The genesis of The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands started in New York in the late '60s when Simon and then-partner decided they would blend their respective skills to develop informational/photographic publications based upon their intended sailing adventures. At the time, Simon, a native of the UK, was an aspiring member of the Madison Avenue advertising world. They acquired a classic 1936 John Alden cutter, and after a good deal of preparation, consternation, and trepidation set sail for the warmer waters of the Caribbean. Weather is capricious; older wooden boats more so. The loss of a rig became serendipitous when, awaiting a new mast, they became maritime residents of West End, Tortola. During this extended stay, Simon discovered that a new fledgling industry was starting to develop. A career in international marketing was swiftly traded for a management position in a new charter fleet where he was ideally positioned to listen to the concerns of sailors from around the world discovering the delights and challenges of Caribbean cruising. Some years later and back in the USA, the first edition of The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands was published in 1982. Contemporaneously, he joined The Moorings as VP Sales and Marketing where he remained for 15 years, the latter five as CEO as the company grew in size from twenty yachts and one base location to an international company with over twenty-five base locations across the world. The Scotts have been writing the Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands for 40 years, in addition to running Cruising Guide Publications which also publishes other popular cruising titles that span the islands of the Caribbean from the Virgins down through the Leeward and Windward Islands to Grenada in the south. The offices of Cruising Guide Publications are located in Florida, USA, where they can be reached with updates and suggestions for improvement.
