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A FIRST FOR ANGUILLA The Mega Yacht Marina at Altamer

The Mega-yacht Marina to be constructed as an integral part of the further development of Altamer Resort is to be the first of its kind in Anguilla and is expected to be a facility with great tourism potential for the island, attracting the rich and famous.

L-R: Victor Banks, Kenneth Harrigan, Michael Eggleton, CM Fleming, Andrew Farkas and Rebecca Eggleton

Altamer, located at Shoal Bay West, renowned as one of the world’s most luxurious villa resorts, held a ground-breaking ceremony on Monday, July 9, to announce the joint venture partnership with Island Global Yachting. The five-star mega-yacht marina and real estate development will comprise a luxury resort hotel, retail and residential components. The marina is scheduled to open in the 4th Quarter of 2009.

The Altamer Resort and Marina project expands on the vision of owners Rebecca and Michael Eggleton to develop a product that would appeal to the upper end of the tourism market.
Mrs Eggleton said the partnership with Island Global Yachting will develop the luxury marina facility capable of accommodating boats and yachts of up to 300 feet and will be an official point of entry to the island for such vessels. The development will feature a 101-slip marina of which a significant portion of the berths will accommodate mega-yachts as well as 740,000 square-feet of upland space slated for a 164-unit luxury resort.

Conceptual Presentation of Marina

She said that an area had been set aside for local fishermen’s boats as an alternative to Cove Bay. “Additionally, we are going to have an accredited vocational school to train Anguillians to take on more skilled roles,” she stated. “We will have a commitment to the environment that will match international standards.”

She thanked a number of people who have been supportive of them as well as the present and past governments for helping them realise their vision.

Founder and CEO of Island Yachting, Andrew Farkas, said he had a great love for the people, culture and environment of Anguilla and the rest of the Caribbean, having grown up and lived in the region. “Island Global Yachting is basically committed to creating a new concept in hospitality which is the construction and operation of yachting oriented resorts world-wide,” he said.

“Island Global Yachting was conceived only approximately 30 months ago and in a few months has emerged as the number one brand of its sort in the world,” he went on. “Already, we have venues either under operation or in development in Mexico, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten, now Anguilla, St. Thomas, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Florida, South Carolina, New York, throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and even in Oman and Jubai.”
He said Anguilla had always been a special venue for him since in 1985 when he chartered a 65-foot sail boat from Bobby’s Yacht Marina in St. Maarten and his first stop was in the bay area in front Cap Juluca. “From that day forward, I have always promised myself that if there is a way I could do something in Anguilla, I would find a way to do it,” he stated. “Having the opportunity to announce that today, in joint venture and partnership with my new dear friends and partners, the Eggletons, is indeed a privilege for Island Global Yachting.”

Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming said that in the early 1990’s the Anguilla Government took a decision that the island should be the showcase of the Caribbean and to that end it was long decided that Anguilla would aim at the upper end of the market.

He commended the Eggletons for their serious approach to development in Anguilla and thanked his ministerial colleagues and civil servants for their support in realising the mega-yacht marina and the expansion of Altamer Resort. He wished the developers every success in their development plans.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Victor Banks, also joined in commending the Eggletons. He made the point that Anguillians were not only interested in employment, but in ownership and participation at all levels and having pride in what was being developed on the island.
He praised the Eggletons for the way in which they had regarded the wider Anguillian community. He said this had made the Government and people comfortable with the kind of approach that they have had to investment in Anguilla and the quality product that Mrs. Eggleton in particular insisted in having.

The ground breaking ceremony was attended by a large number of officials in the private and public sector.

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