St George’s Mayor Kenneth Bascome is calling for Government to extend time limitations on sailors visiting the Island.Sailors can currently spend 21 days on the Island before they have to request an extension, but Mr Bascome said that by extending that period to 90 days, it would encourage more yachts to visit the Island.“It’s something that would be hugely beneficial for all the businesses in St George’s, and the Island as a whole,” he said.Yesterday, a combination of two sailing rallies and harsh weather in the Atlantic led to more than 75 yachts in St George’s Harbour and booming business in the town. “All the restaurants balconies are full of people,” Mr Bascome said.He added: “The attraction of these ships also encourages the residents to come to the town, which is another benefit.”Mr Bascome said he had previously sent a letter to Col David Burch when he was the Minister in charge of Immigration to request the limits be extended, but was never given a response.“The last week or so has caused me to reconsider and write to the current minister and ask for the current limit to be increased,” he said. “You can see for yourself what the yachts are doing for the town and the businesses.”Mark Soares of Bermuda Yacht Services agreed with Mr Bascome, stressing the potential value to the Island of having visiting yachts stay longer.“A lot of these guys, when they sail in, by the time they get here there’s something to fix on the boat, they need to stock up on supplies,” he said.“Twenty-one days goes very quickly. It doesn’t always leave any real opportunity to cruise and explore Bermuda, or hang around and spend money.“The boat can spend up to three months, even unattended, if they get permission.“What we are saying is the boat and the crew should be given the same amount of time, so they can cruise Bermuda’s waters and spend their money here as tourists.”Along with spending money in grocery stores and restaurants, Mr Soares said crewmen on the Island for longer stays would also use the Islands laundromats, barbers and golf courses, putting more money into the local economy.And this year, he said the number of yachts visiting the town has already set records.Mr Soares said last week, Ordnance Island had more yachts berthed there at once than ever before, including the 281ft Cakewalk, the largest American-made yacht built since the 1930s.“That was an attraction in itself,” he said. “Right now we have 600ft of yacht tied up here, and that’s cool. A few years ago, we would only have one.”Mr Bascome said that the yacht business is one part of the Corporation’s plans to reinvigorate the town, with plans to build two new hotels and a new marina moving forward.He said the Corporation is still looking into the possibility of modifying Town Cut to allow larger cruise ships, with the results of surveys expected by the end of this month.“From the people I have spoken with, most people are in favour of some sort of modification,” he said. “People have to remember that Town Cut is not natural.“It’s man made, and when ships got larger, modifications on it were done.“I don’t believe we need a cruise ship with 2,000 passengers, but I would like to see a regular ship.”He also said that during a public meeting held last month, the public expressed support for a proposed marina and boutique hotel in St George’s“The reaction that we had for the marina and hotel was overwhelmingly positive,” he said.“As I continue to say, before anything moves forward we want to know the people of St George’s are behind it. If we don’t have their support, then it really will not help us move forward.”