Jim Rohrssen (aka James Rohrssen ) is now "on the lam" - A fugitive running from the law... BEWARE

Jim has cheated many people out of their hard earned monies over the past 1-1/2 years.  The methods he used included offers to take them on a "Sailing Adventure" and then Jim either:

1) Significantly altered his itinerary so as to make future sailing either unappealing or incompatible with schedules, or

2) By his untenable actions, causing the time on the boat for the crew to be unbearable/frightening (so that they would want to GET OFF the boat before the end of their contracted time ends), or

3) By fabricating false accusations in order to get the police in Canada (RCMP) to remove them from the vessel (thereby cutting their cruise short)… just so Jim could return to his court appearance on San Juan Island… without having to explain a rapid departure from Nanaimo.

4) And let’s not forget the grounding in Canada last year that caused his crew member to have to find her own way home to Anchorage from a remote location.

All these methods forced forfeiture of monies by his paying crew... and freed Jim up to do as he pleased with the monies (that he kept)... without having to refund a single copper penny. 

Jim has carefully worded his website and contracts so that it is NOT easy to seek legal remedy (he is NOT honest and equitable).  Carefully examine the wording… he’s set it up so nobody ever gets any money back... no matter what happens... whether it’s his fault or not... slippery Jim is at it again!  (He’s constructed a clause in my contract that denies ALL refunds... and only makes it possible to sail with him at a future date... but who would want to?)

You may want to confirm on your own that he does not possess a captain's license.  The risk that he puts his paying passengers under is untenable... and by the way he is running his slipshod operation, he’s running “under the radar” so as to not be regulated by the Coast Guard or any other governing body! 

And for anyone who attempts to vette this character, there was ONLY ONE (1) feedback on his http://www.helpx.net/ profile that could be referenced, but it is no longer displayed.  It was a very misleading reference because it was a flowery description written by a young woman who went to work on Jim’s boat while in dry dock on Lopez Island in June 2009.  She was recovering from a recent hysterectomy and could do nothing more than help clean up Jim’s mess inside the boat and cook a simple meal or two… and she never set foot on the boat while it was in the water… and she wrote the “glowing” reference over a YEAR after she only spent a few days with Jim (and you'll only see the comment if you pay to become a premium member... because he has changed permissions on the comments). 

Do your own research… I have found that there is NOTHING good to be said about him and his forays with his boat and you won’t be able to find anything on any of his websites.  If you value your life, your sanity or your finances… well… you’ve been forewarned.  Also be aware that he uses two different email addresses in his deception: freebird2020@gmail.com and papajim2000@yahoo.com

He has cheated at least six (6) people; Nick, James, Chris, Stephen, Joe and Patrick... and maybe more... out of their monies.

I took the time and effort to pursue the FRAUD that Jim perpetrated against me... and I took him to court.

I won my case against him in the San Juan County District Court (see the first posting).  I got a judgment for the return of the monies/contribution that I made toward my sailing adventure... plus collection costs and 12%/annum interest.

Jim acted just like a weasel and did everything within his power to come up with every excuse in the book to avoid repaying what he owed me... all the while taking others out on his sail boat and sometimes collecting up to $250/week per person (with three passengers aboard – that’s up to $750/week!)... and then cheating some of them as well (see above).

We got Jim served with a summons to appear in court on July 20th, 2010 for supplemental proceedings (to discover where his assets were).  And after being sworn in, Jim lied through his teeth about even the location of his boat… but what he didn't know at the time... was that his sworn testimony was to be transcribed word-for-word (catching him in his bold-faced, blatant lies).

He was then served another summons (before even leaving the courtroom) to appear in court in a follow-up appearance on September 21st, 2010.

But Jim had already concocted a scheme to flee the law in Washington.

By the time the next court appearance arrived, Jim had become a fugitive and was on the lam, in or near San Francisco.  He sent a hand-written letter (from San Francisco) to the court (which arrived on the day of the hearing)... but there was no merit in his contrivance... so the judge found him in contempt of court for; not showing up to his court date, taking assets (his sailboat included) out of the jurisdiction of San Juan County and the State of Washington, and buying and selling a vehicle without the proceeds going to satisfy the judgment.  The Judge, being fed up with Jim's indignance to the court, then agreed to issue a Warrant for the Arrest of James J. Rohrssen.

It’s becoming quite obvious that Jim is either ignorant of Washington’s Revised codes (RCW) and the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or flagrantly choosing to disobey.  This mistake will follow him forever.

