Fish, cruise, learn-it’s the

Caribbean way

47th Annual July Open Billfish Tournament

The full moon is legendary for producing a phenomenal marlin bite in Virgin Islands’ waters during July, August and September. That’s why the July Open Billfish Tournament–the oldest annual angling contest in the Virgin Islands– is set for July 23 to 25. “We encourage all anglers to register online as soon as possible,” says tournament director and board member of the host Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club (VIGFC), Jeffrey Kreiner. “We’re limiting sign up to 25 boats.”
Last year, Rod Windley’s 55-foot Hatteras, Gulf Rascal, won Top Boat and the $10,000 cash prize with the release of five blue marlin. Rudy Polselli, Jr., aboard his 55-foot Viking, Rude Awakening, scored Top Angler and earned his name inscribed on the prestigious Capt. Johnny Harms “Give ‘em Line” Trophy, with the release of five blue marlin.
Anglers in this tournament set their sights on catching and releasing the most blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish. “This is an all-release tournament,” says Kreiner. “No fish will be boated or brought to the dock for weigh-in.” Final registration and the Kick Off Party take place at the VIGFC Clubhouse, in Red Hook, on July 22, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This will be the same venue for the sit-down Awards Banquet on July 25. Nightly dock parties at the American Yacht Harbor marina add to the fishing festivities. For details, visit vigfc.com

New Cruising guide to the Dominican Republic

Avid cruiser, long-time marina operator and native New Yorker, Frank Virgintino, fell in love with the Dominican Republic 25 years ago. Virgintino wrote his first edition of the Dominican Republic Cruising Guide (free download at: dominicanrepubliccruisingguide.com), a few years ago.  “I wanted to let people know there is a northern and western Caribbean and to realize it’s a beautiful cruising ground,” he says.
He provisioned his 67-foot William Garden ketch, and with six crew cast off on a six-week circumnavigation of Hispaniola. The route took them from Boca Chica north to Cap Cana, down the northern shore past Luperon to Monte Cristi to the west, then south to Haiti with a stop at Île à Vache before returning back to the new Marina Zar Par in Boca Chica. The fourth edition of the guide is now available.
“I thought I knew it, but in writing this guide and its updates I learned just how extraordinary a cruising ground the Dominican Republic is,” says Virgintino. The first 50 pages of the Guide are designed to put cruisers misperceptions about the country to rest, Virgintino says. “I deal with the issues of bribes, tips, the military influence and tell cruisers how to navigate culturally; that is, how to smile, be gracious, how to say ‘no’ and what are the important ‘code’ words.”
Virgintino isn’t resting on his writing laurels. He cast off in May for a month-long circumnavigation of Jamaica and will soon publish a cruising guide to this country.

The Captain School, St. Thomas, has new owner

John Holmberg, who most recently was the business manager of Ondeck Ocean Racing’s St. Thomas office and who has over 35 years of international sailing, diving, and chartering under his belt, bought The Captain School in January from original owner Capt. Patrick Casey.
Holmberg’s added new classes and services. In addition to the basic four STCW-95 courses, three additional STCW courses now taught include Crowd Control, Crisis Management & Human Behavior, and Security Officer Training. The latter is a course unique to The Captain School in that it includes Vessel, Company and Facility Security Officer training in a comprehensive three-day format. In addition to instruction, Holmberg offers services such as drug testing, FCC marine operator permits testing, USCG approved CPR and first aid, a referral network of area physicians to expedite physical exams, and notary services. Call 340-775-2278

Bitter End ‘Goes Green’

Irish eyes were shining on the North Sound & Eustatia Sound marine environments in the British Virgin Islands on St. Patrick’s Day. The second annual ‘GO GREEN’ St. Patrick’s Day Beach Clean-up at the Bitter End Yacht Club again brought in debris.
This marks the second consecutive year that teams of hotel guests aboard the BEYC’s fleet of Boston Whalers were joined in the effort by captains and crews from visiting private and charter yachts in North Sound. They combed the shorelines of Prickly Pear and Eustatia Islands, and the beaches of Virgin Gorda. “North & Eustatia Sounds are beautiful, and we want to do everything in our power to help keep them that way,” says Bitter End’s Sandra Grisham.

