ST. THOMAS YACHT SALES Compass Point Marina, 6300 Est. Frydenhoj, Suite 28, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00802 Tel: (340) 779-1660 Fax: (340) 779-4803 yachts@islands.vi
42’ 1971 Grand Banks C.G. Documented for 42 passengers $74,500
38’ 1967 Le Comte Northeast Classic Excellent Condition $78,500
Sail
36’ 38’ 44’ 50’
1980 1967 1988 1978
Albin Stratus, daysail business separate Le Comte, Northeast 38, classic, excellent cond. Morgan Catalina, excellent cond. Nautor M Sailer, refit, excellent cruiser
37’ 28’ 42’ 48’
1986 1990 1971 2004
CML Trawler, Great liveaboard, needs engs. Cape Dory, Flybridge MY Grand Banks, Wooden classic, CG cert. Dyna Craft MY, 450 Cats, 3 strms
$45,000 $80,000 $119,000 $325,000
Power $20,000 $45,000 $89,900 $295,000
SEPTEMBER 2011
CARIBBEAN COMPASS
PAGE 40
Call, fax or visit our website for a complete list of boats for sale www.stthomasyachts.com
Letter of the Month Dear Compass Readers, The differing challenges facing the yachting sectors of each of the Caribbean countries was clearly illustrated in the July issue of Caribbean Compass in an article entitled “THE CARIBBEAN YACHTING INDUSTRY NOW — What’s the Problem? (And What’s the Strength?)” The question was asked of leading yacht and marine personalities around the region: “In your view, what is the biggest single problem facing the Caribbean yachting industry today?” While a survey of leading yacht and marine personalities could never claim to be scientific, the varied comments from the ‘people in the know’ highlighted both the similarities and the differences between the yachting sectors of the Caribbean countries. Much of the difference could be put down to emphasis. For example, every country suffers from crime, but in some countries it was seen as more significant than in others, whereas, in countries hampered by intolerable bureaucracy, this was seen as a major issue. In reality, the whole of the Caribbean yachting sector suffers from the same problems; it is just the degree that varies. If the truth be known, the real problem lies with the politicians. Despite 60 years of yachting tourism in the Caribbean, many politicians do not understand the value of yachting to the economies of the Caribbean countries. It is easy to see a cruise liner arrive with 5,000 passengers and think of high revenue.
‘Despite 60 years of yachting tourism in the Caribbean, many politicians do not understand the value of yachting to the economies of the Caribbean countries’
2008 89’ Catana €4.900.000
2007 73’ Executive $2,000,000
1999 60’ Fountaine Pajot $619,000
2007 50’ Catana $950,000
2008 50’ Lagoon $749,000
2000 47’ Catana €340,000
What many politicians fail to realize is that, dependent upon size, as few as a single super yacht with a dozen people on board could spend more money per day than a cruise liner with 5,000 passengers. Ten super yachts will definitely spend more money. There are an estimated 2,500 super yachts worldwide yet only around ten percent of them visit the Caribbean — and why is that? Partly the problems expressed in the article but mainly because cruising the Caribbean is just too much hassle. To the super yacht owner, the Caribbean is seen as a single destination although, depending upon how you count them, there are around 40 countries in the Caribbean Sea. In a normal year 1,500 super yachts cruise the Mediterranean, six times as many as in the Caribbean. Some of this is to do with distance but much more is to do with far better marketing by the Mediterranean than by the Caribbean and the Mediterranean working as a unit rather than 40 disparate countries. In essence, the Caribbean should be North America’s equivalent of the Mediterranean but few Americans come to play in this bit of water. Why not? The Caribbean has major advantages as a tourism playground for yachts; islands are rarely more than a day’s sail from each other. Even the continental Caribbean countries are not widely separated. Unfortunately, each Caribbean country wants to expand its own share of the tourism market, and many see sharing resources as giving away business. However, in the yachting sector, all countries would benefit more if the Caribbean worked together as one unit. Yachting, more than any other tourism sector has fluidity. Yachts can up anchor and move on and, when they do, they need to be encouraged to move on to another Caribbean country and the only way they will do that is if it’s made easy. Around ten years ago an attempt was made to set up an organization that would represent the yachting industry Caribbean wide, but it failed to materialise. Five years ago, the Caribbean Marine Association came into being and had some notable success, particularly in the area of APIS as it related to yachts. However, that organisation became dormant through lack of funds which, translated, meant lack of support from Caribbean countries. June 2011 saw the revitalization of the Caribbean Marine Association and, maybe it will be third time lucky but only if the whole of the Caribbean yachting sector gets behind the CMA especially with financial support. There always has been and still is a need for a Caribbean-wide yachting association. An organization such as the CMA is needed as the body to work for uniformity and a joint approach to yachting in the Caribbean and this was the vision of the originators of the CMA. It is more true today than it ever was in the past. Check out the CMA website at www.caribbeanmarineassociation.com. The CMA’s slogan sums it up, “Many Islands, One Sea”. To work as an effective organization the CMA needs funding, firstly to employ one person full time and for all the normal overheads. In reality, being Caribbean wide, it needs a huge budget for traveling expenses. The President, the employed staff or Directors with specialized knowledge need to be able to travel to different islands to meet with other associations or, where there are no associations, generate new ones. They need to be able to meet with Caribbean-wide organizations, other NGOs and tourism authorities, to be able to attend conferences and even go to some yacht shows where the presence of the CMA could benefit yachting in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, the cost of all this is likely to be well in excess of US$100,000 per annum and that will never be raised in the Caribbean. However, if part of the required funds can be raised, then international organizations will assist — but the yachting and marine industry will need to start putting their hands in their pockets if they want to solve the problems facing the industry on a region-wide basis.
John Duffy, President Caribbean Marine Association www.caribbeanmarineassociation.com