests’ expectations. Ask JR where he is at his happiest, and he’ll answer without a moment’s hesitation, “when I’m fishing”.

So, it’s somewhat unexpected that the man who rules the sea so assuredly should also dominate the sky. JR Delancey has been taking home the top prizes in the Annual Kite Flying Competition in the Turks and Caicos in every year he has entered. The event is held over the Easter weekend at Horse Stable Beach in North Caicos, Governors Beach in Grand Turk and at the Regatta Village in South Caicos. JR competes in the North Caicos event on Horse Stable Beach. This breezy beach is located 1.6 miles East of Whitby on the North coast of the island.

As a child, JR became interested in flying kites as it was something that all the children did. Back then, they held their kites together with a paste made of flour and water, and JR loved the process of painstakingly creating a kite, modifying it to be stable (and more importantly, hold together) and then setting it free to join the birds flying overhead. And the thrill hasn’t diminished over the years.

JR won his first competition in 2010. He took home 2 trophies: one for the biggest kite, spanning 4 feet, and the other for the smallest one at merely 6 inches tall. And he has since gone on to compete in the 2011 and 2013 events, each time outdoing his previous entries. In 2011, he entered 2 kites and took home a staggering 7 trophies. And just a few weeks ago in the 2013 competition, JR won 2 trophies. This time, the trophy for the largest kite was awarded for his mammoth 6.6ft creation, and the trophy for the smallest kite was won for his adorable, yet flight-worthy kite measuring only 10 inches.

As if to prove that his kites don’t just win in North Caicos events, JR asked his daughter to enter the 2012 competition in Providenciales and fly his creation (he was on a fishing excursion on Pine Cay!). While she may have lacked some of her father’s techniques and experience, the 5- foot kite took home the “Best Looking Kite” trophy, securing JR’s reputation as master kite maker.

Not one to rest on his laurels, JR is already planning his entry for the 2014 competition. Notwithstanding the risk of extreme rope burn and flyaway kites – the physical demands are truly painful – he would like to enter a whopping 7-foot kite to once again win in the” Biggest Kite” class. So what’s the secret to winning each year? JR won’t tell. He did divulge that there is much more to building and stabilizing a kite than most people assume. It’s his passion for precision that ensures he is always flying a winner!

JR Delancey is a modern renaissance man, balancing his passion for fishing, kite building and music recording. Guests of The Meridian Club on Pine Cay in the beautiful Turks and Caicos islands are in for a rare treat when they sign up for a fishing excursion with this man of so many talents.

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Protecting the Fresh Water Supply on Pine Cay

The Meridian Club and the Pine Cay Owners successfully implemented a reef ball project in late-2012. The new artificial reef at Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos, has become a unique and favorite snorkeling and diving destination for guests.

Coral reefs are fragile ecosystems and easily fall prey to global warming, harmful fishing practices and natural weather patterns. In this particular case, the need to create an artificial reef arose when a nearby resort development opened two pathways through the barrier reef in the waters surrounding Pine Cay in order to create passage for construction materials delivery.  These dual gaps within the reef structure compromised the water flow between the islands.

The newly-opened pathways diverted high levels of water towards Pine Cay. Within months, the onslaught of saltwater to Pine Cay began to threaten the natural freshwater supply on the island by steadily increasing salinity levels. And, if the holes in the proverbial dam were not plugged soon, the fragile water lens on the island would be devastatingly compromised.

The owners association on Pine Cay undertook the costs and responsibility to re-create the reef by deploying concrete balls in both affected areas. The balls, approximately 5 feet in diameter, are made from a mixture of cement, pea rocks, sand and water and are hospitable to coral growth; the molds are grooved with small holes which provide ideal shelter and habitat for smaller fish and marine life.

Weighing almost 500 lbs each, the 200 reef balls were deployed in key areas to stem the destructive pathway of the new water flows.  Creating the artificial reef was a slow and laborious process; a balloon was inflated inside each ball allowing it to float, and then the ball was carefully towed to the drop off location.  Marine engineers positioned each ball over the deployment area and the balloon was then slowly deflated.  As the reef ball began to sink to its final resting place in the approximately 6ft of water, engineers continued to fine-tune its position.  The final reef ball was dropped in September 2012.

