On the same daythat Rosewood Little Dix Bay resort closed down its operation and laid off roughly 300 employees, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda on Virgin Gorda announced it would also be shutting its doors for several months.
The seven-month closure is scheduled to last from June through December and will affect roughly 25 workers at YCCS, club officials said.
During the stoppage, the club will develop a new sewage treatment plant for vessel waste, two new accommodation units, and a yacht crew bar, according to press release distributed by YCCS on Saturday.
The sewage treatment plant will allow the club to require yachts to pump their waste as opposed to dumping it in the marina, which falls in line with YCCS’s emphasis on protecting the Virgin Islands’ marine environment, said YCCS Secretary General Jan Pachner.
“I think all the marinas should be like this in the BVI,” Mr. Pachner said in a phone interview from Italy, where the club’s headquarters are based.
The renovation also includes the addition of a new arrival pavilion on the main dock and a deli, according to the press release.
Both Mr. Pachner and Dario Cruciani, the club’s operations manager, stressed the long-term importance of the upgrade to the region.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for the BVI,” Mr. Pachner said. “It’s going to drive more business and job opportunities to the BVI.”
At the end of the closure, the club will be able to hire 40 workers as opposed to 25, Mr. Cruciani added. He said managers plan to sit down with each of the club’s current workers before the closure and make a plan for the future.
YCCS originated in Italy and opened a Virgin Gorda branch in 2012. It has since hosted a variety of international regattas and events.
See the May 5, 2016 edition for full coverage.
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