NASSAU, Bahamas -- The manager of New Providence's newest full-service marina said today he is expecting a "solid season" that could see as much at 50% improvement in boat slip rentals and an even greater increase in fuel and other service-related sales.
Demaro Demeritte, dockmaster at Palm Cay Marina, offered the positive projection after the third hurricane-free year.
"In one week, the official hurricane season will close and at this point there is nothing on the horizon that gives us cause to worry," said Demeritte, who took the helm of the 194-slip marina in 2014, less than two years after it opened and months after it was equipped with full fuel service, sophisticated electrical hook-ups and wi-fi, placing it in a position to compete with marinas that cater to luxury vessels.
"Yachtsmen look at weather even more than the rest of us do, so when you have one season, then two, without a hurricane, it builds confidence. That is part of the reason I think we are already seeing a good jump in reservations of visiting boats."
But reasons besides being storm-free are also influencing boaters, said Demeritte.
"Two years ago, Palm Cay Marina was just getting started," he said. "It was new and relatively unknown. But thanks to the original management and to the developers of Palm Cay who really believed in the marina's potential, it has become one of the boating hot spots for The Bahamas. BASRA (Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association) has named us an outpost - the only one in this area. It's the closest marina to Exuma so we are seeing both locals and visitors who know they are cutting six to seven miles off a 35-mile trip between mid-Nassau and Highborne Cay, even more if they were at a dock or marina west of town. And Palm Cay Marina is the site of a lot of family boating activity, particularly with local boaters who can zip out to the south side for a day of fishing and return long before dark."

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