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Have you ever dreamt about chucking everything and escaping to a far-away island? Cynthia and Winston Hovey made it happen! They left their ocean-view apartment and corporate lifestyle in San Diego to live in a grass hut and manage a pirate bar on a tiny island (population 5) in the British Virgin Islands. After hurricanes devastated the island, they captained and ran luxury sailing and motor yachts for 20 years. Find out what led this fearless couple to retire in Venice, Florida, on episode 53 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.
Cynthia and Winston Hovey’s adventurous and entertaining book is There’s a Yacht More to Life: Loving, Working and Playing in Paradise.
Author
Cynthia Zvanut Hovey was born in Lakewood, Ohio, lived there until 6th grade and then moved to St Charles, Missouri. (30 miles west of St Louis). She attended Catholic grade schools, high school and Lindenwood College, all in Missouri.
Cynthia tells us her career was very varied! She worked in St Louis at a public relations firm for 8 years, then moved to San Diego and worked for a PR/marketing firm there. She was on the team that created the Got Milk? Campaign - COOL! Then in 1994, tired of working 60 hour work weeks, Winston and Cynthia began their Caribbean working adventure. Her interests include sailing, snorkeling, traveling, RVing, delivering yachts and taking people sailing.
Winston Hovey was born and raised in Fredrickson, New Brunswick, Canada. He attended Fredrickson HS then University of New Brunswick. He then immigrated to the US and entered the US Air Force and went to Southeast Asia.Thereafter he became a contract engineer for various building companies, then a self-employed contractor for twenty years. Winston has retired but does relief captain work on occasion. His interests include motorcycle riding, Traveling, RVing, yachting.