Racing and fishing action heat up

Scotiabank International Optimist

Regatta sets sail June 17 to 20

A record-breaking 100-plus 8- to 15-year-old junior sailors are expected to compete in the Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta June 17 to 20, to be sailed out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Sailors will hail from throughout the Caribbean–including all U.S. Virgin Islands, B.V.I, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Maarten and the Dominican Republic–as well as from the U.S., Spain, and Germany.
“The regatta is a fantastic family friendly event that offers awesome training for the upcoming North Americans in Canada and the Nationals in Virginia,” says regatta director, Cindy Hackstaff. Pre-regatta activities include the three-day Sea Star Clinic from June 14 to 16.
“In racing, the best way to learn is not just to race, but to do drills that focus on specific aspects of racing such as boat handling, boat speed, mark roundings, starts and so forth,” say Agustin “Argy” Resano, who will lead the clinic along with Optisailors.com coaches Bocha Pollitzer and Manny Resano. Cost of the clinic is $250 for all registrants; $225 for Green Fleet participants.
The Sea Star Team Racing event will take place June 17. More than a dozen teams are expected to compete. The Sea Star Perpetual Trophy will be inscribed with the names of the sailors on the winning team.
For more information, call 340-775-6320 or e-mail: scotiabankregatta@gmail.com. For the Notice of Regatta, Registration Forms, information on hotel discounts and other event information, visit the St. Thomas Yacht Club web site atstyc.net.

New location for Caribbean’s

international Billfish Shootout

This popular ‘Shootout’ will move from Venezuela, where it was known as the La Guaira Shootout, to a new home in the Dominican Republic. “We expect two to three dozen boats and around ninety anglers,” says Rick Alvarez, director of the International Cap Cana Billfish Shootout to be held May 31 to June 6 out of Cap Cana Marina.
“This is a blue and white marlin only tournament,” says Rick. The nearby fishing grounds off Cap Cana feature a series of mounds and underwater formations ripe for billfishing. The three-day, all-release team tournament will be fished under IGFA rules. All points accumulated by each team or boat during the competition will determine the overall winners.
The 120-slip Cap Cana Marina offers in-slip water and electricity as well as free wi-fi to guests.
Charter boats are available, both local and those based in the U.S. Accommodations for anglers are at the five-star Marina Lofts and the Golden Bear Resort & Sanctuary. Cap Cana also has five restaurants and bars, banking facilities, a signature Jack Nicklaus golf course, swimming pool, boutiques, and a private beach club.
Entry fees are: $1,800 for a team of 2 anglers, $2,650 for a team of 3 anglers, and $3,200 for teams of 4 anglers. The non-angler fee for guests and companions is $200 and entitles the non-angler to attend all social functions.
The ‘Shootout’ will kick off the 2010 Spanish Main Caribbean Series, a trio of tournaments which also includes the U.S. Virgin Islands Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament in August and the British Virgin Islands Open in September. For information on the Shootout, visit intlbillfishtourns.com. For information about the Spanish Main Caribbean Series, visit abmt.vi.

Formula 40 breaks

Round Tortola record

Soma, a swift sailing Formula 40 catamaran based in St. John, smashed the Round Tortola record in the Nanny Cay Challenge on April 15 by circumnavigating the largest British Virgin Island and its outer islands in 2 hours, 50 minutes and 15 seconds. This beats the old record set by Triple Jack, a BVI-based Kelsal 47, by nearly 45 minutes.
Soma’s owners, Nils Erickson and Meredith Pridgen, sailed with six friends. “I’ve been wanting to do this record attempt since it was announced,” said Nils. “I looked at the forecast and when you dream up a forecast, it was perfect for the race. A lot of north in the breeze and the day before there was none, so it was totally glassed over with no swell left.” The breeze was lighter than forecast at the start, but after a two-tack beat up the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Beef Island and then one more to Scrub,  by the time Soma reached the north side of Tortola there was 20 knots of solid breeze.
Distance point-to-point was 31 miles, however, Soma sailed 45 miles to complete the circumnavigation averaging 15 knots with a top speed of 25.4 knots.
Despite this new record, Nils believes that in the right conditions and sailing less conservatively he could shave another 15-20 minutes off his time. “At 31 miles, you only have to average 10 knots to beat us.  Most well-sailed maxis could do that,” added Nils. nannycay.com