Now a fugitive... and on the lam, he has nowhere to go but beyond the borders of the USA.

Since Jim is willing to lie under oath to a District Court Judge... you'll never know if he’s telling YOU the truth about anything... whether in written format or in conversation.  I cannot determine whether integrity exists within Jim at all.

So if you want to throw away your money and gain access to the opportunity to have a horrifying adventure... that you might not return from safely... then go to his website, locate his email address... and send him your money via PayPal.

Also, it appears that Jim is also a "Deadbeat Dad" who owes $475/month in child support and doesn't pay any of that either (as per his testimony).

Also, he owes Sunset Builders Supply (on Lopez Island) nearly $1000... and hasn’t paid them a single penny for over a year now... I guess he’s not intending on paying that bill either!

SO… if you want to make $1000 for yourself… find a way to get JIM back to the state of Washington and in custody… and once he makes bail (all $6000.00 of it)… we will enrich your wallet  by a tidy sum if you’re responsible for facilitating his apprehension.

Since you’re here, we hope you’ll leave a comment about your experience with Jim.

The most fascinating outcome of this exercise is that Jim will never know who is willing to compromise his position for $1000.  He will always be running, always looking over his shoulder… and always wondering if his communications have been compromised.

This is the life that Jim chose many years ago… and since he has not learned the critical lessons… he will probably continue to run eternally… and when his bad karma & dastardly deeds catch up with him… he will be the one holding an empty deck of cards when the grim reaper comes knocking.

HEY JIM… WE’RE WATCHING YOU!  YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE.

Foreigners don’t appreciate social misfits from America in their country... and when they learn the truth… you’ll never know until it’s too late.

FYI… when you get thrown in jail in a foreign land, it’s not like here in the USA… they’ll virtually throw away the key and you’ll have been infected with AIDS before the moon changes phase.

Keep running scared and keep looking back… but when you get lazy again… and then when you least expect it… they'll catch up with you and nab your sorry arse and toss you in clink to rot.  Count on it!

Sailing Adventure BEWARE - James (Jim) John Rohrssen consciously operating on the fringe...

Caveat Emptor! - You MUST understand the ramifications of this warning?

If you truly value your life, your health, your sanity, or your $$$ - you may want to think about considering ANOTHER Skipper to sail with.

The reason that you cannot find any information on this skipper is because he does NOT have an appealing documented track-record for maritime activity.  Do you feel it is prudent to sail in open-ocean (or even on inland waterways) with a skipper who does NOT have a credible documented track-record?  (unwilling to produce a ship's log at court proceedings)

However, there IS verifiable witnessed evidence of him running aground in at least FOUR (4) instances between December 2008 and August 2009.

James (Jim) John Rohrssen is acting Owner / Skipper of the 34' sailing vessel known as SV La Picaresca (AKA: SV Rhiannon).


James (Jim) John Rohrssen has NOT produced a US Coast Guard license or certification.
SV La Picaresca (Rhiannon) is NOT a USCG Documented Vessel.
SV La Picaresca is NOT displaying a USCG Auxillary Inspection sticker (and may not have undergone a safety inspection).

SV La Picaresca in an Uninspected Passenger Vessel (UPV)... HOWEVER, because of the way James (Jim) John Rohrssen has chosen to "strategically" word the enticements upon his site (yes, he has done his homework to avoid being regulated), you may not have the benefit of being on-board with someone who has gained the proper licensing and certification to give YOU the peace-of-mind that there is a competent skipper at the helm.  And because he is not subject to USCG inspections, your life and safety may be at-risk from the moment you step onboard his vessel.

The following links are what you COULD benefit from if James (Jim) John Rohrssen were to be operating under these regulations.  Since he isn't, you might safely assume that he does NOT adhere to these safety standards unless he specifically proves to you otherwise.
http://www.cglicense.com/OUPVVesselEquipmentChecklist.pdf
http://www.northstarflotilla.com/Files/ve/USCG-Vessel-Requirements-6Pack.pdf

The following links (also available elsewhere on this site) are to show you the level of competence you are dealing with if you choose to risk your life and your $$$ with this skipper:
http://www.qciobserver.com/Article.aspx?Id=4060&Archive=1
http://beachynews.blogspot.com/2009/09/craig-beachy-rescues-world-traveler-jim.html

(NOTE: this grounding occurred less than 8 weeks after he refloated the vessel - after having been in dry-dock for 6 months, following severe damage to the hull when tossed upon the rocks in Fishermans Bay, Lopez Island, WA - dislodged from anchor in a protected harbor)

"A fool and his money are quickly parted" - don't be a fool like I was... and not do thorough due diligence on his reputation.  Read his documents CAREFULLY and observe that all has been written to support his will... and virtually leaves you at his mercy and whim.

