Chalk’s Ocean Airlines for years touted to be the worlds oldest continually operating airline. It was founded in 1919. I flew to Bimini in the spring of 1958 meeting up with my uncle’s boat. It was a never to be forgotten spring break. Little did I realize that this vacation and summer sailing camp would foster a life of sailing plus four years in the US Navy. Chalk was still flying into N Bimini and Nassau in 1992 during our Columbus cruise which included a number of months cruising the Bahamas. When at anchor it often felt these seaplane pilots were sometimes less than a boat length away on landings. The Grumman G 7 Mallard was also being flown by the USCG out of Miami. Chalk ceased operations in 2007. Just remembering what got me started, a summer learning to sail on an A and Beattle Cat 1957 followed by Spring Break applying what I had learned. From stories shared with locals, if you lived in S Florida during Prohibition Chalk was among the steady suppliers of booze from Bimini.