March madness brings

back-to-back regattas

International Rolex Regatta

Sailors from throughout the Caribbean, U.S. mainland and Europe converge on the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC) each year for the International Rolex Regatta set for March 27 to 29. This year’s event has attracted some particularly hot racers, says regatta co-director, John Sweeney. “Three IRC 52s including defending champ, Vincitore, and her sistership, Vela Veloce, will return after a year off as will Oystercatcher XXVI from the U.K. Returning too, is Tom Hill with his new Reichel Pugh 75, Titan XV. In addition, we’ll have the best of the Caribbean-based boats in our CSA classes, as well as one-design IC24s and Beach Cat classes.”

Marking a true southern connection, organizers have sent a letter to the commodore of Southern Yacht Club (SYC) in New Orleans, offering congratulations on the club’s re-commissioning and offered a two-for-the-price-of-one entry for boats from SYC.
Round-the-buoy and round-the-island racing are on tap as well as the Harbor Course, a highly-anticipated tradition that takes the fleet into  the capitol city Charlotte Amalie.
Shoreside, there will be nightly parties, a big bash at Yacht Haven Grande (YHG) on March 28 and the prize giving at the yacht club.
YGH and American Yacht Harbor marinas offer free dockage to competitors on a first-come first-served basis. Marriott Frenchman’s Reef offers regatta rates for competitors.
For information, visit rolexcupregatta.com.

BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival

The competition at the BVI Spring Regatta ramps up with the four-day Sailing Festival, a low-key, yet competitive event that sees sailors race up the Sir Francis Drake Channel to the Bitter End Yacht Club.  More than 100 yachts are expected to compete in the BVI Spring Regatta.
“In the exotic category we have word that several new boats will be sailing this year,” says Linda Phillips, press director. Bella Pita, a Trip 75 with a lifting keel and 330 gallons of seawater ballast, and Ran 2, a 72-footer owned by Skype founder Niklas Zennström, are a few of the newbies.
New this year are the addition of the BVI Windsurfing Championship, the International Yacht Club Challenge for team racing, and an additional Performance Cruiser class.
For information, visit bvispringregatta.org.

St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a mix of traditional competitive racing and shoreside parties this dual-island nation is well known for, as well as trendy events like match racing.
The Budget Marine Match Racing Cup, which originated last year as the run-up to the Heineken Regatta, is quickly establishing itself as one of the key match racing events in the Caribbean. Beginning March 2, three of the world’s best match racing skippers–Peter Isler, Gavin Brady and Peter Holmberg–will be among eight skippers racing Jeanneau SunFast 20s for cash prizes totalling $10,000.
New this year, Gill North America will sponsor the Gill Com-modores Cup, another pre-Heineken event. “This is designed to give those crews an additional day of racing,” says Regatta Director, Heather Tackling. “It is only open to spinnaker and racing classes and focuses on windward-leeward courses off the south coast that are favored by serious racers.”
Heineken Regatta kicks off March 5 with three days of racing that follow a tried-and-true formula sailors love. The first day features the around-the -island race, the second day takes competitors from Great Bay to Marigot. On the third day is a race back to Simpson Bay. Nightly parties culminate in the prize ceremony on Kim Sha Beach where reggae legends, The Wailers, will headline.
For information, visit heinekenregatta.com.

Puerto Rico Heineken International

There’s a new name, new venue and new format for Puerto Rico’s top yacht racing event. The Puerto Rico Heineken International Regatta (PHIR), formerly raced out of Culebra, will welcome sailors to new marina and yacht club facilities at Palmas del Mar in Humacao on the east coast for three days of racing, not two.
“We are excited about the plans for this year’s regatta,” says Director, Angel Ayala. “We’ll offer a mix of windward-leeward courses for the one-design and racing classes and there will be reaching courses for the cruising classes.”
The Puerto Rico International Dinghy Regatta will be held in tandem with the PHIR, March 19 to 21, for Optimists, Lasers and Snipes.
“New this year,” says Ayala, “we will welcome a kite-surfing class. Kite Surfers will compete in windward-leeward, freestyle and height events over the three days, right in front of the Yacht Club at Palmas del Mar for everyone to see.”
The 162-slip marina at Palmas del Mar offers state-of-the-art facilities for yachts up to 200 feet. Accommodations at Palmas del Mar Hotel & Villas will be offered at a discounted rate for regatta participants. For information, visit prheinekenregatta.com.

