VOYAGE TO
SAINT LUCIA
Authority, IGY Rodney Bay Marina,
and the ARC Planning Committee –
did everything to ensure that things
worked seamlessly.
Aside from events hosted at
IGY Rodney Bay Marina, other
ARC-related events were held
at Anse La Raye and other areas
across Saint Lucia. Yachties are
the adventurous type and often
explore the island rather than just
stay in the Marina. That way, the
economic benefits are spread
across the island. During these
events, yachties feast on the best
Saint Lucia has to offer: cold beers
and rum punches, delectable
foods, and soothing steelpan
music.
Devaux noted that some ARC-
related events are held away from
the Marina so that the economic
benefits are spread across the
island. However, he believes that
Saint Lucia can do much more to
develop the yachting sector so as
to enjoy the unfathomable benefits
the sector offers.
“The thing about the marine
industry is that there’s economic
flow at all levels,” he stated. “For
example, in three weeks, the 2018
ARC put around US$3.2 million
into the Saint Lucian economy. If
you compare that to the return on
investment, it’s quite high.”
He’s right. Take, for example, the
fact that while hundreds of yachties
visit Saint Lucia for the ARC each
year, many of their relatives often
forego the arduous journey across
the Atlantic by flying into Saint
Lucia to meet up with them. This
results in more hotel rooms being
booked. Even the yachties often
book hotel rooms for a few days to
unwind from being on the water.
While estimates suggest that the
ARC continues to have a positive
socio-economic impact in Saint
Lucia, Devaux contends that it
would be difficult to quantify the
event’s true dollar value.
“It’s an insurmountable sum, really,”
Devaux told me. “I mean, the ARC
has even had a positive impact
on the youth who have benefited
from the lessons offered. There are
22 SL-YOU | It’s All About Business
also freelancers who operate in the
Marina fixing boats and the like. So
there are much more opportunities
that actually meet the eye when it
comes to the ARC.”
A major priority for ARC organizers
remains safety in the yachting
sector. While a great deal of
potential exists within the sector,
Devaux believes all stakeholders
need to tailor it so that it becomes
sustainable. He gave a practical
scenario that doesn’t really seem
far-fetched.
“At the end of the day, a yachtie
can leave Saint Lucia and sail to
Grenada, where the wind is also
free,” he explained. “The most
that yachtie might have to do is
get some provisions and about
ten gallons of gas. So, for about
EC$300, that yachtie can choose
to be in either country. It’s a
competitive market, so security is
always number one priority.”
About two years ago, the yachting
sector experienced a spike in
security issues – dinghy thefts,
www.slyoumag.com | February - April 2020