Nevis To Host International Film Festival

The Nevis Cultural Development Foundation, in partnership with the Community Cohesion Foundation and the Community Development Board, will host the first Nevis International Feature Film Festival (NIF3) from May 3-8 at various locations around Nevis. The festival will provide a unique opportunity to reach a diverse audience and expose Nevis as a cultural destination. NIF3 aims to be a leading competitive showcase of first feature films from around the world, with a particular focus on the Caribbean region and emphasis on the discovery of first film works by new talent and emerging filmmakers. Entries are registered from Belize, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela. A blue-ribbon panel of judges has been selected to review the films including well-known German Director Joachim von Vietingham, who will serve as the special advisor to NIF3 and act as chief judge at the festival. More than $30,000 will be awarded in cash prizes for best regional feature, best regional documentary and best regional short, among others.

You do not have to be featured in a film to feel like a movie star. Climb aboard Texas Star, a 102 ' Azimut motor yacht, where you will find your own personal tranquility. From the sculpted tip of her bow to her luxurious salon, to her expansive fantail deck, Texas Star shines as the ideal antidote to cares of everyday life! Completely refurbished, and an awesome crew of 4, she is the perfect get away to refresh, relax and restore. She has been designed with all the luxuries and amenities (including a hot tub on the deck) for one express purpose - yours! Captain Marco and Chef Robyn will ensure you have an unforgettable adventure! Five fully furnished staterooms offer enough comfort and spaciousness to accommodate 10 guests. You do not need to be a movie star to enjoy every personal and professional service you would expect from this luxurious yacht! Click to learn more about a Texs Star Yacht Charter and see the summer deals available!

As you plan your next charter destination, consider Nevis. Hopefully, the film festival will put a spotlight on the unique culture of the region! - Donna

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Jazz Explosion On St. Lucia

The island of St. Lucia is set for a musical jazz explosion this weekend as it opens its 18th edition of the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, May 2-10. With British Grammy-winning stars Amy Winehouse and Estelle recently added to a stellar line-up of musical greats, including Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, James Ingram and Bebe Williams, this event is a big draw for the traveling public. The event helps boost St. Lucia's music industry, its Creole culture and the island's appeal in the international marketplace. Set to perform on Pigeon Island's main stage on Thursday, May 7 will be Jamaica's Original Wailers, the former reggae band of Bob Marley; Grammay winner Angelique Kidjo from Benin; and the popular French Antillean group, Kassav. On Friday, May 8, Amy Winehouse , KC and the Sunshine Band and local singer Shayne Ross have been confirmed. Saturday's line-up features the legendary George Duke who will team with Grammy winners Bebe Winans and James Ingram as well as Jeffrey Osborne and Teddyson John. Also on Saturday's program are Boo Hinkson, Michel Aubertin, Estelle and Michael McDonald. George Duke returns on Sunday to support performances by Grammy winners Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan as well as local singing sensation Nicole David. The UK-based Fate Sister; a local Pan Jazz band with Allison Marquis; famous American rock band Chicago; and reggae sensation Beres Hammond complete the line-up. Slated for the indoor venue at Gaiety on Rodney Bay on Tuesday May 5 are Jamaica's Monty Alexander Jazz and Roots, as well as a Dean Fraser ensemble. On Wednesday, May 6th, the Luther Francois and Emerson Nurse Quintet from St. Lucia as well as Barbara Cadet and Frenchman Khalid Kouhen will take center stage. St. Lucia is certainly a well-known charter destination, but this is a unique opportunity to be exposed to some of the best music and musicianship in the world. If you have chartered to St. Lucia, let us hear about your experience! - Donna

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Save Beef Island: Landmark Case

