The Moorings Charter Company Begins Major Expansion
in The British Virgin Islands
Work begins on an over $10 million expansion to The Moorings flagship base.
Clearwater, FL (Wednesday July 11, 2007) – The Moorings announced construction has commenced on an over $10 million project which would bring significant enhancements to its flagship base in Road Town, Tortola. The Moorings village when completed will be located on the southern end of the current property which is being extended. The village will provide a tropical oceanfront setting to enjoy the refreshing cooling of the trade winds while starting or completing a vacation with The Moorings. Guests will enter through a lushly landscaped circular drive and arrive under a covered entrance highlighted by a major water feature. The complex is designed to take advantage of the ocean views with an open plaza for retail shops and concierge style customer service. It will consist of a new customer reception area and lounge with wi fi service, multi media equipped briefing area, club style shower facility, over the water gazebo bar & restaurant, a new state of the art conference area and new oceanfront hotel suites. The new retail shops will open onto an outdoor dining plaza which overlooks the harbor. As part of this expansion, a new environmentally responsible breakwater will be built to provide additional slip space and the new waterfront area on the main harbor. “The Moorings is proud to unveil this project which will be the newest and most environmentally friendly charter facility in the Caribbean if not the world and is at the forefront of modern marina design.” commented Lex Raas President The Moorings.
World Class Service & Facilities
The entrance to The Moorings village will occur from a new circular drive with a porte cochere offering a covered entrance for taxi drop offs to provide comfortable transits.
The heavily landscaped grounds will immediately welcome guests to an environment focused on relaxation and easing into a vacation where all the details are taken care of by The Moorings team. Guests will be met at the entrance and escorted into the reception lounge for a complimentary welcome drink. Their bags will be transported for them to their waiting yacht. While at the base guests can take advantage of a retail plaza featuring services such as an open air coffee and ice cream shop, bookstore and boutique. In addition a new full service spa will be available to provide massages and other health and beauty services. Guests can also enjoy drinks and food in the tropical breezes in an over the water restaurant and bar gazebo with combined indoor and outdoor seating for approximately 100 guests. This area will overlook the main entrance to Road Town harbor with views across Sir Francis Drake Channel to Peter Island and beyond.
A new bath house will feature club style amenities with individual private dressing areas with showers, sinks and water closets. These showers will provide solar heated water to assist in maintaining an environmentally friendly village. The new docks and jetty will allow for additional dockage of approximately 120 yachts and provide easier access for the beamier designs of the new monohulls and continually expanding fleet of catamarans.
Environmental Leadership
The Moorings has been working closely with the government of the British Virgin Islands to ensure these improvements will also benefit the entire Road Town area and harbor. The new breakwater that will be built is designed with multiple channels to increase the natural flow into the harbor and improve seawater circulation. Furthermore, natural circulation will be assisted through seawater pumps that move existing water from the harbor entrance into the innermost portion of the harbor. This water will also be filtered to enhance the quality as well as the circulation. “The Moorings has always focused to ensure that we operate in the most environmentally friendly manner and believe this new facility will serve to set the bar at a higher level for all charter operators throughout the world.” commented Peter Cochran Vice President of Operations. The Moorings is also implementing additional environmental actions such as the use of biodegradable detergents for yacht cleaning and laundry services, use of non tin based antifouling bottom paint and the use of recycled paper products in cleaning packages.
The construction has commenced this summer and is expected to be completed during first quarter 2008. The existing hotel, pool, restaurant and bar along with the dockside amenities continue to remain for the use of all guests of Wickhams Cay II marina. OBM International through its office in The British Virgin designed the improvements and local contractors are in charge of construction.
The Moorings is the world’s premier yacht charter company, with bareboat (sail-it-yourself), crewed charters (with professional captain and chef) and power yacht charters (captain yourself or crewed) in some of the most desirable locations in the Caribbean, South Pacific, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and North America. The Moorings, has 800 employees, more than 850 yachts, in over 30 locations and offers the largest catamaran charter fleet in the world.