Grenada Sailing Festival

now two weekends of fun

St. Croix Yacht Club Hospice Regatta

A new name and new beneficiary highlights this year’s St. Croix Yacht Club Hospice Regatta, set for February 19 to 21.  “The regatta’s mission statement is, ‘Inspired by Competition–Enhanced with Compassion,’” says regatta Director Julie San Martin. “In addition to being a great warm-up for boats and their crews for the spring season, we are racing for a worthwhile cause, supporting hospice services for all who need it on St. Croix.”
Regatta organizers intend to attract both new sponsors and new racers to this 501(c)(3) charitable event, while raising awareness and funds for their local hospice, Continuum Care, Inc.
New courses, including a distance course especially designed for novice racers and live-aboard cruisers, are designed to appeal to owners of heavy displacement vessels who don’t normally participate in standard windward/leeward racing. Hard-core racers will still find figure-eight and triangle courses in the Buck Island Channel, and one-design dinghy sailors will still race inside Teague Bay. A separate inner-bay racing circle will host the under-15 set in Optis. Yacht Scoring will now be providing results online at the end of each race.
For more information, call 340-773-9531 or check the Web site, stcroixregatta.com.

Online shopping at Island Water World

Mooring alone in a tropical bay is a cruiser’s dream come true—until equipment failure muddies the waters. Now, an Internet connection is all you need to get a new part winging your way. Island Water World, based in St. Maarten with stores in St. Lucia and Grenada, is the first marine business to introduce a Caribbean e-commerce Web site.
“With St. Maarten being duty-free and having excellent sea and air connections to most islands in the region, we knew there must be a way to get products cost effectively and quickly to our customers on islands where we didn’t have a store,” says Managing Director Sean Kennelly. Teaming with Fedex and regional air carrier LIAT, IWW secured competitive airfreight prices. To access Island Water World’s virtual store, visit islandwaterworld.com.

Yacht caters to cruisers

with gluten-intolerance

You might not think eating a slice of bread, a bowl of pasta, or a couple of crackers could spoil an entire vacation, but these wheat-based foods can bring on severe intestinal upset for those with gluten-intolerance. Since wheat is found in so many foods, and even cross-contamination (think using the same toaster for gluten-containing and gluten-free bread) can even bring on a reaction, many sufferers resign themselves to a live without vacations. Now, two sailors have created a niche business to offer an alternative.
Michele Wallick, who is gluten-intolerant herself and a board member of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, and husband Greg, a former Marine, have created the first charter yacht where the menu is gluten-free. The couple had a Leopard 46 catamaran built in South Africa, and last year sailed Semper Fi to its new home base in St. Thomas.
“Our motto is ‘enabling freedom’,” says Michele. “We position our yacht as a home-away-from home for those who are gluten-intolerant. I have separate work areas in the galley for gluten and gluten-free foods and high-quality ingredients shipped to the island to ensure gourmet dining,” says Wallick. For information, visit gfadventures.com.

The Welcome Mat is Out This Season

Grenada Sailing Festival now two weekends of fun

This year the Grenada Sailing Festival will encompass two weekends of sailing fun. The regatta kicks off January 29 with four days of international yacht racing off the island’s south coast and concludes on February 7 following two days of traditional workboat racing in the Digicel Work Boat Regatta off Grand Anse Beach.

The Festival’s homeport will be Port Louis. Yacht racing will start and finish from this base, and there will be new, longer courses, including an extended South Coast Ocean Triangle, providing more challenging racing to attract bigger yachts. In the evenings, the marina’s Victory Bar will be the meeting spot for after race parties and the Prize Presentation Gala Dinner. The Digicel Work Boat Regatta will become even more festive thanks to a new Heritage Village that will host two days of live entertainment including steel pan bands, a cultural showcase with folk songs and dance, games and activities for children, plus community food stalls with the best of traditional Grenadian cuisine.

The Grenada Sailing Festival is part of the 2010 Southern Caribbean Regatta Circuit that begins with the Carriacou Sailing Series (January 13–16) and concludes with the Tobago Carnival Regatta (February 18–21). For information, visit: grenedasailingfestival.com.

