Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - November 2021

BUSINESS BRIEFS
NOVEMBER 2021 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 8
Boating Industry Thrives on St. Thomas and St. John
As Amy H. Roberts reported in the St. Thomas Source, there has been a recent
resurgence of the recreational boating industry in the US Virgin Islands of St. Thomas
and St. John.
The growth of recreational boating contrasts sharply with the slowdown of other
sectors in the territory’s tourist economy. Several major hotels have not reopened
since the hurricanes of 2017 and the cruise ship industry, halted by the Covid
pandemic in March 2020, is just starting back up.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr. recognized an opportunity to regrow the marine sector
of the economy by keeping ports open throughout the pandemic and
the Department of Tourism has committed to strengthening its partnerships with
marine tourism organizations.
People eager for a vacation quickly realized that chartering a boat was an easy
way to leave home while maintaining social distancing. Oriel Blake, Executive Director
of the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA), explained to Roberts,
“You’re in your own little bubble, with a crew tested, vaccinated, and being careful
about not letting guests mix with people ashore to eliminate the risk,” she said.
The VIPCA has seen a growth in membership as well. Its more than 520 members
include brokers, vendors, vessels, and crewmembers for term and day charters,
which also have accelerated, according to Blake. Day charter boats generally don’t
leave during hurricane season, so many were lost during hurricanes Irma and Maria in
2017. Now, the industry has bounced back. In the summer of 2020, there were about
100 charter boats operating; this past summer, the number had doubled.
The number of boats available for bareboat charters has risen as well. With the
expansion of Dream Yacht Charters and the establishment of a new USVI base of
operations for The Moorings at Yacht Haven Grande, the bareboat fleet has grown
from about 60 boats to around 100 boats, Blake estimates.
Ian Pedersen, Senior Marketing Manager for The Moorings and Sunsail Yacht
Charters, said, “There are now 26 additional charter yachts in the USVI, each
capable of carrying an average of eight charter guests per week. That adds up to
10,000 potential new visitors to the islands a year. Those guests will take taxis to and
from the airport, provision their yachts at local grocery stores, and pay for fuel at
local fuel pumps. They will contribute mooring ball fees and frequent local bars and
restaurants. Staff will be employed at our marina offices, cleaning and operations
staff will be needed, and captains and permanent crews will be hired to skipper our
yachts — all of which benefits the USVI.”
The increase in demand for charter yacht cruising has led to a shortage of skilled
crew and personnel to provide marine maintenance and technical services,
according to Blake. To help fill this gap, the Charter Association has partnered with
the Labor Department to offer a fully funded marine apprenticeship program. This
past July, 11 young Virgin Islanders completed five weeks of training in swimming,
scuba diving, dock management, and other subjects to qualify for additional
instruction in Standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping, a certification
program for crewmembers.
Read the full story at https://stthomassource.com/content/2021/10/07/boating-inthe-usvi-recreational-boating-industry-thrives-on-st-thomas-and-st-john
Peters & May Sees Busy Caribbean Season
Leading global yacht transport and logistics provider Peters & May has ramped up
its sailings to Florida and the Caribbean ahead of what is expected to be a busy
period for yachting enthusiasts moving their yachts to the waters of the Caribbean.
Bookings are rapidly picking up for the company’s sailings to Antigua, St. Thomas,
and Tortola. Although many of the enquiries are from customers who are regulars to
the islands as part of their traditional annual migration from Europe and the
Mediterranean,
Peters & May
shared that many
newcomers are
choosing the
Caribbean as their
winter cruising
Peters & May loading 52 yachts in Antigua.
destination for the
first time.
Matt Penfold,
Managing Director
of Peters & May USA
said, “Since the
further relaxation of
Covid restrictions in
these areas, yacht
owners have a
clearer idea of
where they can and
cannot sail and are
feeling more
confident of an uninterrupted season. After a prolonged period of indecision and
lockdowns, they want to spread their wings, relax, and have some fun. In our
experience, Antigua and St. Thomas are the perfect destinations for yachts arriving by
cargo vessel. In these ports, we have experienced agents who can assist locally with
any customs clearance formalities, so customers can set off with peace of mind.”
Upcoming departures to the Caribbean and Florida include:
• From Europe:
Destination Fort Lauderdale and St. Thomas, loading window November 1st – 15th,
loading in Malta and sailing via Genoa and Lanzarote.
Destination Antigua, St. Thomas, and Fort Lauderdale; loading window November
5th – 25th, loading in Southampton and sailing via a French Atlantic port.
Destination Antigua, St. Thomas, and Fort Lauderdale; loading window December
1st – 15th, loading in Genoa and sailing via the Balearics.
• From USA:
Destination Antigua and St. Thomas, loading window November 1st – 15th,
loading in Newport and sailing via Freeport and Fort Lauderdale.
As one of the world’s longest established and most experienced yacht transport
providers, Peters & May offers a full transportation schedule from the Caribbean to
Europe via the United States, supported by a dedicated US-based team that
delivers professional advice on every aspect of the yacht’s journey, from due
diligence to customs documentation.
Visit www.petersandmay.com/en/contact-us/usa, call (754) 263-3001,
email florida@petersandmay.com, and see ad on page 20 for more information.
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