Marina Manager's welcome for ARC+ crews - Thanks for bringing the marina to life!

2021 ARC+ crews © ARC Atlantic Rally for Cruisers

With 66 boats now safely docked here in Grenada, the ARC+ programme on shore continues. Yesterday evening, all ARC+ participants, young and old, were invited by Zara Tremlett to the Marina Manager's Welcome event, which was held near the poolside area of this picturesque marina on the spice island of Grenada.

We were also honoured to have resident Commissioner of the British High Commission in Grenada, Wendy Freeman and Petra Roach, CEO of Grenada Tourism Authority attending the event where ARC+ sailors had a wonderful time, with lively music, drinks and canapés Another fabulous night to remember after many days at sea!

Zara Tremlett, Marina Manager has been on the docks to welcome almost each and every one of the boats and crews from the 30 different nations taking part and spoke of how proud they must feel now they have completed their transatlantic crossing:

"It's been absolutely wonderful watching you bring this marina to life; thank you. We love having you here and I'm sure you are all proud of your achievements - I certainly would be and we look forward to getting to know you all. Having done about 40,000 steps greeting you all over the last few days, I want to start off by thanking the Grenada Tourism Authority, who we've been collaborating with for several months now. They are absolutely wonderful people to work with and most of you have met them on the dock, so you know what I'm talking about. Also, thanks to the World Cruising Club ARC+ team who have been really great as well. Thank you to all of them and to Managing Director of WCC, Andrew Bishop. I would also like to thank Charlotte Fairhead and to her team who have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure everyone had a very special welcome; and not least of all, the Port Louis Marina team (huge hurrah!). Thank you so much, and also I have to say thank you to Kate and Deacon who are a couple of cruisers who have been locked down here over covid and I think you saw Deacon doing the ground lines for you in the tender as you were coming in. Enjoy your evening," she said as she also told everyone that the Covid curfew had officially been lifted today too!.

Zara then went on to introduce Wendy Freeman, the resident British High Commissioner here in Grenada: "Good evening everybody. I am the resident Commissioner at the British High Commission here in St George's. I am delighted to be here and thank you for inviting me. Congratulations, you guys, you made it here! It is great to see so many of you here, it really is. I am sure you will have already experienced, or soon will do if you haven't already, the warmth of the Grenadian welcome and hospitality. I've been here two years now and it's one of the friendliest places I've been to. The island has really suffered during Covid and the last tourist high season was sadly virtually wiped out so it's been a real boost to tourism to see you all here. Enjoy your time in Grenada."

Suzana Tetlow, World Cruising Club Operations Manager said: "We would like to thank our host here tonight, Zara Tremlett, Marina Manager at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina Grenada. Can I just say on behalf of all the ARC+ participants, thank you very much to Wendy Freeman and to Zara and her team here at C&N Port Louis Marina who have done such a fantastic job. They all went out of their way to make us all feel at home and made us very welcome here!"

Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina is a perfect regatta and racing destination having been recently refurbished in 2019. It has the ability to host internationally recognised events such as ARC+ and more regional events such as Grenada Sailing Week and the Billfish Tournament.

Port Louis Marina is a year-round destination in the southern Caribbean, seeing more and more popularity due to it being an authentic Caribbean island, and for yachts and superyachts particularly, considered a hurricane safe destination as Grenada lies just south of the hurricane belt. It has exceptional facilities on site, including yacht provisioners, food and beverage options and a swimming pool! 24hr security and an international team onsite, with seasonal and visitor berthing available, along with a small number of berths for sale allowing a unique opportunity to own a slice of Grenada and make Port Louis Marina a 'home port.' A great host port for the ARC+ and we look forward to coming back next year!