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HIHO Style: Charts & Maps

HIHO Style: Charts & Maps

Our interest in collecting charts & maps must have started when we were young and sailing boats up and down the Caribbean.  Pouring over the chart we were using as we made our to or from Antigua or down to Puerto Rico we always fascinated over the islands we were passing.  Even though we were sailing in our backyard it was always interesting to see exactly where were or learn the name of the point, rock or islet we were passing.  (Confession- we still pour over charts, though they are now digital and you can zoom in and out electronically…)  Now we collect all the charts we can get our hands on.  Of course we favor ones from the Caribbean and we have a cool collection of UK, US and French charts with some dating back to the 1960’s.  We started framing them and hanging them in our stores.  We take sections of torn charts and frame them too.  The attached photo shows one wall in our store.

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The 2015 Painkiller Cup

 

The Caribbean's coolest SUP race took place on Saturday, January 17th.  The Painkiller Cup is a 14-mile downwind race from Trellis Bay on Tortola to the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke.  The events unique format sees 3-person stand-up paddle (or SUP) teams alternate as they paddle the downwind course.  Changeovers are scheduled every 25-mins and, uniquely, each team must include at least one female paddler.

The winning team in 2hrs 48mins and 30secs was Team Stand Up Mexico featuring Shelby Taylor, Ryan Helm and Bicho.  "These guys ran away with the event," reported organizer Andy Morrell.  "They led from the start and never looked back."  

Second place was won (again) by the St Croix Limon team headed by Boga rider Bill Kraft.  

Stealing 3rd place at the finish was Team Caribbean paddler featuring Romu Mamamlou and Ffils Franck from Guadeloupe and Kirstin Thomas from Laguna Beach, CA.  

Here is the event video to whet your appetite for the 2016 edition which will be sometime around Jan 16th:  

 

 

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What's in a name?

 HIHO is an acronym for Hook-In-Hold-On, which was the original name for the well-known windsurfingrace that took place in the Virgin Islands from 1979 to 1986.  When we took over the event the name was shortened to HIHO.  The clothing brand that was to later emerge was also dubbed HIHO.  Toiling under this storied past we favor naming our clothes after friends along with islands we know and places we surf & sail.  Our line is peppered with the Tobago surfshort, Barbara Beach coverup, CGB, Kate short, Cooten Bay Cardigan and the St Barth dress… Inspiration comes in many ways, shapes and reasons.  For us, getting a name right is as important as picking the right colors and finding the perfect material.  It’s easy naming a dress after St Barth or shorts after our friend Kate.  The mayreau scarf is named after the most delightful island in The Grenadines.  Fran, who has designed much of the line, has had a bag and a dress named after her. Next year’s favorite sweater- the Cooten Bay Cardigan- has been given the name of a North shore break that serves up a bombing left wave!

 


 


 
 

 

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Recommended Island Reading

 

Here are three books we love.  If you are lucky enough you can read them sitting on the beach with your toes in the sand, or reclining on your boat at anchor.

Although it's now 20-years old, "A Continent of Islands" is a great social, historical and political resource for the Caribbean.  Best-enjoyed if you are journeying through the islands, as in a yacht out of Antigua, or (gasp) aboard a cruise ship.  Our copy is dog eared and stained from traveling with us to Tobago and back.

Herman Wouk's "Don't Stop the Carnival" is charming, hilarious and rather to accurate.  Loosely based in the Virgin Islands it describes the trials & tribulations of buying a business and running it.  Anyone moving or considering a move to the Caribbean must read this!  

"The Islands and the Sea" aggregates a collection of writings about the Caribbean.  Conveying the beauty of the islands and the rich diversity of it's people, the collection of stories spans the history of the Caribbean from the first explorers to the living Trinidadian writer V.S. Naipal.

 

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Growing Nicely

 

Growth and expansion are the dream of any small company, and no more so than ours at HIHO.  While our genesis is in Tortola, we aspire to see our brand for sale in the Palm Beaches and the Hamptons, and in many places in between.  To that end we hit shows on a regular basis where, in the confines of a 10' x 10' booth space, we show off our clothes and spread Caribbean love.  Truth be told, we love selling and enjoy trade shows.  They are a lot of work, but very rewarding.  It's wonderful when owners or buyers fall in love with HIHO.  

You can learn a lot from the market and we always return to Tortola armed with more good ideas for our next line and motivated to work hard and design more.  It's the dead of Winter but we'll be at MODA in New York City starting February 24th for three days.  It's our second trip to New York in the last two months.  Trading our balmy Caribbean weather for the ice and bluster of the North East Winter, we proudly show our Summer line, and spread a little more Caribbean life and sparkle.

 

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What's in a name...

 

 

In the 1980’s the Johnnie Walker Hook-In-Hold-On event was windsurfing biggest & best-known event.  It was conceived in 1979 by local Virgin Island windsurfers and quickly grew into an intoxicating combination of great inter-island racing, fun parties and a yacht flotilla.  As local windsurfers we were thrilled every Summer when the event took place.  I mean it was like having the Super Bowl in town and we eagerly competed in as many editions as we could.

 

 

 

Johnnie Walker pulled the plug on their sponsorship after the 1986 event.  HIHO owner Andy Morrell nailed a 1st overall that year, collected a Pan Am plane ticket at the awards ceremony and flew back to Europe to finish university.  After that it was on to the pro windsurfing World Cup tour for a few years before knuckling down to get a job.  Thinking outside the box he bought the Hook-In-Hold-On name and re-started the race under the acronym HIHO in 1993.

