Boating

Unchartered experiences await

There isn’t much watersportswise that you can’t do here — could hardly be clearer or warmer, and the winds could not be more favourable for sailing, which is why Bermuda was chosen to host the 35th America’s Cup, held in 2017.

Thanks to this event, the Island is now synonymous with one of the world’s greatest sporting events and the most prestigious trophy in all of sailing.

America’s Cup teams from France, Britain, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand the USA moved to Bermuda a year or more in advance of the racing. Hundreds of team members and their families became “locals” and fully integrated into our small community. During the monthlong racing, 30,000 spectators came from all over the world and dozens of super yachts with billionaire owners and well-heeled guest on board converged on the island to watch the racing in ultimate luxury.

Today, Bermuda is one of the international locations chosen to host the international SailGP global sailing league, where the world’s greatest sailors race wing-sailed foiling catamarans at speeds of more than 50mph. Sail GP will be returning to Bermuda in May 2024.

There are many intangibles to the legacy the America’s Cup left behind, but others, such as new marinas and other boating facilities, are very real.

Bermuda is a boater’s paradise and there’s no reason to spend the weekends stuck on dry land when there are so many options for having fun on the water.

There are thousands of reasons to go boating, and when you’re in well within your grasp.

Boating brings the family together and creates memories. There are few experiences that create as much fun as boating, whether you’re just out for a leisurely cocktail cruise, drop anchor for a day’s swimming and lounging in the sun, or perhaps something more active, such as wake boarding or tubing. It’s a great way to get exercise out in the sunshine and fresh air.

And while Bermuda’s land mass may be only a few square miles, cruising the coastal waters provides virtually unlimited recreation space perspective to how you see and think about your island home.

First, decide what will you use a boat for: family pleasure, water sailing? Next ask yourself what style of boat and size would you like and, of course, your budget.

There are several reputable boat dealers on the island, including Marine Locker (www.marinelocker. com) and A&P Marine (www. apmarine.bm) who can help you with the process of choosing the boat that’s right for you. Boats may not be trouble-free, but when you buy from a local dealer, you have the added reassurance of a warranty on new boats, and a trusted advisor for service and maintenance.

If you want to meet like-minded boaters, consider joining a club. The clubs listed below organise regular sailing regattas and also welcome motor boaters.

The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. www.rbyc.bm

The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club. www.rhadc.bm

Spanish Point Boat Club. www. spanishpointboatclub.bm

St. George’s Dinghy and Sports Club. www.stgdsc.com

Sandys Boat Club. www. sandysboatclub.com the Bermuda Anglers Club www. bermudaanglersclub.com. Its members come from all sectors of the community, with a focus on junior anglers and their families.

The Bermuda Government Department of Marine and Ports is responsible for monitoring commercial and recreational boat mooring registrations. Current fees and other information can be found on its website: www.gov.bm/ department/marine-and-ports

The hurricane season in Bermuda is from June 1st to November 30th. You will want to have a plan to take care of your boat during these months, in the event a tropical storm or hurricane hits the island. Owners of small boats will usually haul them out of the water. There are several precautions you can take for larger boats and we suggest you seek boat dealer or boat club.

Of course, maintaining a boat does come with some responsibilities. The highly skilled experts at (www.oymbermuda.com) will help you maintain your vessel in tip top condition. the water, please help us protect and preserve our environment. Never throw anything overboard, lines. They can entangle and kill marine life, especially turtles. Please try to reduce your use of plastics, recycle where possible; and take your garbage home with you, or make use of trash cans ashore.

Our coral reefs are a national treasure and an essential part of our fragile ecosystem. The reefs can be easily damaged by boat anchors, hulls and propellers, so please be cautious when boating near the reefs.