Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine June 2016
Welcome to Caribbean Compass, the most widely-read boating publication in the Caribbean! THE MOST NEWS YOU CAN USE - feature articles on cruising destinations, regattas, environment, events...
Welcome to Caribbean Compass, the most widely-read boating publication in the Caribbean! THE MOST NEWS YOU CAN USE - feature articles on cruising destinations, regattas, environment, events...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Info & Updates<br />
Martinique on the Move<br />
Rodolf Etienne reports: Martinique is making moves to develop even further as a<br />
sailing powerhouse.<br />
An ambitious project focusing on sailing and boating in Martinique was born when<br />
Martinican skipper Eric Baray met with well-established entrepreneur Emmanuel<br />
CHRIS DOYLE<br />
Dube and fellow sailors Capt. Arnaud Goddard-Philippe and Jean Trudo. The group<br />
had the idea of providing each town on the island with a racing sailboat to train<br />
and introduce youngsters to maritime careers, while stimulating a competitive spirit<br />
in inter-community sports, which currently seems to be fading.<br />
The project leaders explain that they aim to create a “base of sea champions” for<br />
Martinique. Beyond its obvious sporting character, this project also aims to develop<br />
a more stable and viable economy around the sea and water sports.<br />
Martinique currently has 130 companies active in the yachting sector; these businesses<br />
employ some 1,200 people. Approximately 12,500 vessels are registered here,<br />
and there are more than 200 sailboats available for bareboat rental, as well as 85<br />
crewed charter yachts. The marina of Marin is a popular jumping-off point for other<br />
popular cruising destinations such as the Grenadines, and is visited by some 33,000<br />
tourists a year. Annual turnover in Martinique’s yachting sector is 80 million euro.<br />
At the end of their study, the project managers came to an obvious conclusion:<br />
boating appears to be a strong axis for the development of job creation. The goal is<br />
now to keep the launched actions going and to include the development of sailing<br />
in future project contracts with the island government (Etat-CTM, Collectivité<br />
Territoriale de Martinique) and the European Union. A project under the aegis of the<br />
<strong>Caribbean</strong> European Racing Challenge Association will be chaired by racing sailor<br />
Jean Trudo.<br />
In related news, Martinique became a member of the yachting-aware<br />
Organisation of Eastern <strong>Caribbean</strong> States earlier this year, the first French territory to<br />
do so. And recently, the island’s capital, Fort de France, popular with visiting<br />
yachties for its sightseeing and great food, has received a “facelift”, creating better<br />
traffic flow, wider sidewalks and new landscaping.<br />
JUNE <strong>2016</strong> CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 4<br />
Clearing Customs Easy at Budget Marine, St. Martin<br />
All yachts clearing in and out of St Martin can now make use of a new, dedicated<br />
Customs computer system, where you do your own entry, print it out and then have<br />
it stamped by a Customs officer or the owner of the establishment where the computer<br />
is located.<br />
Budget Marine L’ile Marine has been offering this service since January. Lomig<br />
Henry, manager of Budget Marine St. Martin reports: “This extra service offered by us<br />
is a welcome and convenient alternative to going to the official Customs office. We<br />
are getting very positive results from both the private yachts and charter vessels that<br />
can now make use of this service. The service is not only convenient but also free of<br />
charge although yachtsmen are welcome to donate to the SNSM (Sea Rescue).”<br />
Located just outside of the Sandy Ground Bridge, Budget Marine St. Martin is an<br />
ideal location to do your custom clearing. A dinghy dock in front of the building<br />
makes it easy to visit.<br />
Opening hours of Budget Marine St. Martin are Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to<br />
12:00 noon and 2:00PM to 5:00PM, and Saturdays from 8:00AM to 12:00 noon.<br />
Interruption of Clearance in San Blas<br />
Cruisers report the temporary closure of the Immigration and Port Captain services<br />
in the San Blas islands/Guna Yala of Panama, at Porvenir and Obaldia.<br />
Those visiting San Blas are advised to check in to the country in Puerto Lindo/<br />
Portobelo or at Bocas del Toro before arriving in San Blas. The Port Captain at Linton<br />
Bay Marina at Puerto Lindo is open every day; hours are 8:00AM to 4:00PM.<br />
—Continued on next page<br />
*<br />
Built by sailmakers dedicated to building the finest, most durable<br />
and technologically advanced sails possible.<br />
British Virgin Islands<br />
Doyle Sailmakers BVI, Ltd<br />
Road Reef Marina<br />
Road Town, Tortola<br />
Tel: (284) 494 2569<br />
bob@doylecaribbean.com<br />
Barbados<br />
Doyle Offshore Sails, Ltd<br />
Six Crossroads<br />
St Philip<br />
Tel: (246) 423 4600<br />
joanne@doylecaribbean.com<br />
Antigua & Barbuda<br />
Star Marine<br />
Jolly Harbour<br />
Bonaire<br />
IBS b/v<br />
Kaya Atom Z<br />
Jamaica<br />
PJG<br />
Kingston<br />
Martinique<br />
Voilerie Du Marin<br />
30 Bld Allegre<br />
St. Vincent<br />
Barefoot Yacht Charters<br />
Blue Lagoon<br />
Trinidad & Tobago<br />
AMD<br />
Chaguaramas<br />
Curacao<br />
Zeilmakerij Harms<br />
Kapiteinsweg #4<br />
Dominica<br />
Dominica Marine Center<br />
Roseau<br />
Grenada<br />
Turbulence Sails<br />
True Blue St George<br />
Panama<br />
Regency Marine<br />
Panama City<br />
Puerto Rico<br />
Atlantic Canvas & Sail<br />
Fajardo, Puerto Rico<br />
St Lucia<br />
Rodney Bay Sails<br />
Rodney Bay<br />
* Dacron and HydraNet only<br />
USVI St Croix<br />
Wilsons' Cruzan Canvas<br />
Christiansted
Change language