Porto Cupecoy opens in St. Maarten

St. Maarten’s newest megayacht marina, Porto Cupecoy, officially opens this month with a grand celebration set for January 29. Up until this date, yacht owners can buy a megayacht slip and receive a free residence valued at up to $500,000. These slips, which range in price from $1.5 to $3 million, are currently the only megayacht slips for sale on St. Maarten.  The fabulous $150 million complex developed by Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises is targeted towards those yacht owners who are in the market for a second or vacation home and a place to park their yachts. The development includes a Mediterranean-style harborside village complete with restaurants, gourmet grocery, pharmacy, boutiques, watersports rentals, and onsite car and tender rentals. The marina is capable of berthing yachts to 250 feet with side-to dockage. Big boat hospitality includes 100 amp power and double water connections to facilitate wash downs at each slip. Pilot and tender services are offered to every incoming yacht.

Puerto Rico becomes more ‘marine-friendly’

The stroke of a pen last month opened the door for Puerto Rico to become much friendlier to visiting yachtsmen and marine entrepreneurs. The Nautical Tourism Act of 2009 signed into law by Governor Luis G. Fortuño, who formerly headed the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, is designed to strengthen a market niche that government officials believe has the potential to become as successful a revenue generator as its cruise ship industry.

The Act means that cruising yachtsmen no longer need to pay an entry fee or sales tax upon arriving in Puerto Rico. Before, in-transit vessels were charged a fee equal to seven percent of the value of the vessel. In addition, cruisers can now stay in Puerto Rico for up to one year before needing to obtain a license and registration.

Establishing a tourist-oriented marine business also became easier. For example, owners of yachts 32 feet and longer who rent, charter or actively use the vessel in a tourist-related business for at least six months of the year can obtain tax incentives and exemptions. Vessels under 32-feet must be engaged in a tourism-related business year round in order to get these benefits. The Act also stipulates that vessels bought in Puerto Rico for use in a tourism-related business are sales tax exempt.

Carlos Aguilar Match Race Sets Sail

Some of the top match racers in the world will put their sailing skills to the test in Charlotte Amalie’s harbor December 2 to 6 for the Second Annual Carlos Aguilar Match Race, a Grade 1 event.
“We are expecting the top women’s match racer in the world, Claire Leroy of France, as well as Julie Bossard, also from France, who is ranked sixth,” says Bill Canfield, regatta organizer. In addition, there will be three U.S. sailors ranked in the top 20 including defending champion Genny Tullock, Liz Baylis and Sandy Hayes.

On the men’s side will be top-ranked U.S. sailor Dave Perry and defending champion Taylor Canfield, currently ranked second in North America. Also, former world champion match racer, Olympic medallist and America’s Cup sailor, Peter Holmberg, will be sailing. Teams from the B.V.I., Puerto Rico, El Salvador, and St. Maarten will complete the draw. The event will be sailed in IC24s.
The event’s namesake, Carlos Aguilar, was an avid match racer and used every opportunity to encourage others, especially young sailors to follow in the sport.
“We’re committed to leading match racing in the Caribbean,” says Bill. “We intend to make this annual event more international and model it after U.S. Sailing’s Bermuda Gold Cup.” For more information, visit carlosmatchrace.com.

Charter yachts on display in

St. Maarten and Antigua this month

The St Maarten Charter Show and the granddaddy of all charter shows, the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, are being held back-to-back, allowing brokers to attend both events. Set for December 4 to 7 at Port de Plaisance, the St. Maarten show starts the week followed by the Antigua show December 7 to 11.
More than 85 yachts were registered to attend the Antigua Show by mid-October. About three times larger than the St. Maarten event, the Antigua event spreads over Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour to the Falmouth Harbour Marina and Antigua Yacht Club Marina. A complimentary shuttle service runs between the marinas during show hours and to area hotels between 5 p.m. and midnight. Several social events, including a chef’s competition and wine tasting will take place in the evenings.
For more information, contact the St. Maarten Charter Show at 599-544-2436, mybacaribbeanshow.com and the Antigua Charter Yacht Show at 268-460-1059, antiguayachtshow.com.