Now, only a few months later, the proactive actions of the Pine Cay owners association have been rewarded with restored fresh water levels, thriving artificial reefs that are ideal for snorkelers and divers, and a thoughtful restoration of a fragile ecosystem.

Nature is easier forgiven for cutting a destructive swath through the fragile coral reefs, but it’s harder to understand the motivation of those who put profit before protection. Pine Cay has a delicate ecosystem nurtured by the steady patterns of the natural world around it and the owners of this private island retreat in the Turks and Caicos archipelago take the stewardship of this delicate balance seriously.

The reef ball project has been a triumphant success for Pine Cay thanks to the vigilance and desire of the homeowners to protect what nature has worked so hard to create. The freshly restored ecosystem provides wonderful snorkeling and diving adventures for guests at this private island getaway in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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The shallow flats around our private island and neighboring cays are home to the bonefish, one of the most sought-after sport fish in the Caribbean.

Weighing up to 19 pounds and growing to 35 inches, the silver bonefish, is pound for pound said to be the strongest and fastest moving of any saltwater fish – a hooked bonefish can swim more than 25 miles an hour (a trout can can make a sprint of 5 miles an hour).

Fly-fishing for bonefish in Turks and Caicos is an almost sublime experience. Imagine wading in warm, shallow turquoise water, or cruising the shallows on a flats skiff.

Where to go bonefishing near Pine Cay

It’s often said that bonefishing is a lot more like hunting than it is like most other forms of fishing – you have to first find the fish, which can be difficult, as their silver-grey color makes it easy for them to blend into the shallows and flats.

Bonefish generally appear when the tide comes in. They eat shellfish, crustaceans, and other animals found in the sand of the flats.

Caicos Bank, to the south of Pine Cay, is a large area of wadeable flats that is, perfect for exploring with our guide in a skiff in search of prime bonefishing spots. The Bank side of Pine Cay, accessible from land, is also great for do-it-yourself bonefishing.

What to bring

While equipment and gear can be arranged through the Meridian Club. However, if you’re an experienced angler and you want to try fly-fishing for bonefish in the Turks and Caicos, here are some hints on what to bring:

• Fly Rod – 7-9 wt.
• Fly Reel
• Weight-forward floating fly line and 9-12 ft. tapered leaders with 10 lb. tippet
• No. 4-6 tan Gotchas or Crazy Charlies are typical bonefishing flies
• Polaroid sunglasses with amber lenses
• Hook hone to keep hooks sharp

Make sure all of your gear is salt-resistant and created specifically for saltwater fly fishing.

You’ll be out in the sun for quite a while, so sunscreen and a hat are a must.

Charters

The Meridian Club runs it’s own charters with our experienced guide, JR.

If you’re looking for an off-island outfitter we recommend:

• Silver Deep: Arthur Dean – 649-946-5612 or Paula – 232-5612  (Bone and Deep Sea)
• Catch the Wave: Ed Misick – 649-941-3037  (Bone or Deep Sea)
• Daren Bain - 649-242-4327 (bone fishing only)

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From Early Explorers to Count Ferdinand Czernin

French Captain N. Bellin, sent to the West Indies by King Louis XV in the mid-1700s wrote of Pine Cay: “To approach Island of Pines, you have to be careful because there is a sandbar. When you approach Island of Pines from the opening in the reef, you have to make sure the island remains to the SE so you can enter without touching the sand.” He wrote further, “The Island of Pines goes NW to SE. The land is low and not protected from the wind in the east, which batters the pines all the time. The trees on the fringe are uprooted and dried up, and the ones in the center are not doing too well.” He continued his description with, “The earth is full of sand on the perimeter and doesn’t look much better on the inside.” and, “The sea bottom is very wide in the whole bay, too wide to catch any big fish.”

Despite all these shortcomings, Bellin managed to find the one thing that has drawn explorers back to Pine Cay over the last four centuries. He wrote, “The most important feature in the Island of Pines is a big lagoon of sweet water close to the sea and where there is enough water to fill 50 ships.”

Pine Cay has played an important role in providing fresh water to seafarers since the days of Christopher Columbus. Historians estimate that Columbus’ first stop in the New World was in the Turks and Caicos Islands in October 1492 where he restocked the ship’s water supplies on route to Cuba. While the appeal of a permanent fresh water depot in the otherwise desert-like Caribbean archipelago continued to bring maritime voyagers to Pine Cay, there were few other reasons to set up camp on this tiny, windswept island.