If you've already given ANY money to Jim... its may already be too late... and now you'll have to hope for the best... as James DOES NOT GIVE REFUNDS.
Why?  Because he is INSOLVENT (self admitted on 12/22/09 and again on 07/20/10)!  Your money (whether it be an advance deposit or a final payment... will go directly toward his PERSONAL expenses (not necessarily your day-to-day expenses)... and there are NO reserves to guarantee that your leg of the journey (whether now or off into the future) that you have "reserved"... will ever happen.

My judgment against him (San Juan County court #: SC09-40) means that his cash flow above and beyond his personal verifiable expenses is due to flow to me.  At the time of this posting, that outstanding balance is in excess of $5000.00 USD (he has not made a payment since the judgment on 12/22/2009).
In addition, James (Jim) John Rohrssen has an outstanding debt of nearly $1000 with Sunset Builders Supply on Lopez Island (and has not made any payments for 12 months as of this writing).
In addition, the folks at both Islands Marine Center and Sea Marine (the two dry-dock services he has used within the last year) prefer not to do business with him again because of the "difficulties" they had with him.
Even after depositing over $1600 with him (for 3 months of voyaging) at the end of May last year... he still did not have enough money to settle his bill with Islands Marine Center just so he could get his boat out of dry-dock (he could not make it happen sooner because he did not have enough money to do so).  At the last minute he still had to scramble for more money... probably a payment from another just-arrived victim (CM).

If you've read this far and haven't yet turned away from the spiel of James (Jim) John Rohrssen, then you may want to consider the following FACTS from the Washington Department of Licensing:

Registration #: WN-8487NX
Hull Identification #: WNZ1249FA282
Model year: 1982
Boat Length: 34'
Purchase cost: $2700
Purchase year: 2008
Total Registration fees paid: $33.25
(inquiring minds want to know... did he defraud the State of Washington by claiming a low purchase cost... or is the boat really worth only $2700?)

So, are you willing to risk your hide on a $2700 sailboat on the open ocean in off-shore waters or a South Pacific crossing... when the Skipper has demonstrated his ability to ground his boat at least 4 times (and severely damage it) in a recent 8-month period?

James Jim (John) Rohrssen operates La Picaresca Sailing Adventure as the basis for attempting to fulfill the extravagant promises and dreams he projects at http://sailingadventure.webs.com/

Full legal name of defendant: James John Rohrssen - Born: July 1957 (53 years old)
Different email addresses in his deception: freebird2020@gmail.com and papajim2000@yahoo.com
As of July 20, 2010 - as stated under oath - he only had $67.00 in cash and $28.00 in his PayPal account - totalling $95.00 to his name.
Honestly, we believe he perjured himself.
In way of references, the folks below had less-than-stellar things to say about their experience with James (Jim) John Rohrssen.

Sunset Builder Supply - 4194 Center Road, Lopez Island, WA 98261-8012 – 360-468-2241 http://www.sunsetbuilderssupply.com/

Islands Marine Center - 2793 Fisherman Bay Road, Lopez Island, WA 98261 - 360-468-3377 - http://www.islandsmarinecenter.com/

Sea Marine - 419 Jackson St., Port Townsend, WA 98368 - 360-385-4000 - (defendant was served summons when at this location) - http://www.seamarineco.com/The_Yard.php

Lopez Islander Resort - Fisherman Bay Road, P.O. Box 459, Lopez Island, WA 98261 - 360-468-2233 - (defendant was served summons when at this location) - http://www.lopezfun.com/

Hopefully this information will help other innocent people from becoming victims of James Jim Rohrssen and his Ponzi Scheme.

Incidentally, any monies or bikes donated to http://bikesforhaiti.webs.com/ may not get to their proposed destination - it seems that there is not a partnering organization nor a 501-C(3) organization – as referred to on the website… and at least a substantial portion of the information as given to a reporter for BicyclePaper.com at: http://www.bicyclepaper.com/articles/2010/6/bikes_for_haiti_to_empower_a_population (as per sworn testimony of James Jim Rohrssen on 7/20/10) is false.