Somehow it seems fitting that this comes out around Earth Day. A landmark environmental case in the BVI, that was inspired in part by the Save the Guana Cay Reef action in the Bahamas, will be heard in the BVI High Court from April 27-29, 2009. The case, Virgin Islands Environmental Council v. Attorney General and Another, sets a precedent in the BVI as the first environmental and public interest challenge to a government decision. It involves judicial review of the former NDP Government's planning approval for a five-star hotel, marina and golf course that would destroy the scientifically documented biologically important Hans Creek Fisheries Protected Area in Beef Island. Legal issues in the case center around the irrationality of the decision in light of an over-arching "Development Agreement" which pre-approved many of the project components and the illegality of project approval in blatant contravention of the Fisheries Law prohibiting development that would adversely impact a fisheries protected area. On one side, the government maintains that the proposed $80 million project would bring in much-needed tax money, high-end tourists and mega-yachts to the BVI. On the other side, the Virgin Islands Environmental Council claims the proposed development at Beef Island would have irreversible adverse environmental impacts on this protected fisheries habitat. The case is being fought by the Virgin Islands Environmental Council (VIEC), a coalition of local fishermen, concerned residents, scientists and environmental activists. When local lawyers refused to assist, the group reached out to Fred Smith, Freeport attorney for Save Guana Cay Reef, who was the first attorney to give the group a legal opinion on the merits of the case. Due to numerous other commitments, Smith was unable to provide further legal assistance, but VIEC was able to secure the services of London counsel, Stephen Horckman, former chariman of the UK Bar Council and previous Chair of the Environmental Law Foundation. The case has received international attention and acclaim, including the support of Sir Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic Airways and Mosquito and Necker Islands in the BVI. Branson provides discounted flights on his airline for the legal team flying in from the UK. Funding the legal action, however, continues to be a major challenge. VIEC has been fortunate to receive the assistance of the Cambridge-based Ocean River Institute (ORI) a registered US Charity that provides support services for small environmental groups to take action in their own communities. In addition to raising tens of thousands of dollars to cover legal expenses, ORI has been instrumental in raising awareness around the world including an international petition with over 18,000 signatures and letters from individuals in support of the VIEC. Save Guana Cay Reef and the Beef Island case are just two Caribbean island examples of a world-wide phenomena - the struggle of local peoples and small land-owners against the powerful alliances of unscrupulous developers and politicians and their mega-resort and real estate development projects with the enormous problems they cause for society and the environment. This case represents a struggle to promote tourism models that value ecosystem survival, local communities, traditional culture and the way of life. During the April 27-29 hearing, it is expected that novel areas of law will be judicially considered that will affect the future of sustainable development, planning policy and the status of protected areas in the BVI and throughout the Caribbean.


Preserving the beauty of the BVI is important, and there is no finer way to enjoy it than aboard a crewed monohull like the 52' sloop, Silent Partner. You can embark on a Caribbean adventure of a lifetime. Whether you desere a romantic getaway, or simply a relaxing sailing vacation in the BVI or other exotic locations in the Caribbean, every need will be tended to aboard this beautiful BVI boat. You will enjoy world-class cuisine from the comfort of the luxurious salon or al fresco in the shaded cockpit on deck. The master cabin has a queen-size bed with its own shower and head - perfect for two guests. The crew has their own separate head and shower. You can get involved and take the wheel or just sit back and enjoy the sun and fun of a Caribbean sailing vacation. The experienced and professional crew have a 10 year reputation for outstanding service and performance. Come enjoy candlelit dinners, fine wines, intoxicating anchorages, seducing waters and alluring sights. Click for more information and a virtual tour of Silent Partner.

We will keep you posted on the outcome of this landmark case as the BVI's first environmental public interest group seeks to protect a breeding ground for several species of commercially important fish. - Donna

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Move Over Tim Dorsey and Carl Hiaasen

In responding to a request to identify another BVI author for fun summer reading, here goes. For those of you that enjoy the irreverent humor of a Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiassen novel, you now have another author to tickle your funny bone while on a BVI boat charter. SunFun Gospel by BVI author Julian Putley has just hit the stores across Tortola. Set on the fictional island of Dominida, a lush green island in the Caribbean, the novel is full of interesting characters. The story opens with a young father, Delroy, whose interest in the bar outweighs his interest in working hard to support his family. After a miracle occurs, his faith in a higher power is restored. He starts Bible study, is invited to give a sermon, and before the local pastor knows it, the once-lost Delroy is now the leader of his congregation, preaching borderline controversial values. Meanwhile, a fruit tycoon is cruising a string of several small islands with a group of guests aboard his mega yacht when they rescue a group of Haitians headed for the US. Seeing a chance to grab his 15 minutes of fame, the pleasure cruise is delayed. Eventually, the yacht ends up in Dominida where all the characters collide. The slick businessman sees an opportunity to swindle the small banana plantations run by the locals, but the newly-empowered Delroy decides to put a stop to the big banana business threatening the island. As the story unfolds, you'll be laughing out loud. Although very light reading, it is the perfect book to pick up and enjoy while on a BVI boat charter! If you have other books to recommend while on a charter, we would love to hear from you! - Donna