In 1958 when the Turk & Caicos Islands were under Jamaican administration, Count Ferdinand Czernin came to visit a friend on South Caicos. While discussing the islands and climate, the topic of the lack of fresh water came up and a steward informed Ferdinand that indeed there was an island in the Turks & Caicos that had abundant supplies of fresh water. Without delay, Ferdinand chartered a sloop and made the 2-day voyage to the secluded island of Pine Cay in search of fresh water.

Here, in addition to finding a seemingly endless supply of fresh water, Ferdinand also discovered a peaceful little private island which had no occupants. Pine Cay had a gorgeous “white powder beach, blue and green water under cerulean skies and cotton ball clouds.” It was serene and untouched, teeming with iguanas, and great white herons, stretches of pines and palmettos, and abundant and varied flora. He thought that this secluded island hideaway in the Turks and Caicos could gradually be expanded to accommodate like-minded friends, who were eager to escape the stresses and demands of their more cosmopolitan lifestyles.

With original plans to farm pineapple, and vegetables and to use the solitude to write books, Ferdinand set out to determine who owned the land and if there was a formal registry system. He was granted a farming lease for a conditional five and then 99 year period. All he had to do was to construct a residential house and start the agriculture project. As construction plans were initiated, George Nipanich, a long time friend of Ferdinand tagged along to help negotiate construction terms and squeeze in a vacation on the island hideaway.

Work came to a halt in 1960 as a result of heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides throughout the islands resulting from Hurricane Donna. Many trees were lost, fresh water lakes turned brackish and flooding destroyed a lot of vegetation. This natural disaster resulted in the channel between Water Cay and Little Water Cay slowly filling in and then closing in completely by 1968.

During the same year that Hurricane Donna swept across the Caribbean, George Nipanich met his future wife, Maroussia, at a wedding party in Jamaica. Marou came to visit George on Pine Cay even though the self-proclaimed “city girl” hated camping, but due to a series of travel-related mishaps only managed to spend one day on Pine Cay! During her foray through the islands, she “thought it was fascinating, regardless of whether I was a city girl. I loved the whole area and thought it was a great adventure.”

As a result of the construction setbacks experienced with the upheaval caused by Hurricane Donna, Ferdinand received a two-year extension on his lease and used the time, (instead of farming) to prepare a projection of Pine Cay development possibilities. Unfortunately, though he had diligently persisted in realizing his dream of inhabiting a deserted island hideaway in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Ferdinand died of a heart attached in 1966. His wife, Helen, came back to Pine Cay and together with George Nipanich, decided to continue the legacy her husband had dreamed about.

In his proposal to the government, George prepared drawings and a Summary of the Proposed Development of Pine Cay where he introduced two names for the project: The Cays Development Company, Ltd., and the one which was adopted and which we know today, The Meridian Club. His plan called for a club house, marina, utility buildings, workers’ quarters, a power plant, water supply, sewage systems and recreational facilities. In November 1967, after receiving conditional approval from the government, George Nipanich moved to the island to devote himself to the development of Pine Cay. The Meridian Club – named for the proposed location of the clubhouse which came through the middle of the 22nd meridian and intersected with the 72nd meridian – opened its doors in the early 1970s.

George Nipanich passed away in 2002 after spending many happy years on Pine Cay and seeing his vision fulfilled. Today, 38 private homes and a 13-guestroom beach club offer an idyllic escape from the stresses of everyday life. Unspoiled beaches, turquoise water, fresh drinking water and an abundance of flora and fauna continue to be the hallmark of the secluded island hideaway that Count Ferdinand Czernin once fell in love with, and which continues to honour his pioneering spirit.

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Introducing Floyd Forbes

The best part of any holiday is the opportunity to try new foods and drinks. While Caribbean rum isn’t exactly a foreign item to most people, drinking it in on Pine Cay surrounded by the murmur of the ocean a few feet away is an experience one will likely remember forever.