Ring in the New Year in Bequia

While yachtsmen in the northern Caribbean head to Foxy’s Bar on Jost Van Dyke to ring in the New Year, in the southern Caribbean, Bequia has become the in place for New Year’s Eve.
“You can expect to find up to three hundred yachts from all over the world, and everything from superyachts with helicopters, to twenty-five foot cruisers,” says Narendra ‘Seth’ Sethia, base manager for Barefoot Yacht Charters, which is headquartered in St. Vincent’s Blue Lagoon
The great thing about Bequia for partying is that everything is within walking distance along the south shore of Admiralty Bay. The Frangipani Hotel is a perennial favorite with visiting yachtsman, but there are many other places to party, such as the Gingerbread Hotel and Maria’s French Terrace.
“There is a lot of musical talent among Bequia’s residents and you’ll find live jazz, rhythm and blues, Country Western, and the ubiquitous reggae,” says Seth. “The festive atmosphere combined with the diversity of visitors creates a unique ambience.”
Bequia, the largest of the Grenadine islands, is nine miles south of St. Vincent. Admiralty Bay fronting Port Elizabeth, is the main anchorage and the location of Customs and Immigration office as well as a number of bars, restaurants, markets, and a marine supply store.

It’s charter yacht show season in the BVI & USVI

Yacht brokers from around the globe will have a chance to preview a fleet of luxury crewed yachts this month. The BVI Charter Yacht Show will take place from November 5 to 8 at Village Cay Marina in Tortola, followed by the St. Thomas Fall Yacht Show at Yacht Haven Grande, November 10 to 12.
Janet Oliver, administrator at the Charter Yacht Society of the BVI, says, “We tend to get the newcomers to the crewed yacht industry; whether the yacht has just recently been manufactured or it, and the crew, are simply being introduced to the industry. Participants operate throughout the Caribbean but are smaller than the megayacht category. In other words, they are luxurious and full service yet affordable.”

On St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands Charteryacht League (VICL) has changed the name of its fall show to reflect its efforts to gain a wider audience. Erik Ackerson, VICL executive director, explains, “We’re working with Yacht Haven Grande and the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Ten years from now we’d like to grow this into a destination show for the public, just like the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show.” Megayachts are a market organizers are targeting. The show has traditionally centered on charter yachts, both sail and power, in the under 100-foot range. One of the big draws is five free days of dockage at Yacht Haven Grande for VICL members.
Erik says, “Due to economic challenges worldwide, we’re seeing vessels that were [private yachts] be put into charter.
Next month, the charter shows in St. Maarten and Antigua will be held back to back. The MYBA St. Maarten Charter Show will take place December 4 to 7 and the Antigua Charter Yacht will be held December 7 to 11.

Chandlery Expands at Nanny Cay Marina

Just in time for Caribbean cruising, the chandlery at Nanny Cay Marina in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, has expanded its square footage to 2,800 feet in order to stock more products including AB Inflatables and Tohatsu outboards.
The chandlery, located in the marina complex behind Genaker Café, is adding to its base of over 5,000 marine products. Manager Miles Sutherland-Pilch says the expansion allows the addition of chain, boat batteries, fishing supplies, Lewmar winches and spares, and a greater range of safety equipment.

Marina Updates

Slip availability is rapidly increasing in the Caribbean as marinas both expand and break ground.

Marina Cap Cana:

Opened in 2007 and located on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast, this marina will offer 120-slips capable of docking yachts up to 150-feet when the second part of a five-phase construction project is complete in 2010. Five restaurants and bars, banking facilities, a Jack Nicklaus golf course, swimming pool, hotel, boutiques, and a private beach club are currently open in this resort complex.
Port Louis: This Grenada marina will offer 170 slips for vessels from 40 to 295 feet as of December 1. All slips have electricity and water and a pump out system is operational. High speed fueling will be available by early 2010. A bar and restaurant, swimming pool, gift shop, boutique, and marine repair facility are open. When complete by early 2012, the marina will provide 389 slips total and facilities for yachts up to 300 feet.

Cockleshell Bay:

This new marina slated for construction on the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts will break ground in January. The 153-slip marina, which is projected to open in late 2012, will be managed by Camper & Nicholsons.

