CONGRATULATIONS TO CONCH CHARTERS
Almost everyone in the BVI Sailing world knows Cindy
Chestnut & Brian Gandey and Peter Twist, owners
of Conch Charters. All At Sea joins
the BVI marine community in congratulating these three on their new offices on
the ground floor waterfront at Fort Burt Marina. The Grand Opening was a
festive occasion where friends, sailors of the community and members of the
press gathered to celebrate in their new space and at a super cocktail party on
the dock outside where their fleet is located.
Cindy
says that they have moved five times. “From our humble beginnings with
the office in Brian’s and my apartment, to the tiny “linen
closet” in the Island Marine Supply Building, to the turret of Fort Burt
Hotel, to part of the top floor of the Marine Supply Building, to the entire
bottom floor with three extra store rooms. What a difference 18 years
makes. We now have three times the space we used to have, as well as
consolidating our sales and operations personnel. Before, the guys in charge of
operations were across the street where communication was always difficult as
it was dangerous for them to cross the busy Waterfront Drive about 20 times a day
each.”
Conch
Charters has remained a family-run business chartering exclusively out of the
BVI for over 19 years. They offer crewed or bareboat,
catamarans or mono-hull yachts and have a clientele that return year after
year. Good for you, Brian, Cindy & Peter – Way to Go!
RAINBOW HOME CHILDREN TAKE DAYSAIL ON WHITE SQUALL II
Children from the Rainbow Children’s Home in
Road Town, Tortola were
treated to a fun day at sea on board recently when the
White Squall II, the oldest daysail
charter boat in service in the BVI, took them out for the day. The trip was
organized by the Centre for Applied Marine Studies at the H.
Lavity Stoutt Community College.
His Excellency Governor Thomas Macan, in
collaboration with the Virgin Islands Powerboat Association and the crew and
management of White Squall II
sponsored the event. They sailed to Norman Island
where they had an opportunity
to swim at Pirates Beach and were given a
splendid lunch on board. Geoffrey Brooks, from the Centre for Applied Marine
Studies, said that he “could not thank the crew of
White Squall II enough. They are just fabulous! They make every
child feel special”.
President
of the Power Boat Association, Dwayne Smith pointed out that this was the third
year in a row that the event was organized and that “we look forward to
it every year as the highlight of our holiday activities. With the support of
Governor Macan and the outstanding crew of the
White Squall II it is a wonderful
experience for everyone involved”. Chris Smith, Captain of the
Classic 80 ft schooner built of wood in 1936, said “It’s all about
the kids, that’s what sharing means to us and we love doing it. We
can’t wait till next year”
COOPER ISLAND BEACH CLUB
CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Cooper Island Beach Club, a small resort on Manchioneel Bay
on the northwest corner of Cooper Island,
celebrated their 25th year as one of the top mooring and restaurant
stops for chartering yachts in the BVI recently. Cooper Island is
approximately one and a half
miles long by a half mile wide, and lies about five miles south of
Tortola. Originally a private house, the Beach Club was
renovated and expanded in 1980, and has now been operated continuously by us
for the past quarter century. Their beach front restaurant and bar offers one
of the best sunset views in the islands where meals are served in an informal
setting. Apart from the Beach Club and its staff, there is one local family,
five holiday houses and lots of goats on the island. Congratulations to all of
you – we love sailing to your beautiful island!
