Marinas, music and racing

The 35-square-mile island of Anguilla sits right in the middle of the Caribbean’s prime megayacht cruising grounds, with the U.S. and B.V.I. to the north and St. Maarten and St. Barths to the south. Yet, it’s a destination without adequate dockage for these large yachts. Anchoring out and a dinghy ride in is the only way to visit Anguilla’s incredible beaches, five-star resorts and not-yet-overcommercialized island vibe—a movie star’s magnet. This is about to change with the construction of the island’s first megayacht marina at the existing Altamer Resort, a plan that has been on the drawing board for years. Now, in the wake of the resort’s acquisition by New York-based Time Equities and the partnership with Anaconda Holdings—whose chairman Jeff Boyd was instrumental in the creation of St. Maarten’s Princess Port de Plaisance, Yacht Club at Isle de Sol and Portofino Marina—a megayacht marina on Anguilla is to become a reality. Plans call for dockage capable of accommodating yachts from 30- to 200-feet LOA. The marina will also serve as an official port of entry. Marina guests will be able to enjoy all the amenities at the Altamer Resort, a boutique villa property located on the island’s west end at Shoal Bay. The final design stages for the marina wrapped up in late 2015, however, no date has been set for completion. Future plans call for a restaurant, promenade, duty-free shopping, and a 164-unit resort.

Grenada’s first-ever music festival

Seaside venues and an exciting program of local and international artists are the main attractions at the first-ever Pure Grenada Music Festival set for April 5-10. Cruisers donated their old sails to make shaded areas around the Festival Village, which will be located on the spacious green at the Port Louis Marina along with the main stage. At the Festival’s conclusion the sails will go to local workboat owners. The 170-slip, full-service, Port Louis marina is host to the opening night performance featuring Grammy Award-winning pop and R&B superstar, Estelle. Reggae Night and Rhythm and Soul Night happens at Port Louis, too, where the headline acts are Grammy-winning reggae band Steele Pulse and chart topper, Joss Stone. The most exciting night for nautical types is the Rock De Boat concert set on a floating stage in picturesque St. George’s harbor. Canadian duo, Madison Violet, will perform its hit version of These Ships, and Guadeloupe’s Erik Pedurand will present his award-winning island Creole tunes. grenadamusicfestival.com

Antigua’s Granddaddy of Caribbean racing

Catch the action from Antigua Sailing Week with the “Granddaddy of Caribbean Regattas” on April 22-30 at the Antigua Yacht Club in English Harbour. The best vantage point to watch the racing from shore is at Shirley Heights Lookout, where a special regatta breakfast party is set for April 24^th. See the sailing by sea aboard the Wadadli Cats on a chase-the-race charter. Not in Antigua? No worries. Results will be posted in real time on sailingweek.com.

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating Magazine April 2016

Anguilla’s Altamer Resort

First megayacht resort to come

Altamer Resort, a collection of beachfront boutique villas on Anguilla’s Shoal Bay West is set to get a megayacht marina. New York-based real-estate development firm Time Equities, which acquired Altamer Resort in 2014 announced plans for an expansion of the resort including a megayacht marina complex, which will be the first marina resort built in Anguilla with the highest level of concierge services. The marina will also serve as an official port of entry to the island, with 30 percent of its berths designed to accept yachts stretching between 30 and 200 feet. The new facility is slated to include a 164-unit resort, in addition to duty-free retail shops and a restaurant promenade. Time Equities is partnering with Anaconda Holdings and Cross Island Development to bring its plans to fruition.

“For nearly a decade, Altamer Resort has offered the finest world-class hospitality experience on Anguilla, and we are certain that with the involvement of Jeff Boyd, Chairman of Anaconda LTD/Marine Management and Consulting, along with Cross Island Development, we will collectively enhance that reputation,” said Francis Greenburger, chairman and CEO of Time Equities, Inc. “Altamer Marina will rival some of the most renowned facilities in the region and will not only position Anguilla as a choice destination among the luxury yachting community, but will meet the rising yachting, shopping and dining demands of high net worth individuals.”

Anaconda LTD and Cross Island Development have strong backgrounds in designing and building luxury yachting destinations such as The Yacht Club at Isle de Sol and Port de Plaisance in St. Maarten, in addition to Yacht Haven Grand in St. Thomas.

“We welcome this marina development project as an important enhancement of Anguilla’s tourism product. It is just what the doctor ordered,” said Anguilla Chief Minister Victor F. Banks. villaaltamer.com

Race, Sail and Party in the B.V.I.

Relaxation, team racing and partying is the best way to describe the Moorings Interline Regatta, set for October 14-23 in the British Virgin Islands. In 1983, the regatta began as a way to make use of the territory’s large charter fleet during the slow fall season by staging a battle on the seas among airline personnel, and continues today as a laidback weeklong yachting competition. True to its roots, the regatta features island-to-island sailing aboard sleek yachts such as Moorings 41- and 43-foot monohulls. Each night, spectators and racers alike celebrate at legendary parties that coincide with the regatta at some of the hottest night spots in the B.V.I.

The Moorings Interline Regatta is set for October 14-23 in the British Virgin Islands. Photo: The Moorings

This year includes a sail to Peter Island that ends at the Oceans 7 Beach Club with a Greek Mythology Theme Party; a race up to the Bitter End Yacht Club in North Sound, Virgin Gorda followed by a Viking Theme Party; and a cruise to Norman Island complete with a Pirates Party Haaard Theme. Best of all, the regatta isn’t open to just members of the airline industry but also to their family and friends. In fact, each team is only required to have one flight crewmember aboard. What’s more, even non-boating visitors to the B.V.I. can join in as spectators to this exciting racing event.

Villa vacation on yacht-friendly Anguilla
No opera, theater or upscale shopping malls are found on the British overseas territory of Anguilla located eight miles north of St. Martin-St. Maarten. Yet this sandbar-flat 35-square-mile Caribbean gem offers everything adventure-loving family groups could ever desire—including beachfront villa accommodations that feel like home. “The clear blue and calm Anguillan waters are idea for yachting,” says Neil Freeman, general manager of Beaches Edge Villas, a duo of 5-bedroom oceanfront sister villas that overlook Pelican Bay. Garfield’s Sea Tours rents Sunseeker Seahawk 48s that are ideal for day trips to Anguilla’s three nearly uninhabited offshore islands: Prickly Pear, Sandy and Dog Islands. Prickly Pear and Sandy have restaurants that serve lunch and are surrounded by superb snorkeling sites. Dog Island is more remote and inhabited only by birds and lizards, but it boasts two great scuba diving sites. Garfield’s also charters a 31-foot Bertram for sportfishing. Or, go for a day sail aboard Capt. Rollin Ruan’s 35-foot Edel catamaran Chocolat and enjoy a barbecued chicken lunch with all the fixings. “Sailboat racing is the national pastime of Anguilla. Locally made wooden boats with as many as 20 in the crew race with gusto around the island for bragging rights,” Freeman says. beachesedge.com

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating October 2014