Megayacht Marina Under

Construction in St. Kitts

One of the best anchorages in the Caribbean will soon become home to a megayacht marina and luxury resort. The Marina at St. Christophe Harbour, located on the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts at Great Salt Pond, spans 300 acres and will include 300 slips. Fifty-to-sixty of these slips will accommodate yachts from 85- to 300-plus feet in length.
The full-service marina, yacht club with full concierge and hospitality services, harbor side village with dockside provisioning, luxury shops and restaurants, is scheduled for phase-one completion in 2012. Christophe Harbour will be a designated port of entry.
The marina is the centerpiece of the 2,500-acre Christophe Harbour Resort. This master-planned resort community will offer a Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole golf course, luxury residential real estate, branded five-star hotel, six beaches with a beach club, spa, restaurants, and shopping. For more information, visit christopheharbour.com.

First-Ever St. Thomas

Day Sail and Tour

Operators Showcase

Virgin Islands’ Charteryacht League (VICL) will hold its first-ever boat show for day sail and tour operators, set for October 9 and 10 at the Yacht Haven Grande Marina. Organizers hope the show will offset the slumping economy, which has taken its toll with the loss of a handful of long-time high-profile day boat operators including Atlantis Submarines.
“Our day operators were the first to feel the pinch of the current economic crisis,” VICL Executive Director Erik Ackerson explains. “Much, if not all, of their income depends on cruise ship and hotel guests who now might not have that extra $100 for an excursion.”

Sail With The Stars

Imagine yourself crewing for the likes of America’s Cup skippers, Olympic Medalists and other famous racers. That’s what the Bitter End Yacht Club’s Pro-Am regatta week is all about. The event is set for October 31 to November 7 in North Sound, off Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.
What makes this week special is that you’ll have the opportunity to crew for skippers such as Ed Baird, Paul Cayard, Ken Read, Zach Railey, Anna Tunnicliffe, Morgan Larson and Tom Leweck. Racers will be sailing Hobie Waves, Hunter 216s and IC24s, the later being a Virgin Islands adaptation of a J/24. For more information, call 284-494-2746, or visit beyc.com.

New BVI Boat Building Venture

Tortola is the new base for commercial production of a lightweight, fuel efficient, power catamaran. Partners Island Yacht Management (IYM), Doyle Sails BVI and the Golden Hind Chandlery began construction of the Rodgers 29 last October. The vessel is the work of O.H. Rodgers who has a history of successes with A-class cats, cruising multi-hulls and a range of racing mono-hulls.
“The design brief was to produce a fuel-efficient boat capable of taking the rough trade wind conditions we experience here on the nose,” says IYM’s Richard Wooldridge. “She should be able to take up to eight adults around the islands at speeds up to 28 knots using less than six gallons of gas per hour. This will be possible because we will only be using 50 or 60 horsepower outboards, which are extremely efficient.

Activity continues in Windwards,  Leewards

Trinidad & Tobago Boater’s Directory available

If repairs or the threat of storms has brought you ‘below the belt,’ the hurricane belt that is, pick up a copy of Trinidad & Tobago’s Boater’s Directory for the inside scoop on where to get work done and where to play. The 200-page booklet, published by Boaters’ Enterprise, provides information such as marine facilities for haul-outs, boat storage, chandleries and marine contractors, as well as Customs and Immigration regulations, rules for bringing pets onto the island nation, tide tables, weather resources, maps, taxis, shopping areas and even eco-tourism, cultural events, and attractions. For information about how to receive a hard copy, visit boatersenterprise.com.

Carnival in Jost Van Dyke

Most folks flock to the British Virgin Island of Jost Van Dyke to ring in the New Year at Foxy’s Tamarind Bar. But, those looking for a more laidback and low-key way to party will cruise into this 4-square-mile island to celebrate Labor Day. Beach bars in White Bay and Great Harbour–two great anchorages this time of year–are hopping all weekend. Plus, there’s sure to be an eclectic mix of musicians at Ivan’s Stress-Free Bar playing in the “Ever Changing All Star International Band,” a group whose transient members have included the likes of country singer Kenny Chesney and Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards. A little parade—complete with costumed, stilt-walking mocko jumbies—makes its way down the sandy Main Street of Great Harbour on Labor Day Monday.

