PAYS Dominica Yachting Festival slated for later this month

As part of the 20th Anniversary Celebrations of  Portsmouth Association of Yacht Security (PAYS), the Association will organize its 3rd Annual PAYS Dominica Yachting Festival, previously known as Yachters Appreciation Week (YAW). This year’s Yachting Festival is scheduled to take place from March 22 to March 30, 2025, at Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth, and Mero Village, shared the organization via press release.

The upcoming festival will see PAYS collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), Mero Association of Yacht Security/Services (MAYS), and Offshore Passages Opportunities (OPO) from the United States.

The theme for the PAYS 20th Anniversary Celebrations, “PAYS 2005 – 2025: 20 Years of Exceptional Services to the Yachting Community!” highlights the Association’s ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional security services at no charge to visiting yachters in Prince Rupert Bay. Additionally, the Association collaborates with local stakeholders to offer a range of products and services to the yachts.

Celebrating two decades as a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing yacht security and various services to the yachting sector, PAYS aims to strengthen its relationships with local stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. The goal is to enhance the yachting sector, positioning it as an internationally competitive industry.

Recently, the Association formed a partnership with the Salty Dawg Sailing Association (SDSA) to host the Salty Dawg Caribbean Rally – Dominica Rendezvous at Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth, which took place from February 13 to February 20, 2025. Despite facing challenges, this event was successful, setting the stage for the Yachting Festival later this month.

This year’s festival is expected to be significant, with various businesses partnering with the Association to ensure its success, especially in light of the Association’s milestone 20th Anniversary.

According to the statement, yachters typically spend between three to seven days in port, significantly contributing to the local economy through the purchase of goods and services during their stay. This, in turn, supports the development of Dominica’s tourism sector, particularly its Yachting Tourism.

By hosting the Dominica Rendezvous, the Association aims to express its appreciation to the yachting community for their collective contributions to sustaining local livelihoods and enhancing the local economy. Finally, the statement expressed PAYS’ anticipation of the ongoing support from both the public and private sectors in its efforts to promote and develop Dominica’s tourism, particularly in the yachting sector.