Minister addresses yacht race sailors’ concerns, says Island must do better
Updated: Jun 22, 2013 08:01 AM
Yachts from the Marion to Bermuda yacht race berthed in Bermuda after completing the 645-mile ocean crossing. Some yacht crews were left perplexed and feeling unwelcome after being told by Customs that they could not come ashore until the following morning if they arrived after 5pm.
Bermuda must do more to show that it’s open for business, Deputy Premier Michael Dunkley said, acknowledging that he’d been contacted by sailors complaining they’d been forced to anchor offshore during the Marion Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race.Mr Dunkley said he’d shared the complaint with Premier Craig Cannonier, Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell and Finance Minister Bob Richards.“It’s discouraging — but we will work through it and we’ll rectify it,” he told The Royal Gazette. “The Tourism Minister has been working very hard to promote Bermuda, and when people come here we should give the best of our service.”Participants in the race from the US were allegedly refused permission to dock ashore when they arrived after 5pm.
