Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine July 2016

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OECS Destinations Target German Market
The OECS reports: The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
Commission has once again coordinated a joint activity for its member states to
promote their respective destinations. The OECS Road Show in Germany followed
three successful joint promotion activities coordinated by the OECS Commission, to
showcase the region’s yachting sector in the United States, Canada and Germany.
The joint presence of the OECS at what is arguably the world’s largest boat show in
Germany earlier this year, unveiled the tremendous potential of the European market,
Germany in particular, to enhance the performance of the tourism sector in the region.
Formal surveys conducted at the Eastern Caribbean Village at the Boot Dusseldorf
Boat Show revealed a high level of desirability for the region by Germans; and strong
alignment of the Caribbean product with their interests and travel trends and patterns.
Germans have longer vacation periods compared to visitors from North America,
and are higher spenders. According to the latest statistics from ITB 2016, 77 percent
of all Germans travel. In 2015, Germans spent 71.5 billion Euro on travel and stayed
an average ten days.
The German Travel Association’s president, Norbert Fiebig, designated the year
2016 as “The Year of the Caribbean”, referring to the opportunities for growth for the
Caribbean from German travellers.
The OECS destinations of Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands,
Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia showcased their respective destinations in June,
with an intense promotion in the cities of Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Cologne.
MRCC Fort-de-France Celebrates 15 Years
Martinique’s Fort-de-France Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) celebrates
its 15th anniversary this year. Fort-de-France MRCC’s 25 women and men
have been keeping watch night and day for 15 years, from Anguilla to St. Lucia and
including a great part of the Atlantic Ocean. Since its creation, Fort-de-France
MRCC has performed more than 11,000 search-and-rescue operations that involved
21,000 people.
Lt. Cdr. Edouard Perrier, Director of MRCC Fort-de-France, says, “We will keep on
assisting seafarers from all over the world, in good moments or in hard times. In case
of emergency, please call us on VHF 16, put on your personal floating device and
be ready to activate your distress beacon. Your life does matter to us!”
Eight Bells: Harold La Borde
Pioneering Trinidadian sailor Harold La Borde died on June 12th, a few days before
his 83rd birthday, while visiting Grenada.
Harold and his wife, Kwailan, were the first Trinidadians to cross the Atlantic Ocean
in a small sailboat. They were later awarded the nation’s highest order: the Trinity
Cross Gold. The couple and their young sons (one of whom was born during the
voyage) circumnavigated the world in their 40-foot ketch, Hummingbird II, from 1969
to 1973. In the 1980s, La Borde circumnavigated the globe again, aboard
Hummingbird III, this time around the Great Capes.
The La Bordes flew Trinidad & Tobago’s national flag around the world on their journeys.
However, it is on the waters of the Caribbean that La Borde will be best
remembered, where his contribution to regional yachting — both as an industry and
as a sport — was felt throughout the region.
Harold’s son Pierre told The Trinidad Guardian newspaper that they had sailed up
to Grenada in May as part of a family ritual to spend time with friends there and
were preparing to sail back to Trinidad. Pierre described his father as “an inspiration”
to his fellow citizens and to foreigners who visited T&T. “He was a great sailor and a
great hero for T&T and he fulfilled his dream sailing around the world.”
Harold La Borde wrote three books about his world travels. Humming Bird II, which
was used in his first around-the-world voyage, is displayed at the museum in downtown
Port-of-Spain.
La Borde is survived by his wife, Kwailan, sons Pierre and Andre, three grandchildren,
and his brothers Rudy and Hugh.
Thanks to cnewslive and The Trinidad Guardian newspaper for information used in
this report.
Petite Martinique Maroon and Heritage Weekend
The tiny Grenadine isle of Petite Martinique will celebrate its Maroon and Heritage
Weekend on July 15th and 16th with the theme “Back in Time, the Way We Were”.
On Friday the 15th, experience Sugaring the Piton, Maroon Saracca, Maypole
Dancing, Big Drum Dancing and String Band Music at Moulin Vent Village. On
Saturday the 16th, at the Hard Court, there will be a Cultural Extravaganza featuring
dances, poetry, folk singing, dramatizations, antique displays, craft exhibits, “back in
time” dress and more.
Visit www.facebook.com/Petite-Martinique‘s-Tourism-Cultural-Committee for more
information.
Images of Bonaire’s Maritime Past
Patrick Holian reports: On Bonaire, sailors will have a chance to hear tales of trade,
sailing and smuggling as told by master boatbuilder Johnny Craane, whose family
crafted wooden ships on the island for generations.
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JULY 2016 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 5