My thoughts... steer clear... and look elsewhere... it will be a lot less stressful.

San Juan County District Court Judge enters judgment against Defendant: James Jim Rohrssen

On Tuesday December 22, 2009 at 4:30 PM the San Juan County District Court Judge entered a Small Claims Judgment against Defendant: James Rohrssen of Lopez Island who is trying to run a "sailing coop" or "working-crew" sailing adventure with his sailboat "La Picaresca" (AKA: Rhiannon).   The decision centered around a large cash deposit and significant "work/trade" deposit that were unjustly withheld from Plaintiff, following multiple unanswered demands by Plaintiff for a full refund.

It was obvious from the Defendants testimony that there was no intent of ever returning the deposit(s), even though the Plaintiff had never set foot on the boat while it was in the water.  Likewise, the deposit was for a voyage scheduled to depart Ecuador in February 2010, whereas the Defendant clearly states on his websites that he doesn't intend to leave his port on Lopez Island until mid-summer 2010.  Yep, a physical impossibility.

Evidence presented also showed that the Defendant was using deposits earmarked for future-period voyaging expenses to pay for current repair/retrofit/moorage expenses.  Plaintiff also showed that an inquiry with Defendants' bank confirmed that there were not sufficient funds available to facilitate even a 50% refund.  Defendant stated that he did indeed inappropriately consume the deposits for purposes other than their intended use and that he did not have the resources available to facilitate a refund.

Also presented in the trial was evidence that the Defendant doesn't demonstrate the ability to keep his boat off the rocks.  First blown from it's inadequate anchorage in Fisherman's Bay in December 2008, "La Picaresca" was hauled from the water and dry-docked in Fisherman's Bay until June 28, 2009.  Upon the completion of repairs, the vessel was again grounded while under Defendants' supervision within the first two weeks afloat while making passage to Prince Rupert, BC.  The grounding happened while trying to find anchorage at night, with charts in disarray and in the absence of both GPS & RADAR. (The Defendant publicly stated on his websites prior to embarking on the voyage "Don't worry, I have RADAR")

Not covered in the trial on the 22nd of December were two other specific cases where one gentleman paid $850 deposit AND also performed 85+ hours of labor upon Jim's sailboat at the prescribed "work/trade" compensation rate of $10/hour (an additional $850 deposit).  The $1650 fee was for "sailing expenses" for 2 months of sailing.  Both men boarded the boat on July 1st and both men disembarked at Prince Rupert on July 14th shortly after Jim had again grounded the craft.  They stated that they were both tired of his attitude and lack of integrity, as well as being quite concerned for their personal safety.

The second gentleman made an initial deposit of $1479.17 and an additional $650 deposit in cash to bring his deposit total to $2129.17 AND also performed 90+ hours of labor upon Jim's sailboat at the prescribed "work/trade" compensation rate of $10/hour (an additional $900 deposit).  This brought the deposit total for the second gentleman to $3029.17.  This fee was for "sailing expenses" would have purchased nearly 4 months of sailing at Jim's published rate.  As stated above, both men were only on the sailboat from July 1 to July 14.

Now you can do the math for yourself: the first gentleman only received 25% equity for his deposit... and the second gentleman only received 12.4% equity for his deposit.  Both gentlemen have requested refunds of their unused deposits... yet the Defendant has refused to consider a refund in either case.  Could this be because the monies were already spent toward paying moorage fees to get the boat out of dry-dock?

If you closely examine the wording in the documents that Jim has published on his website, you'll see that there is NO provision for a refund of any sort.  And I'd like to talk to anyone who can understand why someone would want to take any additional credit into the future on a "space available" basis (on a 35' boat where you can't physically "get away")... if 1) you don't trust the Captain, 2) if you don't get along with the captain, or 3) if you fear for your life because of his history of "reckless endangerment" of his crew and vessel.

Please be forewarned - this is a no-win situation for the person who comes aboard and is not fortunate enough to get along with Jim, or be compromised by schedule, because, to-date, he has demonstrated that he cannot even conform to his own published schedule.

Our suggestion to you... before you get too excited about sailing on THIS boat... have your lawyer look at his documents.  Please do your due diligence.  Don't set yourself up the way we did.  We hope you can benefit yourself by learning from our mistakes. 


Also be aware that he uses two different email addresses in his deception: freebird2020@gmail.com and papajim2000@yahoo.com

Best wishes in your journeys.