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BVI Customs Initiative

How many of you have taken the Ferry from Red Hook to West End, excited to start on your Tortola yacht charter adventure, only to wait in line in the heat to get through Customs. Especially if you travel on Saturday, that line can seem endless has BVIers return from a St. Thomas shopping trip! Well, things are soon going to get better!! As of Wednesday, April 15th, the Customs Department is testing an initiative - the green line/red line system- that will ease travel for passengers when they arrive at the Territory's port of entry. The concern was that the limited space at the territory's sea ports, especially at West End and Road Town, posed significant border security and enforcement challenges for workers. It also raised several concerns about the safety for the Port's users, as well as concerns of a congested and uncomfortable environment and insufficient space to properly examine goods. The Tourist Board, the Immigration Department, Ferry Operators and the Ports Authority have collaborated to create this initiative which will officially take effect on Tuesday, April 21, 2009. The green line/red line system will work as follows: passengers with goods to declare will go to the red line and special needs passengers and those with nothing to declare will go to the green line. This should alleviate congestion at the ports of entry which should make the arrival area more comfortable and pleasant. With the renovations at the West End Ferry Terminal and this new Customs initiative, you should be limin in no time, mon! - Donna

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The New Moorings Village

There is a new way to enjoy your time ashore prior to or after your Tortola yacht charter. If you have not been to Tortola for awhile, check out the new Moorings Village in Road Town. Following a $15 million investment, the renovated charter yacht base is impressive as it celebrates its 40th anniversary in business. The new Moorings Village facility is the most modern and environmentally friendly charter base in the Caribbean. Located on an extension at the southern end of the previously existing property, the complex has been developed entirely around the needs of sailors. Upon your arrival, guests are greeted in a covered porte cochere where the staff takes your bags. The reception area opens to a landscaped plaza with tables and chairs and a panoramic view of the Sir Frances Drake Channel. New shops offer island pastries, ice cream and gourmet coffee. A full service spa is also available providing the latest in relaxing treatments. A highlight of the new Moorings Village is Charlie's Bar and Restaurant built over the water and overlooking the harbor with cold cocktails and a casual menu. There is still the existing pool, full service restaurant and dockside market. New Ocean front hotel rooms offer luxury accommodations and the majority of existing rooms have undergone a much needed major renovation. Even if you are not staying overnight, if you choose to freshen up prior to departure there is a new modern club-style shower facility with private dressing area.

And, if you want to enjoy your time at sea, step aboard Chateau, a 42' Privilege Catamaran for the perfect vacation. She is comfortable, stable and spacious. Let Chateau be your bed and breakfast on the water! Guests will enjoy 3 private, spacious double guest staterooms each with ensuite vanity and private head and shower. She is fully air conditioned and beautifully appointed with rich cherry woods and vivid colors. The main salon is bright and airy with multiple windows and hatches. On deck, the warm tropical breezes will caress your body as you take advantae of the large cockpit skirted with sun beds. Experienced the thrill of sitting on the bow pulpit seats or lying on the trampolines while skimming over turquoise waters! For those of you who prefer to do your own cooking and take an active role in sailing, Chateau offers Captain Only charters. Click to learn more about a Chateau Captain Only Charter. A Tortola yacht charter is the perfect way to wake up each day to a new experience on a different island.

If you have been to the new Moorings Village, send us your review! - Donna

For more information or to book a room at
The New Moorings Village
Contact : Melody Delgado and Becky Mann, Yacht Charter Brokers
Email: info@visailing.com Phone: (800) 382-9666 • (941) 966-9387
Contact us via SKYPE

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More Than Jelly Beans!

If you happen to be on a Tortola charter this weekend, the Easter Bunny will be bringing more than jelly beans! Music acts from all over the Caribbean are converging on Virgin Gorda this Easter weekend for Easter Festival 2009. Called the "Musical City Festville", the show gets started on Saturday morning with an opening ceremony at 10am followed by a cultural fair at the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor until 6 pm. Local fungi groups will play during the day and favorite local food vendors will be on site to make sure no one goes hungry. The village opens at 7 pm Saturday nights with a packed lineup of Final Faze and Jam Session from the BVI, Daddy Jones and Company from St. Croix, and Caribbean Traffic Jam from Trinidad. Easter Sunday will be a long day for music lovers. It starts early with the Wete Fete at the St. Thomas Bay jetty in the Yacht Harbour, where St. Kitt's Nu Vybes Band, Tortola's own DJ Commodre and Pressure Band will entertain from 11 am on. This would be a good time to bring a picnic, eat lunch on the beach and listen to the tunes! At 9 pm, there will be a calypso show where local acts will compete for this year's title. Later, in the wee hours before dawn on Monday, Nu Vybes and Jam Session will lead a J'ouvert. A parade that begins at Enid Pickering Plaza will be the feature on Easter Monday and the route will lead to Festival Village. Entertainment will follow Monday evening with Virgin Gorda's onw Hypertech Band, Nu Vybes and Jam Tyme out of St. Thomas. So hop on over to Virgin Gorda for the weekend and celebrate Easter unlike anything you have ever done before. Forget the Easter Bonnet and fancy new clothes---just bring your swimsuit and sun block! Happy Holiday- Donna

