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When legendary performer Jimmy Buffett passed away last year, he left a legacy of music, adventure, and an enduring passion for the saltwater lifestyle. But there’s more to his story than meets the eye.

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Jimmy Buffett: The Saltwater Troubadour

Those of us for whom the saltwater lifestyle is more than a mere trend received a huge shock last year when we learned of the death of Jimmy Buffett. Since the mid-1970s, Buffett personified the very lifestyle we aspired to—living life to the fullest and partying in a tropical environment, a life based around the ocean.

Critics dubbed his theme “island escapism,” which sounds like corporate-speak for fun in the sun, but his message resounded with many of us who chose to live that way as much as possible.

Buffett became much more than a saltwater troubadour over the years. He transformed into a savvy businessman, building a billion-dollar empire around his Margaritaville brand. Yet he remained true to the saltwater lifestyle he espoused from the beginning.

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A Fleet Fit for a Legend

Yachts and Fishing Boats

Buffett owned an impressive fleet of boats over the years. His yachts included a Nordhavn, a Cheoy Lee, and a Delta—all named Continental Drifter. His fishing fleet began with a 33-foot L&H, followed by a custom-built 42-foot express boat by Rybovich, which he later dubbed Margaritavich.

His most recent boat was a hybrid catamaran based on a 42-foot Freeman hull, customized by Merritt Boatworks in Pompano Beach, Florida, with a custom house and tower. True to tradition, this boat was named Last Mango.

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Captain Vinnie Lasorsa’s Journey

One of my mentors, Spider Andresen, worked for Buffett managing his fleet of boats when I received a call about a young captain applying for a job. That captain was Vincent “Vinnie” Lasorsa, who got the big thumbs-up from me.

Lasorsa started working for Buffett in 2005 and has been running the fleet ever since.

“Working for Jimmy Buffett changed my life in so many ways,” Lasorsa said.
“From a captain’s standpoint, it was arguably one of the best jobs anyone could wish for. My family and I traveled to far-away, adventurous places we’d never have experienced on our own. He was the ultimate adventurer, visionary, and dreamer. To travel with him and be in his shadow gave me so many opportunities in life. I have never and will never take it for granted.”

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Buffett’s Hidden Passion: Fishing

Jimmy Buffett was known as a talented singer, songwriter, and showman. He was also a pilot, sailor, surfer, and astute businessman. But few knew of his passion for fishing.

“He was a serious and proficient fisherman,” Lasorsa shared.

Beyond the public eye, Buffett made impressive catches over the years, his adventures serving as private moments of joy. From marlin to mahi, fishing was a cherished pastime, embodying the adventurous spirit that defined his life.

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Buffett’s Life Lessons

Jimmy Buffett was more than an entertainer; he was a philosopher of life. He shared many memorable sayings, including:

• “A wish is just a prayer without hope.”
• “Don’t ever curse the rain; it replenishes and cleans all.”
• “The adventure is what I’m after; the fish are a bonus.”
• “The ocean can cure all your pain.”
• “Always listen to someone who’s done it before or more than you.”
• “Boating is freedom.”
• “You don’t know unless you go.”

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Buffett’s Final Voyage

Jimmy Buffett passed away on September 1, 2023, after battling Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive form of skin cancer. Yet his legacy lives on in the values he championed: enjoying life to its fullest and following your passions.

“He taught me so much about how to be a good captain and a good person,” Lasorsa said.
“He stressed the importance of giving back when you’re fortunate and successful. I will continue to give back in his name for the rest of my life. That’s the best way to honor him and carry on his legacy.”

At Buffett’s memorial service, Lasorsa read the following passage, which had been given to him by Buffett’s friend, Fred Stelle:

*”What is dying? I am standing on the near shore, a ship drops its lines, sails in the morning breeze, and starts for the ocean. She is an object of beauty, and I stand watching her with my family and friends, ‘til at last she fades over the horizon and someone at my side says: ‘There, she is gone.’

Gone! Where? Gone from my sight—that is all. She is just as large in the masts, hull, and spars as she was when I last saw her, and just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination. The diminished size and total loss of its sight is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says, ‘She is gone,’ there are others on the far shore who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout: ‘There she comes!’ —and that is dying.”*

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A Legacy That Lives On

Jimmy Buffett’s life was a masterclass in living adventurously, embracing the saltwater lifestyle, and staying true to oneself. His journey continues to inspire all of us who love the ocean, fishing, and the simple joy of life.

“The adventure is what I’m after; the fish are a bonus,” Buffett once said. For those who live by his words, his spirit will forever guide us.

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Story by John Brownlee, Photo captions by Captain Vinnie Lasorsa and images courtesy of Last Mango

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