Dale, don't give up just yet
I suggest you dig a little deeper. The Royal Jamaica Yacht Club is based on the south side of Kingston Harbour (the seventh largest natural harbor in the world) and they used to have a pretty active sailing program. In addition, the Pineapple Cup (Miami to Montego Bay) race runs every year and attracts sailors like Roy Disney. Also, the Jamaican government recently built a brand new marina in Port Antonio, which was one of the places where Sail America stopped last year (Ft Lauderdale and New York Harbor were two others). Yes, there are some tough areas in Kingston. Many port cities with a population over 1.2 million people are like that. However, it's not all bad. Since work is what's taking you there, I'd suggest discussing with your future employer the possibility of visiting for a few days to see for yourself what it's really like before making a final decision. Don't just talk to the other expats at the hotel bar during happy hour. Get someone to recommend a trustworthy driver to take you around to places you would be likely to go if your were living and working there. What works for you may not work for someone else. Just remember that Kingston is a big city, NOT a tourist area, so don't leave your street smarts at home. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
