Distinct from many Caribbean destinations, the private island of Petit St. Vincent is not part of a hotel chain. Several generations of visitors have seen their children and grandchildren discover the charm of a simpler life where nature and comfort are in harmony.
Our story begins in 1963, when the late Hazen K. Richardson II., (Haze to his many friends), fresh out of the Air Force, purchased a 77-foot schooner, JACINTA, with his flying buddy, Doug Terman, and went into the charter business. An early customer, Mr. H.W. Nichols of Ohio, expressed interest in purchasing an island.
With such a transaction in mind, Haze and Doug concentrated their search on the Grenadine island chain. Anchoring at Petit St. Vincent, which was then uninhabited, they learned that the island was owned by a woman who lived on the neighboring island of Petit Martinique. Though it was rumored that she would never sell, Haze and Doug persisted, and were eventually invited into her home to talk. A deal was struck, and arrangements were made for Haze, Doug and Mr. Nichols to purchase the island and build a small hotel.
In May 1966 Haze and Doug returned to Petit St. Vincent to clear the necessary land. They lived on JACINTA for seven months, plucking their meals fresh from the sea. The 22 cottages and main pavilion were designed by Swedish architect Arne Hasselqvist, who also created many of the first homes on Mustique. Though the initial plan had been to find a manager for the hotel, before completion in December 1968 Mr. Nichols asked Haze to stay on as a "temporary" manager. He did, and as time wore on, he eventually became the full owner of Petit St. Vincent.
In January 2007, Robin Paterson was sailing through the Grenadines on his yacht ZANZIBAR when he first spotted Petit St. Vincent, and fell in love with the island. By coincidence, two years later Robin's friend Philip Stephenson sailed past the island on his yacht GALILEO and also became infatuated with its charm and beauty.
Robin and Phil resolved to purchase this spectacular island and to invest in it in order to realize its full potential. Already described in many "Top 10” lists as the perfect hideaway, the two friends have turned the island into an ideal escape for successful people who are secure enough to leave things behind for a while and enjoy the independent nature of life on their own island.
Enduring tradition and camaraderie
