USVI Charter Yacht Show to take place in November in St. Thomas
by Carol Bareuther 2 Jun 2020 07:25 PDT
12-15 November 2020
2019 USVI Charter Yacht Show at IGY's Yacht Haven Grande Marina © Phil Blake
Organizers of the USVI Charter Yacht Show, the premier event in the U.S. Virgin Islands for charter brokers and crewed yachts to see and be seen, are pleased to announce that the 2020 show will take place November 12 to 15, at IGY's (Island Global Yachting) Yacht Haven Grande Marina.
Show organizers wish to assure the well-being of brokers, crews and the community alike and will adhere to COVID-19 safety orders in place at the time. This 'Best of all Worlds' Show', organized by the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA), features a one-stop-shop opportunity for charter brokers to see an impressive display of sail and power catamarans, monohulls and luxury motor yachts all in one location at one time. What's more, the event also enables crews, managers and local vendors to kick off their Caribbean season and promote themselves and their services at one of the finest global luxury superyacht marinas.
"IGY's Yacht Haven Grande Marina is the ultimate base for yachts of all sizes to visit, stage and prepare for their upcoming charter season," says Phil Blake, general manager of Yacht Haven Grande Marina. "Additionally, our unparalleled dockside services, unique resort-like amenities including a swimming pool, tennis courts and a fitness facility, and comfortable deep draft along-side berthing, plus 24/7 security makes IGY's Yacht Haven Grande Marina the best spot in the Caribbean to welcome and receive guests."
Charter brokers, yacht crews and charter guests alike will find two notable additions at IGY's Yacht Haven Grande Marina. The first is the use of the property's prominent outdoor spaces for artists to display their culturally rich pieces, thanks to a partnership with the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts. Among the first is a larger than life-sized mural painted onto one of the premises' buildings. The second key change is that IGY has introduced a new restaurant group that will operate three of Yacht Haven Grande's food and beverage establishments.
The three restaurants, Navy Beach, ISLA Cantina and Sylvette, will open for the upcoming season. Navy Beach serves casual coastal cuisine with a Caribbean flair. ISLA Cantina offers Mexican-inspired cuisine, while Sylvette is a French-Mediterranean neighborhood-style bistro. All these establishments, as well as Enkai Sushi and Moe's Gourmet Grocery, will be open in time for the 2020 USVI Charter Yacht Show.
Arrive early, receive discount
IGY's Yacht Haven Grande Marina is making it easy, and inexpensive, for crews to jump-start their season early. First, the exceptionally low show berthing rate of U.S. $1.50 per foot per day starts November 4 through November 22. Secondly, there's an additional 10 percent early-bird discount for dockage paid in full before September 11. Third, the 'on arrival' fuel rate comes with a 10 percent discount. What's more, yachts traveling north from the Southern Caribbean for the show or chartering in this area afterward can enjoy a 5 percent dockage discount at IGY Marinas in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, and Isle de Sol, St. Martin, from November 1 to December 15, 2020.
"We always arrive at Yacht Haven Grande at least 7-days before the USVI Charter Yacht Show. This affords us time to prepare the boat for the show and the charter season. YHG provides convenient access to all the necessary goods and services. YHG also provides our guests with a convenient and high-end marina to commence their charters. The high-end feel of the marina, and the high level of service from the staff, creates an awesome first impression and sets the proper tone for the remainder of their luxury charter week," says Dennis Pemberton, owner of the 65' motor yacht, Cool Breeze.
Superyachts welcome
Over 70 yachts are expected to attend, including catamarans 80-feet and longer and motor yachts in the 100- to 150-foot range. The latter is a segment of the Caribbean crewed charter market that IGY's Yacht Haven Grande Marina caters to in a signature way. This includes everything from marina operations to services and amenities, with in-slip high-speed fueling, waste and oil removal, 24-hour security, on property shops, restaurants, yacht provisioning and catering, and nearby access to a laundry, fitness center and chandlery. These elements in 2019 led IGY's Yacht Haven Grande Marina to not only receive an elevation in its status to the Platinum 5 Gold Anchor level, but to once again be named 'Towergate's Superyacht Marina of the Year', the only marina in the world to receive this prestigious award twice.
"Yacht Haven Grande is like our second home. There's a dynamite team, always willing to find us a place on the dock and ready with a smile whether catching our lines, filling our tanks, and running our provisions, our guests, luggage, ice, etc., to the yacht. They are all an extension to our boat and part of our team," says Denise Melton, chef aboard the 60' catamaran Blue Pepper and winners of both the Best in Show over 56' and Best Themed Yacht during the 2019 USVI Charter Yacht Show evening Yacht Hop event.
A charter broker's dream
Over 150 charter brokers from the Caribbean, U.S. and Europe are expected to attend this 'must-do' show for international yacht charter professionals. Easy airlift via direct flights to St. Thomas from major U.S. international gateway cities such as Boston, Chicago, JFK-New York, Newark-New Jersey, Washington Dulles, Charlotte, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Miami makes it easy to fly to St. Thomas from the U.S. or Europe. For those attending the Charteryacht Society of the BVI's Fall Charter Yacht Show, the USVI Charter Show offers direct water taxi service from the BVI to IGY's Yacht Haven Grande with expedited U.S. Customs clearance. Once in the USVI, there are discounted rates at the show's preferred hotels.
"Yacht Haven Grande Marina is my preferred embarkation/disembarkation for my charter clients. The marina is only 15 minutes away from the major airport on the island, making it extremely convenient for charter guests to arrive on the island and quickly get to their charter yacht. The charter guest's experience begins the moment they step off that plane; Yacht Haven Grande is part of that experience and knows how to provide exceptional service to all who visit their grounds," says Laura Sharp, charter broker with Fort Lauderdale-headquartered Denison Yachting.
New for 2020
This is VIPCA's fourth year as host of the USVI Charter Yacht Show. As such, the evolution of the show's dynamic four-day action-packed event schedule is something the show organizers are truly excited to showcase for 2020.
"Seminars with catered lunches ashore provide industry updates, leaving the evening events to focus on the networking between crews and charter brokers. The first night, we embark on a sunset sail for our Welcome Party. Night two has metamorphosed into a Progressive Dinner with three seatings onboard participating yachts. The third and final night has moved ashore to the chic new Navy Beach restaurant for the lauded Awards Dinner Ceremony. New for charter brokers comfort and convenience, there will be safe baggage storage and shower facilities in addition to the VIP Wi-Fi business-lounge and complimentary golf cart services," says Oriel Blake, VIPCA executive director.
Register now, pay later
Crewed Yachts and Charter Brokers are invited and encouraged to register early for the USVI Charter Yacht Show at vipca.org/usvi-charter-yacht-show
No payment is needed now, only an active VIPCA membership is required for your registration to be valid.
Sponsors of the USVI Charter Yacht show include the USVI Department of Tourism; Yacht Haven Grande; IGY Marinas; Offshore Marine; the Gowrie Group; Denison Yacht Sales; Moe's Fresh Market; Grey Goose, distributed by West Indies Company; Veuve Clicquot and Captain Morgan, distributed by Bellows International; the Charter Yacht Broker Association; Cardow Jewelers; Harbor Shoppers and La Royale Cosmetics.