St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The USVI Charter Yacht Show kicks off Thursday, November 12 at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande Marina. Sixty yachts will exhibit. Over 100 charter brokers will attend virtually from the Caribbean, the U.S. and Europe, plus over 50 charter brokers will attend in person, including brokers representing Fort Lauderdale, Florida-headquartered Denison Yachting, the Show’s official Yacht Sales Company. This industry event, organized by the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA), gives yacht brokers a chance to meet crews and visit the fleet of yachts aboard which they will book clients on future week-long, all-inclusive vacations. This year, VIPCA has created an option for those who wish to attend but cannot do so in person. With the show’s new virtual platform, charter brokers can view live seminars, crew interviews, and up-to-date tours of the yachts as well as the awards ceremony. All live segments will be archived and offered for steaming for a full year to virtual show registrants. Rigorous COVID-19 Safety Protocols are in place to assure the well-being of in-person attending brokers, exhibitors, and island residents alike.
Photo: The 82-foot motor yacht, Runaway, will exhibit at the 2020 USVI Charter Yacht Show.
“Welcome back to St. Thomas and to the 2020 U.S. Virgin Islands Charter Yacht Show at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande, winner of the Superyacht Marina of the Year 2020. By now you already know that the U.S. Virgin Islands have much to offer, be it on land or sea. I truly believe there is no better place than the U.S. Virgin Islands from which to embark on a maritime adventure. The 2021 season will again demonstrate that fact to legions of sailors, vacationers, and all those who want to experience the beauty, serenity, and majesty of cruising one of the most magnificent marine environments in the world. The show is an opportunity to see the luxurious vessels, both in person and virtually, and meet some of the amazing crews that make it all possible,” says the Honorable Albert Bryan, Jr., Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Don’t Miss – Industry Update
The ‘Industry Update Seminar’ will be a must-view this year. It will be presented in person, and live-streamed to the virtual show website for viewing by pre-registered show participants, on November 12, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (AST) (UTC+4).
“We are honored to have both the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Commissioner of Tourism and Commissioner of Health, providing Government updates relative to the marine charter industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as several private sector executives who will provide insight on tourism in the territory today. Many questions will be answered that have arisen out of this new era of chartering amidst a viral pandemic, and more detail will be provided on the new and exciting charter itineraries between the U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix and Puerto Rico’s neighboring islands: Vieques, Culebra and Culebrita,” says Oriel Blake, VIPCA Executive Director.
A Boutique Fleet
Sixty yachts are registered to exhibit at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande marina for the USVI Charter Yacht Show. The show fleet, which collectively averages 55-foot LOA, includes a diverse mix of vessels: sailing monohulls and catamarans up to 80-feet and longer and motor yachts in the 80- to 120-foot range. One of these is Runaway, an 82-foot Azimut power yacht.
“Yacht Runaway is a classic Italian yacht in a category all its own with a grand history and fall 2020 refit with modern amenities designed to delight. We are excited to exhibit in the 2020 USVI Charter Yacht Show and have the highest of expectations of a highly successful yet very responsible boating season. Our crew is professionally accomplished and well trained to accommodate the needs of any charter guests. Captain Shachar Ben-David is a 20-year Coast Guard veteran, who is extremely familiar with maritime safety as well as Caribbean waters, while Chef Charlie Bellamy is culinary trained and highly experienced at sea. With all that has happened in the last year, we are prepared and ready to take on the challenges of our ever-changing boating environment. We are delighted with the opportunity to provide a once in a lifetime experience to all charter guests,” says Jason Jackson, Runaway’s owner.
As the Show’s official Yacht Sales Company, representatives of Denison Yacht Sales will be on-site to preview the company’s fleet.
“Denison’s featured yacht charters are comprised of hand-selected yachts by our charter management specialists. Each yacht and crew are inspected and approved by the Denison team,” says Josh Valoes, marketing director for Denison Yachting.
In-Person Registration Still Open
Online attendance can’t beat attending the USVI Charter Yacht Show in person, and for this reason, there are rigorous Government approved COVID-19 Safety Protocols in place. These include requiring a negative COVID-19 test result for arrival into the territory, daily thermal testing, face coverings, hourly yacht sanitization, viewings of yachts with no more than four brokers at a time and no group events. The Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands will allow mass gatherings of up to 100 people indoors and outdoors effective November 9th. Therefore, physical charter broker attendance will be capped at 100 this year, so anyone considering attending in-person should register soon. Physical attendance is FREE for every broker in a VIPCA-member brokerage and is available to non-members for US $100 per person. Online access is free with in-person registration. To register for physical attendance at the Show, visit: https://vipca.org/charter-broker-registration/
Physical attendees to the Show can listen to the recorded October 14 Webinar, 2020 Yacht Show Q&A for Brokers, at https://vipca.org/charter-broker-registration/
Yacht Show Virtual Element Q&A Webinar Set for November 5
Brokers participating in the digital element of the show and its Virtual Yacht Show website can register for an instructive and informative Webinar with the opportunity to ask and have questions answered. This is set for November 5, 3 p.m. AST (UTC+4). To register, visit https://vipca.org/charter-broker-registration/ or email info@vipca.org
Sponsors of the USVI Charter Yacht show include the USVI Department of Tourism; Yacht Haven Grande; IGY Marinas; Gowrie Group, a Division of Risk Strategies; Denison Yacht Sales; Offshore Marine; Northern Lights, distributed by Parts and Power; 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.
ABOUT VIPCA
VIPCA is the territory’s 501(c)(6) nonprofit marine association, whose purpose is to promote, protect and further the capabilities of charter yachts and the marine businesses that sustain them. Projects and initiatives VIPCA membership supports includes producing a marine directory of local information, technical advice and resources; improving Customs and Border Protection facilities; facilitating access for charter vessels between the USVI and Spanish Virgin Islands; compliance guidance; installation of territory-wide new transient moorings; and marine vocational training for V.I. youth under the organization’s charity fiscally sponsored by Community Foundation Virgin Islands (CFVI.net), the Marine Rebuild Fund.
