Published: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at:3:24 PM




View From the Helm
New Boats,
Renewed Buildings,
Same Old BEYC

Hunters heading homeward: Reef Sampler tows BEYC’s newest fleet members on the delivery route.

I just celebrated my first anniversary with Bitter End, and this upcoming year looks even more exciting than the last. First, I want to thank you for the clippings and e-mails—news travels slow down this way. And, it is always exciting to be considered a favorite vacation experience by our guests and be included as a top Caribbean resort by both Departures and Travel & Leisure Magazines!

As you read this I am greeting our staff who is returning after a two month long vacation, and we are gearing up for our 17th Fall Sailing Festival, with some very exciting additions. We closed mid-August and reopen to guests mid-October. The close has given us the opportunity to dive into some big new projects…

The beloved Beachfronts are undergoing a major million dollar overhaul (pg. 12), from tile to towels, fixtures to furniture, lights to linens. The model cottage (14N/S) is nearly finished and we are very excited. Please visit 14 N/S on your next trip and see the progress!

We have added a new fleet of Hunter 216 sport boats (pg. 3). As we go to press, these boats have just received the 2004 Sailing World Boat of the Year nomination. They are state of the art day sailers that will appeal to just about every skill level and will debut at Women’s Sailing Week and be central to our 17th Annual Pro-Am Regatta, as well as many of our Fall and Winter Special events (pg. 3–6, 10).

Long-time Bitter End Architect Peter Brill has worked closely with our Construction Manager James Meade and his crew to gut and rebuild the famous “Bathhouse” (pg. 12).—Materials were shipped in record time and at press time, we are ahead of schedule! The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for the first week of December. Stay tuned to our web site for further details and reports.

The Quarterdeck Club, Emporium and Pub will become a hive of visiting boaters’ buzz, tall tales and all! When the renovation is complete, shower facilities will be solely at the Quarterdeck Marina. With the expansion of the patio and an enhanced Pub menu and entertainment schedule, it is no wonder the Pub is fast becoming one of the favorite charter crew hangouts.

There are nearly 300 repeat burgees hanging in our Captain’s Table room at the Clubhouse. The success of the “Repeater Program” has surprised even our BEYC veterans like Mary Jo. No doubt, our returning guests are the heart and soul of Bitter End, and an honor roll is to be found in this issue (pg. 8).

And, we are offering still more reasons to visit: this Fall Sailing Festival is nine activity packed weeks; there’s an event just about every week this winter, spa services are now available at BEYC, and we’ve brought back our popular 9 and 14 night Admiral’s Plus Packages (The Plus? See page 11!)

The staff and I look forward to welcoming you back this winter, or, if it’s your first visit, welcoming you to our corner of paradise.