Scrub Island debuts marina

Although the B.V.I.’s Scrub Island Resort doesn’t officially open until January 2010, media was invited to see the new 60-slip deep water marina and marina village resort. Scrub Island is a 230-acre island 74 miles east of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and 28 miles north of Charlotte Amalie in the U.S.V.I. or 1.6 miles north of the Beef Island Airport, both of which offer ferry service to Scrub Island. Slips at the marina, officially now the closest slips to the North Drop, feature 30-, 50- and 100-amp power, the latter for five megayacht berths for yachts to 150 feet. Dockside features include Wi-Fi, satellite TV and phone service. A laundry and landside showers are in place. Fuel will be available soon. Waterside hotel suites, the first phase of shoreside development on the previously uninhabited island, are about to open. Visit scrubislandmarina.com for information and reservations.

Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament

The marlin bite turns hot off Jamaica’s northeast corner city of Port Antonio come fall, a time that corresponds with the 46th Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament set for September 26-October 3. Last year, 28 boats with anglers hailing from eight nations competed. The Jamaican team of Macs’d Out, tagged and released three blue marlin to win the tournament.
  
This year, the festivities kick-off with a happy hour and captain’s briefing on September 26. Fishing begins with a Bimini start the following day and continues through October 2. A lay day break on September 30 features a local canoe fishing tournament where island anglers compete three to a single-engine fiberglass canoe and fight marlin on 300-pound test handlines! For more information, call: (876) 927-0145 or e-mail rondq@mail.infochan.com.

New boatyards offer more service

USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin
Tournament set for August 3-7

If you’re after big blue marlin–and lots of ‘em–head to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, August 3-7, for the 38th USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament. Last year, the fleet of 29 boats collectively released 124 fish over the four days of fishing, a feat that underscored the event’s reputation as “The Super Bowl of Sport Fishing Tournaments.”

Strict rules raise the bar for anglers, captains and crews. “We fish fifty-pound test, with IGFA observers on every boat and a ‘Modified Release’ format, meaning that you can boat a large fish, but it won’t count for tournament points unless it’s a potential IGFA World Record,” says Director Jimmy Loveland. “We are proud of the fact that we were the first tournament in the world to release blue marlin and we haven’t boated a billfish in over 20 years! Last year’s purse exceeded $450,000 proving that participants in a release tournament can win big bucks without putting the fish on the dock.” For more information, visit abmt.vi.

Two new boatyards open

The dual-island nation of St. Kitts-Nevis now boasts the second largest Travelift in the Caribbean, behind Trinidad and ahead of Puerto Rico. St. Kitts Marine Works Ltd., a U.S. $2.2 million dollar yard that opened the first 12 of a projected 26-acre site in May, has a 165-ton capacity lift as well as an 85-ton truck crane onsite to lift masts.
“If a storm approaches,” says director, Regiwell Francis, “vessels can now stay safe and secured on land in St. Kitts.” Regiwell says, “We offer amenities such as high-speed internet, CCTV linked on the Web, water, electricity, and 24-hour security, as well as services such as pressure washing, steam cleaning and sandblasting. Machinists and mechanics are on call.” Budget Marine, a St. Maarten-based chandlery with 10 locations throughout the Caribbean, will open shop at St. Kitts Marine Works by end of year.
Farther north in St. Maarten, Bobby’s Marina will be closing its yard in Phillipsburg and opening its new Bobby’s Boat Yard this fall in Cole Bay, inside Simpson Bay Lagoon between Island Water World and Port de Plaisance.
Philip Baumann of Bobby’s Marina says, “We will have a 150-ton Travelift and a 75 ton Travelift, so we’ll be able to haul and store vessels up to around 180 feet. This yard will have all the state-of-the-art facilities of a modern shipyard including fabrication, welding, rigging, electronics, and mechanics.”

Hurricane tracking

Twelve named storms, six of those becoming hurricanes including two major storms, are what Colorado State forecasters predict this season. However, according to tropicalstormrisk.com, based in the UK, the Atlantic hurricane season will be more active with 15 named storms, eight hurricanes with three to four of these major hurricanes. Trade winds blowing slower than normal from July through September could allow for more storms to form, hence the reason for the up tick in the later forecast.
It pays to monitor the weather closely as the Caribbean’s hurricane season runs until November 1. Reliable Web sites include: caribwx.com, stormcarib.com and caribweather.com.