In the Community

Sol has been a proud sponsor of the BVI Charter Boat show for three consecutive years. The 31st annual boat show attracted 74 luxury crewed yachts targeting local and international brokers. The event culminated with an awards dinner where Sol presented prizes to the four category winners of the ‘Sol Best in Show’ contest.

More than 20 local businesses participated in the Opening Night Marketplace. The show, which is the largest in the Virgin Islands, kicked off on November 6 and was brought to a close with the participants dancing under the stars with sand under their feet to Quito and the Edge playing Reggae Express.
 
For the third year running, Sol awarded prizes for winners of the ‘Best Boat’ in four different categories. Sol Best Monohull winner was Blue Passion with Greg and Vanessa Langridge. The Sol Best Multihull under 55' was Gypsy Princess with Achilleas Tsiamis and Cleo Verheylewegen. Winner of the Sol Best Multihull over 55' was Tiger Lily with Harvey Jenkinson and Tracy Ford. Winner of the overall Sol Best in Show title was Nutmeg with Leopald and Ginette Richard.  The winners in each category received two round trip tickets from Beef Island, Tortola to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and hand crafted recycled-glass boats from Green VI Glass Studio. A panel of incognito judges toured all the participating yachts and met the crew to determine the best crew/yacht combination in each category.

“Sol has been serving the marine industry in the BVI for a number of years and we consider ourselves to be a relevant component of the charter business in the territory,” said Deborah Benjamin, country manager for Sol. “We recognize that sailing is a key tourism product for the BVI and as the country’s main supplier of fuel, lubricants, and LPG to the marinas, and of aviation fuel to commercial and private planes, we take our support role of the Charter Yacht Show seriously and are happy to contribute to its continued success.”

13 yachts also took part in the culinary contest which was judged by renowned Chefs Davide Pugliese, owner & chef at Wali Nikiti, Scrub Island, Kenneth Molyneaux, executive chef at Penn Hotels, Tortola, John Albright, executive chef and lecturer at HLSCC, Tortola, and Captain Jan Robinson, author & owner of Ship to Shore Inc. Judged on presentation, taste, creativity/originality, overall impression and use of fresh local Caribbean ingredients the category winners were Tara Bouis (Soterion) for Appetizer/Salad, Joseph Stiles (M/V Freedom) for Entrée, Vanessa Bush (Nexus) for Dessert,  Julie Bennett (Felicia) for Coffee, and Joseph Stiles (M/V Freedom) who won Best Overall award. Prizes were presented at the Governor’s reception held on November 8 at Government House.

The BVI Charter Yacht Show has established itself as the preferred Caribbean forum for the display of sailing yachts 44 feet to 120 feet to charter brokers. In previous years the show took place at Village Cay Marina and moved to Nanny Cay this year.

“We made a decision to move the show to Nanny Cay Resort and Marina because we felt that the layout and set up of the venue was a better fit for the format of the event,” said Janet Oliver, executive director, CYS of the BVI. “The new venue provided us with more space for the local vendor night which was hosted under tents on the beach. We also were happy with the display area for the organisers and sponsors as it was conveniently located right next to the docks. Having a chandlery and boatyard on site was also of added value to the yacht captains.”

Everyone seemed to enjoy the new location.  The setting, one broker commented, is more reflective of the tropical setting to which they send their guests.

The crewed yacht industry in the BVI generates more than $35 million dollars of business annually from high net-worth sailing charter guests who cruise the islands and enjoy the hospitality and natural beauty of the territory.

The Charter Yacht Society (CYS) is a non-profit organization which was founded in 1982 by independent owners of crewed yachts in the BVI. It is the only BVI government recognized body within the crewed charter industry. The society represents the organized voice of individual yachts and their crew. The CYS advocates, educates and promotes.