Floyd Forbes is the bartender at the Meridian Club and has been part of the scene since 1969 when he started working as a handyman and property maintenance until the hotel opened in 1973. As a novice behind the bar, Floyd quickly learned and excelled at the art of bartending and as his tenure grew, so did his responsibilities which ranged from head of the commissary to head of food and beverage. Over three decades later, Floyd is still the master at the bar and is responsible for cocktail service before dinner and for bar service on the pool deck throughout the day. His specialty drinks are just that – very special!

Cocktail hour at the Meridian Club starts about 6:00pm and takes place in the upstairs lounge each night when dinner is scheduled to be served indoors. Guests often show up early as they are eager to meet up with their new found friends at the club. The library bar offers abundant seating, and a balcony overlooking the pool.

Be prepared to receive a warm welcome and a tasty appetizer such as piping hot conch fritters, Caribbean-inspired hummus and pita chips, fresh salsa and crispy tortilla chips and other equally delicious finger foods. Cocktail hour in the upstairs bar is an entertaining episode of dinner party-style mingling, gossip sharing, looking through books and photo albums featuring pictures of guests over the years as well as renovations to the Club, engaging in a game of darts or mancala, and introducing new arrivals to those who have been on the island for several days. As you look through the various albums, you are bound to see some familiar faces. It shouldn’t surprise you to see that some of these people are seated around you at the bar, sipping on one of Floyd’s signature cocktails.

Come early to cocktail hour as Floyd is a terrific encyclopedia of the history and happenings on Pine Cay and guests are thoroughly entertained by his reminiscings. If you are the wagering type, consider yourself warned: do not challenge Floyd to a game of darts!

Meridian Club Specialty Cocktail Menu

Pine Cay Punch – light rum, dark rum, pineapple, orange, grenadine
Club Meridian – Canadian Club, melon liquor, Gran Marnier, pineapple
Pine Cay Cocktail – gin, Gran Marnier, grapefruit
Iguana Colada – melon liquor, pineapple, Coco Lopez
Pine Cay Smile – coconut rum, dark rum, Tio Pepe, orange, pineapple
Gombay Smash – dark rum, coconut rum, Triple Sec, pineapple, lemon syrup
Yellow Bird – white rum, crème de banana, Galliano, pineapple, orange
Pine Cay Breeze – melon liquor, vodka, crème de banana, pineapple
Mai Tai – white rum, Triple Sec, amaretto, pineapple, lemon
Pine Cay Iced Tea – vodka, gin, rum, tequila, lemon, coke
Toasted Almond – amaretto, Kahlua, half and half
Zombie – white rum, dark rum, amaretto, Triple Sec, lemon orange
Tropical Delight – vodka, crème de coconut, pineapple, cranberry, orange
Rum BBC – Baileys, banana, Coco Lopez
Caicos Express – white rum, dark rum, Kahlua, cream
Mambo Special – dark rum, coconut rum, Triple Sec, lemon orange, pineapple
Caicos Calypso – light rum, Tia Maria, crème de coco, milk

*** Most specialty cocktails are priced at $13 ***

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Real Life Stories Of Meridian Club Guests

So many of our guests have such interesting stories.  They may include how they came to The Meridian Club, what their experience was like, or have nothing to do with the property.  One of the reasons why lovers of our property return – again and again – is because of how all the guests feel like part of a community.  Starting with this article, you will learn something of your fellow guest.  The first installment is entitled “A Winner Among Us”, which details how one week on Jeopardy catapulted the lives of two of our guests, who visited our property just recently.

Carole Cohen was living a typical home maker life in the Boston area, where her husband, Jordan, was finishing his medical training and residency.  It was 1965, she had three small children – ages 6, 3 and 1, and the TV was on during the day while she went about her chores, primarily while she ironed.  Her favorite show was Jeopardy and she seemed to have quite the talent for it.  During a conversation with Jordan about the future, that they needed to create a home, move to Rhode Island, buy a house, get a 2^nd car, and finish paying off medical school, he questioned, “where is this money going to come from?”

She spoke up and said, “there is this TV program where they ask you questions and give you money.”  At that time, this was the only show doing such a thing because of the scandal surrounding Twenty-One (but also included the $64,000 Question and two other shows).  For those of you too young to remember, or who have not seen the 4-time Oscar nominated movie Quiz Show directed by Robert Redford, following the scandal a congressional investigation determined this show (and others) gave the questions (and sometimes answers) to “create entertainment” and thus controlled who won, how often they won, and how much they won.  Today you might call it “reality TV” but back then the government got involved and created laws to prevent the public from being deceived.  No longer could television companies give out this information … until Jeopardy came along, and producer Merv Griffin cleverly came up with a way to get around that.  Instead of answers, contestants had to give the question to the game show’s host, then Art Fleming.  Often, and in the heat of the moment, this trumped the guest and how they phrased their “answer” because it was mistakenly not in the form of a question.

