Joe San Martin - Celebration of Life Memorial

Joe San Martin

(28 September 1941 – 11 July 2026)

A Celebration of Life Memorial

26 Sept 2026 - 3 to 5pm

at The St. Croix Yacht Club

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One of the unfortunate realities of the passage of time and as a long-standing nautical tradition, when a mariner passes, it is said that the ships clock has struck “Eight Bells” – their watch has finished.

The St Croix Yacht Club regrets to share with deepest sorrow, the passing of Joe San Martin.

Joe loved sailing his trimarans, first Three Little Pigs, then Piglet after Three Little Pigs was totaled by wrong way Lenny in 1999. He called his boats his magic carpets.

Born on an island about the same size as St Croix – Manhattan – Joe first visited St Thomas as a cadet at the Maine Maritime Academy in 1959; he thought he was in heaven. Julie picked up Joe at a motocross race in Friendswood Texas; 54 years later they were still together.

After careers in the Merchant Marine (second generation engineer), a naval architecture degree from University of Michigan, teaching at Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and running a plumbing and general construction business in Arizona, in 1984 Joe and Julie took over Julie’s mother’s real estate business on St Croix.

Joe loved living on St Croix, the people, the weather, the sailing. He loved sailboat racing, whether it was racing Llewellyn to Buck Island or BVI Spring Regatta. Joe served twice as St Croix Yacht Club Commodore and was a contender for the unofficial position of Club Curmudgeon.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Julie and son, George. Joe will be missed by all.