One month after Prince Albert of Monaco and Anguilla’s Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, signed an agreement twinning the Yacht Clubs of both islands, a luxury sail boat arrived here from the wealthy Mediterranean isle. Its arrival is seen as a first step to other yachts coming to Anguilla and creating much publicity for the island in the European tourism market.

The agreement was signed in Anguilla at the International Yacht Club, owned by investor Gianfranco Comparetti at Cul de Sac, when the Prince visited the island early in November. Mr. Comparetti, who was instrumental in the arranging for the yacht to come to Anguilla, travelled with the captain and crew on the trip.

The yacht at Tiny Bay, Cul de Sac

The “Marie Helene”, is a 65-foot catamaran with a width of 36 feet and seven cabins. It is well equipped for long journeys and among its facilities is a desalination unit. The fast-sailing yacht, with reserved modern engines, arrived in Anguilla at 4 a.m. on Monday December 6 after traveling some 4,800 miles from Monaco. It crossed Spain and the Gibraltar Straits before arriving in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where it stopped off for two days. The beautifully-crafted vessel left there on November 16 for Anguilla.

The captain, part of the five-man crew, is Jean Michel Fuentes who has been to Anguilla several times. The other crew members include First Officer, Jean Luc Rey, Chief Purser, Thierry Dupont, and Radio Officer, Irwin Sonigo. Mr. Comparetti, owner of the International Yacht Club and Callaloo Club Peninsula, a tourism project at Cul de Sac, Blowing Point, took the opportunity to travel on the boat.

John Benjamin (left), Captain Fuentes (center), Mr. Comparetti (fifth), crew members, Pat Bygrave and Lisa Rey of Anguilla

The captain and crew were welcomed to Anguilla by Chairman of the Tourist Board, John Benjamin, who had been on at least two promotional visits to Monaco. He spoke of the visit to Anguilla by Prince Albert and the publicity it had brought the island. He said the twinning of the yacht clubs underscored the similar history of sailing and boating of the two islands. He was of the view that with other boats sailing here from the Mediterranean island, Anguilla would gain more publicity in the European tourism market.

Captain Fuentes expressed pleasure to be in Anguilla which he described as a special place and said that his French-speaking crew were thrilled by its beauty which worth the long trip.

Mr. Comparetti reported that the yacht encountered high seas and heavy wind in the area off Tenerife, causing the sails to collapse. One of the crew members braved the weather conditions by climbing up the 100-foot mast to work on the ropes and sails. The yacht also lost radio contact with the satellite for some days. Nothing was heard about the vessel until it arrived in Anguilla.

The yacht will sail around some of the neighbouring islands, giving those on board an opportunity to see other areas of the Caribbean. On its return, the yacht will remain in Anguilla until mid-April and is expected to take part in the Heineken Regatta in St. Maarten.

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