Back to Carole and Jordan.  He used to say her brain was “a storehouse of useless information” and so thinking there was nothing to lose he dared her to do it.  And do it she did.  She sent a post card and was selected, traveled to NYC (with her three children), paid all her travel expenses, stayed with her mom (who watched the kids), took the test, and went back to Boston.  The show called and asked her to be on the following week.  So she left her kids with her sister in Boston, taped two shows on Monday and two more on Wednesday, and she won!  Due to the inauguration of LBJ in January, they suspended taping for two weeks and invited her back for her 5^th appearance at the end of the month.  The rules were you had to win five times to advance.  So, just as most NFL coaches try to “freeze out” the kicker by calling time out before the kick, the station did well because she didn’t win the 5^th show and did not advance.  She says admittedly she got greedy, but she has no regrets.  The winnings by today’s standards was nothing big, about $4,500.  In those days it was enough.  Enough to (1) put a down payment on a house, (2) buy a 2^nd used car, (3) go away to Mt. Stowe for the weekend.

They tell me, it was a “start of a very nice life.”

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Introduction to the Island

I first came to the private island of Pine Cay, with my wife, in the late 1980′s to indulge our passion for bonefishing. Her eyes opened wide when she saw that it wasn’t just another rustic fishing camp of the kind we had visited on countless occasions in various out-of-the-way locations around the globe. This place was (and still is) unique – seclusion, safety, a top notch restaurant and all of the comforts of home; not to mention a gorgeous jewel of an island with a friendly staff and a wonderful environment for children. Oh, and excellent fishing to boot. We returned several times over the next couple of years, with our children and other family members, and found ourselves enjoying it more each time. Although we had never considered owning a vacation home outside of the U.S., after a few visits we began looking at several properties that were for sale on Pine Cay.

Becoming a Member of the Community

Members of the Board of Governors of the homeowners association were very helpful in explaining the process and requirements for joining the association. We negotiated a mutually agreeable purchase price for an existing home, applied for membership in the homeowners association and, since we had become acquainted with a many members during our several visits, were delighted to find ourselves approved fairly quickly.

The Following Years

We’ve now been homeowners for over 20 years and have never regretted our decision to own property on this private island hideaway. The Turks and Caicos Islands have changed significantly over the years. Providenciales (“Provo”) is a far different place than when we first came here. Some of the changes have been constructive – better medical care and other important services, many good restaurants and a variety of well-stocked stores for example – but it is a very busy place as opposed to the peaceful, laid back island it was years ago. Some would say it grew too much, too fast. While change is inevitable and Pine Cay has changed a bit too, the character of the island and resort has remained the same. There are several more homes on the island now and almost all members have the usual assortment of modern conveniences in their houses, including telephones and internet capability. However, development is strictly controlled (and carefully planned) because we all care about preserving the privacy and natural environment that brought us here in the first place. There are no crowds, honking horns, or blaring music. Travel on the island is by foot, bicycle or electric golf cart. The hotel still has 13 rooms. Our beaches are pristine usually very private and often deserted. Some three quarters of the island is dedicated “green space” and will remain as such. The sense of peace and tranquility is unmatchable.

The Benefits of Home Ownership

The Meridian Club has excellent management and a professional security staff to watch over our homes while we are not here. There is also a highly skilled maintenance staff on island year-round to address problems that may occur, which is tremendously reassuring to homeowners who reside far away much of the year. When we come to Pine Cay, the housekeeping team opens and cleans the house in advance so we need only relax from the rigors of today’s air travel. Management will also stock the refrigerator if we wish, although many members now stop at the IGA on the way from the airport or take a Club boat over to Provo on the regular weekly grocery shopping trip. We, like many other members, have our own boat, which enables us to go fishing, snorkeling, diving for conch, shelling and exploring on our own. Pine Cay has an accomplished Marine staff to deal with engine maintenance and repair for those of us who are not mechanically inclined. There are member docks, a fuel supply on island and boat storage facilities. The Meridian Club hotel operation enables members to enjoy this wide range of important services at a lower cost than otherwise. Some members choose to rent their homes through the Club’s rental program to further mitigate expenses. The membership of the Pine Cay Homeowners Association is diverse, encompassing people from a number of different countries and many different backgrounds. Despite these differences, it is a congenial group bound together by a common “sustainable” vision. We have formed a number of fast friendships here with fellow members and Turks and Caicos Islanders alike. Our children, and now our grandchildren, continue to visit regularly.

