The Spark

The idea of a spark is almost universal. Most will think of a tiny orange ember suddenly breaking brightly through the darkness. Others might recall a childhood memory of sparks rising above a campfire to join the sea of stars waiting above. Shooting stars are streaking sparks, burning brightly before falling to earth, and the people and ideas that become the sparks of adventure, inspiration, and success often start in the most unexpected places. 

Well before the Marco Beach Boys began, Florida began to flourish because of the spark of an idea that was the birth of air-conditioning. By the late 1950’s air conditioning became commonplace in hotels, homes, and restaurants and as a result, the hot and steamy state of Florida became a comfortable new paradise and not an endless episode in a sweating jungle. 

Alongside the advancing technology of air-conditioning came an overwhelming rush of tourists, seasonal visitors and retiring residents. Alongside everyone else came the adventure seekers. These inspired individuals were traveling far from home because of a spark of an idea that came from a book, a film or the story from a stranger from away. As long as there have been sparks, campfires, and fireplaces there have always been travelers who ignite impressions with the telling of a tale.

One of these inspirational figures made an appearance on the Naples and Marco scene soon after the arrival of Hurricane Donna in 1960. Captain Chris was a Macedonian where the folk from Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Greece were all once cousins, but Chris was remarkable because he looked like a movie star. When Chris stepped off the sailing yacht Curlew in Naples when Southwest Florida was recovering from the worst hurricane since the Labor Day storm in 1935, he was an instant spark of excitement because he looked exactly like Robert Mitchum who was one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the day. Chris ignited enthusiasm and created exciting reactions from everyone he met. At first, anyone who saw him at once believed he was the box-office sensation of the era, but after introductions and new friendships were underway, the lifestyle of Captain Chris, as everyone soon learned, would rival any adventure film or any dashing actor. 

Chris was the captain of the Curlew. The Curlew was a 70-foot sailing yacht owned by a Palm Beach multi-millionaire who was in love with the adventure of sailing. Chris’s position as captain was to sail the Curlew with a first mate, cook, and valet to any destination the owner decided to go. However, on most of the voyages the owner was absent because he quite often became seasick during the open ocean journeys at sea. As a result, the handsome and dashing Captain and his loyal crew became the toast of the coastal towns whenever they happened to make a port of call.

On many occasions from October through April, Captain Chris and the happy crew of the Curlew would be waiting as instructed at a Florida yacht club when a telephone call, telegram, or telex would arrive from the millionaire compound in Palm Beach. The instructions were always pleasant and began with good cheer and best wishes for the captain and the crew. “Could the Curlew please make the passage from Naples to Nassau in the Bahamas for a big celebration for Thanksgiving?”

After confirming the request with another telegram or telex, Captain Chris would order the lines cast off and the Curlew to sea. With the northerly wind brisk, the sturdy little ship would fly over the waves into deep water and would quite often arrive early at the designated port of call.

After finding a mooring at a new yacht club and tying the Curlew safely at the docks, Chris and the crew would often find another telegram or telex waiting. “Change of plan. Best wishes for a new safe passage. Please sail Curlew to Montego Bay in Jamaica and await further instructions at the yacht club. Please send confirming telegram or telex upon arrival.”

The spark of adventure seemed endless and once again, the lines were cast away and Captain Chris and the crew were underway and making way for Jamaica. During a memorable voyage beyond the Bahama bank, and into the Bermuda Triangle, Chris called to the crew, and as everyone onboard was watching, the compass in the binnacle began to spin in never ending circles. As the captain and crew stood mesmerized by the phenomenon that had haunted many vessels in the mysterious waters, everyone watched until the spinning compass finally found a magnetic bearing and held steady. Within hours a new harbor and familiar island was sighted, and after Captain Chris cracked a joke to relieve the tension, everyone aboard knew they were happy together and living a life bigger than anything in the movies.

When the boss flew into Jamaica with the guests from Palm Beach, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served at sunset onboard the Curlew, but dinner and dancing was at the yacht club and Captain Chris and his crew were invited to dine and dance with the guests.

Most of the winter seasons found the Curlew sailing throughout the Caribbean and around the coast of Florida, but in the summer months, Chris and his crew were hosting day sailing parties for guests from the Hamptons and Cape Cod.

After Naples became the favorite port of call for the Curlew, the boss sold his compound in Palm Beach and bought a house in Port Royal on Gulf Shore Boulevard. Captain Chris and the crew were happy in their new home until his boss suddenly passed away and his kids sold everything in Florida.

Captain Chris however was constantly the spark of optimism and fell in love with Marco Island. He soon found employment at the Marco River Marina where he could not believe there was not a waterfront bar - with an outstanding host and bartender - where captains, crews, and bartenders alike, could tell tall tales and be the seafaring hosts to entertain tourists and islanders.

Soon afterward, Jack and Jack’s Lookout became the “Cheers” of Marco Island. The bar above the boards and over the water was always more than an island tradition. Jack’s Lookout was where the spark of inspiration was always ready to ignite and where generations were entertained long after the spark of a seafaring idea became a wonderful reality.