When Paul Mixon, 65, got hooked on sailing 30 years ago, he never expected that one day he'd be the organizer of a popular annual flotilla in the British Virgin Islands. But his instant love of the sport gave rise to a dream of introducing sailing to more African Americans, long a minority in the sailing community.

"Since the industry is missing the boat, not targeting African Americans," he said, "why don't I target African Americans and have them go sailing with me?"

Mixon's good friend, Captain Bill Pinkney, 71, had his own sailing dreams. In 1985, remembering Call It Courage , Armstrong Sperry's classic adventure tale, Pinkney began planning a remarkable solo voyage around the world. It would be the ultimate inspirational legacy to leave his grandchildren.

In August 1990, at the age of 54, Pinkney left Boston on his 47-foot (14-meter) cutter, Commitment . Opting for the more challenging southern route, his journey took him to Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Uruguay, and Bermuda—and through tropical storms, 70-mile-an-hour (110-kilometer-an-hour) winds, and 55-foot (17-meter) waves. After 22 months and 32,000 nautical miles, he sailed safely back to Boston's harbor.

"Bill is the real deal," says Mixon. "Not only did he circumnavigate the globe alone, but he chose the most difficult passages in the world."

As the first African American to sail the world alone, Pinkney's voyage was followed by hundreds of schoolchildren via computer and on satellite radio and television.

"I ended up not with two grandchildren but 30,000 grandchildren," he says.

After being introduced by a mutual friend years ago, Mixon and Pinkney planned how they could work together to attract African Americans to sailing. Mixon used his entrepreneurial skills to organize the effort, and Pinkney used his reputation as a master sailor and a positive role model to draw people to the trips.

Today Mixon, of San Francisco, and Pinkney, who lives in Connecticut, share their sailing dreams with others through the Black Boaters Summit, an annual summer event in the British Virgin Islands.

"It was an uphill battle to try to convince people to get out on the water with nothing more than a sail and a rope," says Mixon. In fact, according to Mixon, many of the participating sailors could not even swim and had no previous exposure to open water. "At the end of the day it's very rewarding to see the smiles on the faces of our first-timers."

The summit initially tested the waters with only ten boats. Now in its tenth year, it has grown exponentially. At one recent summit, 280 sailors participated on 24 boats. All of the boats' captains are African-American men and women who have made sailing their sport. It's evolved into a network that has created many friendships and six marriages.

Pinkney sums it up: "You can't make fantasies happen, but you can make your dreams come true. That's what I'm most proud of. I turned a dream into a reality—not just for me, but for a lot of young people as well."

— National Sailing Hall of Fame

Photos submitted: Niambi Davis

Passing of Paul Mixon - I just learned that Paul, founder of the Black Boater Summit, transitioned in Chicago Il. Responsible for exposing me and thousands of others African Americans to the beauty of chartering in the British Virgin Islands.

Thanks Brother Paul. God Bless and my your soul rest in peace.....Fair Winds and Following Seas

— Bill Reddick

Tribute to Paul Mixon —
Who united Black Sailors/Boaters from all over the world.

Make your submissions to bcs@blackchicagosailors.org