Available Properties

At the present time there are an uncustomary number of properties for sale on Pine Cay. While this might raise concern for someone who is thinking of buying property and joining the association, that would be a mistake. The fact is that most of the sellers are in their 70s and 80s. After thoroughly enjoying the island for many years (some were among the earliest homeowners on Pine Cay), they have reached the stage in life where circumstances have (or may soon) interfere with their ability to continue coming and/or enjoying Pine Cay. Thus, this in an unprecedented opportunity for someone interested in becoming a part of this unique community, and enables one to choose from a variety of properties in different locations with a wide range of prices. There are several undeveloped parcels on which one can build a home to suit personal preferences. The existing homes on the market run the gamut in terms of size, style and features. Presently, there is no place else in the Caribbean where one would have such a range of choice in purchasing property on a private island.

The only regret we have is that we didn’t come to Pine Cay sooner. It is a truly special place.

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Beach

Yes, it’s true the beach is spectacular. I have had the good fortune of working with The Meridian Club, in various capacities, for the past ten years. On one trip, which was more of a social nature, I met a new homeowner on the boat back from Pine Cay to Providenciales, Turks & Caicos. He was so excited about his home that he offered details about his methodical research for the “perfect island house.” The greatest criteria was it had to have a nice beach, both in its natural appeal and limited population. He searched for many months and took several visits throughout the Caribbean, and eventually found there is nothing better than Pine Cay. To him, it is the perfect beach hideaway.

Activities

There is an abundant list of activities on Pine Cay. What tends to happen is after our guests arrive, they make their way to their unit (beach suite, cottage or private home) and then go out to the beach where they tend to stay for the next week – reading books, taking walks, snoozing through a nap (or two.) At Pine Cay we allow the guests to inquire about activities, instead of interfering with their solitude on the beach or at the pool, so unlike large hotels and resorts what you can do on Pine Cay may not be so obvious. Here is the list of activities included in your room rate.

• Sailing
• Kayaking
• Swimming
• Snorkeling
• Jogging and walking
• Basketball
• Tennis
• Biking
• Paddle boarding
• Shelling and Beachcombing
• Bird Watching
• Library and board games
• Darts
• Shuffle Board

Sight-Seeing on Pine Cay

Available at a separate cost: Deep-Sea Fishing; Bone fishing; Bottom Fishing; Scuba Diving, Sunset Cocktail Cruises, Spa services.

Excursions at a separate cost: Fort George Cay, Glow Worm Cruise, Turtle Watching, Little Water Cay, Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, Grand Turk and Salt Cay.

Only on Pine Cay

So you might be saying to yourself, “I can do some of those things nearly anywhere in the Caribbean”, and you might be right about that. We do have many other activities that are unique to Pine Cay. The most popular and widely discussed is the outdoor drive-in movie night, using golf carts. It’s the night of the week guests are most likely to get to know each other. Some of our other activities have drawn attention from Steve Bennett of Uncommon Caribbean fame. He was enamored by our bell, and the “call to action” in On-Site Pine Cay: What’s With the Old Bell at The Meridian Club? and was equally found on our airstrip, enjoying it as a 12-year old might, in Uncommon Attraction: Colwes Field on Pine Cay, Turks & Caicos

So, whatever you fancy – water sports, interesting diversions or authentic Caribbean experiences – you can find it on our little 800-acre island, on Pine Cay in Turks & Caicos.

Melanie Alexander is an avid traveler, having visited over 75 countries and 38 states, taking international trips 3-15 times per year over the past thirty years. As a travel & hospitality marketing/sales professional, she has visited over 30 Caribbean islands and finds Pine Cay offers the most charming Caribbean experience, with an ideal pristine beach.

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