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Contact :
Ryan O’Brian
Wednesday, October 26 2004 - Officials at the Rodney Bay Marina are
preparing to receive hundreds of yachts and their crew, as the countdown
started, ahead of the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC).
General Manager of the Marina, Cuthbert Didier is expecting a large
international media presence, and is certain that small properties in the Rodney
Bay area will benefit from the influx of visitors.
“For one, we expect a very large contingent, in terms of media coverage –
international media, also the families of the participants and the families of
the crew. A lot of existing small properties will be benefiting - the Bay
Gardens, the Rainbow Hotel, now called the Rodney Bay Village, and you also have
Coco Creole, which is newly established. We have been able to book a number of
rooms for that event at discounted rates. We also expect a very huge contingent
from England, in terms of families, based on the number of e-mails received”,
Mr. Dedier said.
Entertainment for the ARC participants has always been a high priority item for
the local organisers, and Mr. Didier feels this year will be as good as ever.
“The entertainment this year is going to be very, very special. We have an ARC
committee that is chaired by the chairman of the St. Lucia Tourist Board, Mr.
Costello Michel, and we have met frequently. We have a list of not only in-
house activities, but also a lot of activities that are pretty high profile,
which includes venues, such as the Gaiety, certain hotels, and of course the
marina”, Mr. Dedier said.
Mr. Didier pointed out that improvements were being made to the marina, to
accommodate the expected 235 yeachts that have been registered.
The ARC fleet will leave Las Palmas, Grand Canaria on November 21, and the early
boats are expected to cross the Atlantic and arrive in St. Lucia very early in
December.
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