 

 

 

Within a few years the event was sponsored by Bacardi Rum and Morrell was banging out the race T-shirts as fast as he could.  “We sold them in a basket in my mother’s store in town,” he explained.  “And then we decided to build a brand.”  

 

 

 

This year’s Highland Spring HIHO is the 20th edition of the “modern HIHO” event.  It’s been a roller coaster of a ride.  

 

 

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Lunch on Necker, anyone?

Necker Island is the exclusive private island belonging to billionaire and BVI resident, Sir Richard Branson.  I'm excited to announce that the 74-acre paradise is also a stop on the Highland Spring HIHO race this year.  


Each day of the race, windsurfers and stand-up paddle boarders race from island to island.  We stop for a catered lunch on some of the world's most amazing beaches.  And on Monday, July 2, competitors will finish the race on the white sand beaches of Necker.

After completing the challenging race from Eustacia Sound, racers can relax in the crisp teal waters of the Caribbean Sea or float in the massive pool belonging to Branson himself. 


Necker Island has long been one of our favorite islands in the British Virgin Islands, actually in the entire Caribbean.  We were lucky enough to have a photo shoot there a few years back...



Maybe we'll take some items from HIHO's Resort 2013 line with us to Necker in July and snap a few shots.  You could always come with us!  If you're looking for some adventure this summer, the Highland Spring HIHO is for you...  Learn more at www.go-hiho.com/hshiho

Cheers,


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UPDATE: Soggy Dollar Bar Dash for Cash

We've finalized the course for the Soggy Dollar Bar Dash for Cash SUP Relay Race.  Paddler's will race from Tortola's Trellis Bay to the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost van Dyke.  Hard to believe it is now just a little more than two months away.  

Have you gotten your team together? Each team must be comprised of three members, and one of those members must be female.  We're keeping things interesting!

We think the stand-up paddlers are going to find it both fun and challenging. Take a look:

Start: Dash for Cash
At the Eastern point of Trellis Bay, the first paddler from each team starts in the shallow waters at the top of the bay.  The support boats hover offshore ready to pace the racers as they head downwind through the Caminoe channel towards Guana Island.  Strong winds will push the paddlers.  The current may be flooding in which case it’ll add an extra couple knots of speed.  If the current is moving upwind then expect big rollers in the middle of the channel.  Estimated start time is 9:00am on Friday, July 6.

1st Changeover: Guana Island Cut
Teams must make their first changeover by the narrow cut separating Tortola and Guana Island.  The sea conditions flatten out and racers can choose to stay inshore out of the wind and in almost mirror flat sea conditions.  Support boats will be in the area to assist paddlers as they enter and exit the race.

Course Conditions: Tortola’s North Shore
Sea conditions will get challenging as the swell bounces off the several headlands that define the North shore of Tortola.  This might be the most difficult portion of the race.

2nd Changeover: Brewers Bay
Teams must make their second changeover by the time the second paddler reaches the Eastern point of Brewers Bay. The course opens up after Brewers Bay, as paddlers head into open water.  If the wind is from the South teams should paddle a more South Westerly route; if the wind is from the East then a simple direct line course to Jost Van Dyke will suffice.

Finish: Dash for Cash
The first paddler to hit the beach, run up and touch the designated finish flag wins $4,000 cash for his team!  The finish may be challenging as the paddlers thread their way through the myriad of anchored boats in front of the world-famous Soggy Dollar Bar.  Second place finishers win $1,000 cash and the third place team wins $600. 

If you would like to compete in the Soggy Dollar Bar Dash for Cash, email me at andym@go-hiho.com  We're still accepting participants in the Highland Spring HIHO as well.  And remember, registration is free for competitors in the HIHO race; $600 per team for everyone else.  Hope to see you on the course in July!



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HIHO, The Race

HIHO isn't just a Caribbean clothing brand, it's also a world-renowned water sports adventure held here in the beautiful British Virgin Islands each summer.  As a young windsurfer, I competed in the HIHO race for many many years, winning it in 1986.  


The Highland Spring HIHO combines windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding, and yacht racing into an action-packed week-long adventure.  Living aboard captained catamarans provided by The Moorings, the world's largest charter boat company, participants compete in windsurfing or SUP classes alongside pro & amateur races from around the globe.  


Highland Spring HIHO is as much fun for non-competing participants who can enjoy great sailing, the pristine beaches of the BVI and the nightly sponsored parties.  Check out this video from last year's race...


Highland Spring HIHO 2011 from Ryan Reede on Vimeo.

We make sure the participants are looking good with swag bags full of HIHO gear.  The race jersey is available for purchase here on our site.  If this looks like something you'd enjoy, which I can almost guarantee, registration is still open for the 2012 race.  We'll set sail from Tortola on July 1st.  Join us, won't you?  

Cheers,


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Getting the itch to race!

 

The Highland Spring HIHO is less than five months away. Come join us!



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Dark Sunset

 

 

Sunset in the British Virgin Islands 


Cheers!




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Quality & perfection

Like any good company we try and make a point to build long relationships with our suppliers.  To that end we travel to Peru at least a couple times a year to meet with our suppliers.  We’ve been working with Neyer Solis for some time.  Sensing opportunity Neyer left the large knitwear company where he worked and set up a small sewing line dedicated to our production.  His line has grown to 10 men & women working sewing our T-shirts.  

   

The screen printing and embroidery is subcontracted out to another company.  We’ve visited the printer before and our recent trip we were happy to see a new facility and plenty of jobs on-hand.  Small lines like Neyer’s and the printing facility he uses also get work from the larger factories that work production for brands like American Eagle.  The quality that Peru production offers is a great advantage for HIHO.  We also like working with small producers and it is a source of pride seeing them excel at what they do.



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