Summer Croatia Charter Available

Think of a sailing vacation, and Croatia is probably not the first place that comes to mind. Yet with attractive coastlines, a welcoming and consistent climate, budget flights to these areas and a desire to embrace tourism, this destination is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the Caribbean for sailors wanting to exlore different cultures.

Croatia is one of the best sailing spots in the Mediterranean. Besides the clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, one of the sunniest climates in Europe and various winds that are ideal for sailing, the Croatian coastline contains more than 1,000 dazzling islands (many small and uninhabited) all located only a short distance from the mainland coast, offering safe easy navigation, protected harbors and good restaurants that are never far away. You can find over 350 varieties of fish and shellfish, and with many reefs, there is excellent diving and snorkeling as well as water sports and fishing. Whether exploring the ancient city of Pula near the Brijuni National Park; enjoying swimming, sailing regattas, spear fishing or water polo in the calm bays of Kvarner Bay and Istria Inlet; anchoring off one of the myriad of clean beaches on the island of Krk; relaxing on the majestic beach at Bot or the first class beaches and tranquil bays of Hvar, or touring the historic cities of Dubrovnik or Split, you will discover why Croatia is fast becoming a popular sailing charter destination.

You now have an incredible opportunity to enjoy Croatia and other ports of call in the Mediterranean aboard Kalikobass II. She is available from May through September or mid-October for charters. Kalikobass II has the ideal charter layout with four large double staterooms, each with individual AC controls, flat oanel TV, CD okayer, fridge and en suite head and shower. All cabins have changeable berths and may be configured as one king size bed or two generous twin beds. The two forward staterooms have the added special feature of a removable partition between them offering the option of having a spacious master with a centerline king bed with separate his and hers baths each with head and stall shower. British Captain Ross Murray is an exceptional charter captain leading a top-notch crew of 4 and continues to receive outstanding feedback from charter guests. Click if you want to learn more or check availablity for Kalikobass II.

If you are looking for an alternative to the Caribbean, consider a sailing charter to Croatia (or even Greece or Turkey!). Don't you owe it to yourself to have an amazingly unforgettable summer vacation? - Donna

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The Copper Mine on Virgin Gorda

The following information was provided by our Crewed Yacht Specialist, Gail Hartman:

Many people go to Virgin Gorda to explore The Baths, but you can also explore the nearby Copper Mine that is standing guard against the blue Atlantic. The Copper Mine is part of the National Parks that is throughout the British Virgin Islands. The ruins are located on the southeastern point of Virgin Gorda and were declated a BVI National Park in 2003. The Copper Mine was constructed in 1837 and its first shaft was sunk in 1838. In two separate periods over the next 24 years, 36 Cornish miners from England extracted ore from this site with the indispensable aid of some 140 BVI workmen. The mine was finally abandoned in 1862, and has stood as testament to these industrious men ever since. The shaft was driven by a coal-powered steam engine of Cornish design. The miners extracted the precious ore and sent it by ship back to South Wales. On the return trip, the ship would bring provisions, wood for construction, pay for the workers and coal with which to power their steam engine. Records reveal that by 1860, the shaft had reached a depth of 240 feet below sea level! To this day, you can still see the rich veins of copper which attracted the miners to this ruggedly beautiful point with its spectacular views of the Sir Frances Drake Channel. The copper mine road leading to this historic site was originally built by the miners, allowing them to haul their ore to Spanish Town for shipment to South Wales. If you go to visit, check out the great view of Fallen Jerusalem!

If you want to learn more about Virgin Gorda, watch for our May issue of Charter Chatter! We will also have information about Anegada. Both islands are wonderful destinations for your Tortola charter. - Donna