Yacht Excursions For USVI Cruise Passengers

by Robert Lee, for LawAndTax-News.com, London

04 April 2007

British company Ondeck is successfully offering yacht excursions to US Virgin Islands cruise passengers against stiff US competition. The company is based on the Solent (Gosport, Portsmouth and Ryde) and also has an operation in Antigua.

The US Virgin Islands are a major port of call for the large cruise liners, as well as a base for the US sailing community. It is notorious for being a difficult place to set up in business for a non-American company.

Ondeck’s Chairman Pete Anthony describes the experience: “Breaking into the US market has been a huge struggle. There were huge barriers to entry but, despite people saying Ondeck would fail, we have been successful, and so far Ondeck is the only British yacht company to gain access. As we saw it once we had overcome what proved to be some considerable hurdles we would benefit from being able to sell into a strong market place”.

Managing Director Mike Williams describes the company's operations based in St Thomas: “Our principal market is the cruise ships and corporate incentive groups that visit the Islands for whom we provide what we think is a unique service”.

Cruise-ship passengers can enjoy what Williams describes as “a Race Excursion, which comprises a three hour excursion including familiarisation, a race, and the obligatory rum party afterwards".

For the excursions Ondeck uses its four Farr 65s. Designed by renowned boat-designer Bruce Farr the boats are full-blooded ocean-going race yachts originally built to be crewed by amateurs in Millennium Round the World Race.

“Nobody else offers the opportunity to race a yacht of this calibre”, says Mike Williams, “but more importantly these boats have a higher safety rating then virtually any other boat in the US Virgin Islands, so our clients know they can enjoy a unique experience in safe hands”.

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