It has been almost 30 years since the birth of the Rodney Bay Marina – a magnificent transition from a mosquito swamp in the 1980s to an exceptional facility that has today become the pulse of social and commercial activities in the north of Saint Lucia.

The vision for what is now the Rodney Bay Marina was shared almost evenly between its founder Arch Marez and St Lucia’s first Prime Minister, Sir John Compton.

The Marina today stands as one of the Caribbean’s leading locations for yachting and sport fishing and attracts the wealthy attention of mega yachts to the humble beginnings of sail boats from around the world, some passing through Saint Lucia and others choosing the destination as its hub due to the equal reliability of the support services at the marina and the beauty of the island.

253 crafts can dock at once in the 4.5-acre boatyard, which fits perfectly with the outstanding slips available for mega yachts up to 285 feet with drafts of up to 14 feet.

The vision of the founders are coming into the focus of both the still fairly new owners, IGY and the country’s administrators who recognize the significance of the growing marine sector and the marina to the development of the island’s economy and global standing in the industry.

The outstanding facility is truly setting the pace of Saint Lucia’s economic development, serving as an official port of entry with immigration and customs firmly in place.

Its location has served as the baseline for the establishment of the Rodney Bay community, which encompasses duty-free shopping, fine dining, entertainment and residential accommodation that cater to both locals and visitors alike. At least three banks, all a stone’s throw from each other further amplify the area’s economic significance.

The marina itself is not outside the reach of the residents of the island, boasting facilities of all kinds that appeal considerably to the residents of the nearby communities albeit family, couple or individual activities.

For the past several years, the marina has served as the impeccable finishing line to the exciting 2,700 nautical miles Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), a punishing crossing endured by over 230 yachtsmen each year from around the world. ARC begins in Spain’s Canary Islands and for nearly 20 years it has ended at the Rodney Bay Marina.

The ARC has brought with it 20 years of amplified economic activity in the area and has served as a respected and anticipated economic driver in the island, serving as a revenue stream for even the smallest of vendors and tour operators.

Developing the facility that is now the Rodney Bay Marina was merely the beginning of the industry development that has now evolved as the pulse of an entire economy, sustaining it has become equally important.

This determination to growth and advancement has resulted in the development of a dry dock facility that can accommodate up to 120 boats with on-site workshops for wood, fiberglass, aluminum, stainless steel and bronze.

The upside about this dry dock, as with most of the facilities around the marina, is that it is maintained almost entirely by locally trained skilled personnel – equipped and able to care for and restore the most simple to the most complex luxury yachts available.

(Published – Business Focus St. Lucia. May 2015)