Dominican Republic

Three marina developments target yachts over 100-feet.

Cap Cana Harbor and Marina, when complete in early 2009, will offer 500 slips for yachts up to 250-feet long. A highlight of this 370-acre facility will be several miles of man-made canals and waterways, including a Grand Canal that is nearly 200-feet wide and 1 ¼-miles long, as well as restaurants, shops and water taxis.

A new marina with the capacity for 500 vessels and capability of anchoring vessels up to 140-feet is in the works for Sans Souci Port, part of the country's Project for Revitalization and Expansion. The marina will be located between Santo Domingo's obelisk, across from the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Park and the Montesinos monument.

Still on the drawing board, Roco Ki Marina will be part of the Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort's Aquatic Sports Center. Beyond the marina amenities, slated to open in 2009, the Center will also feature a lagoon for excursions, sailing lessons, fishing charters and more.

Puerto Rico

Megayachts may soon dock in San Juan, the island's capital, airlift, nightclub and shopping hub, if the local government gets its way. According to an October 2006 published report titled, ‘Economic Development & Government Transformation Plan for Puerto Rico', there's a proposal to shift freight traffic from the Port of San Juan to the Port of Ponce in order to make room for a $1.5 billion waterfront improvement project in San Juan that will include a $20 million megayacht marina. Officials say this new facility could be open by the end of 2008

British Virgin Islands

Mainsail Development Group, Inc., (MDG) based in Tampa, Florida, expects to open in the spring of 2008 its $65 million development, Mainsail BVI, on a portion of 230-acre Scrub Island, located in Trellis Bay, one mile north of Tortola. The 65-slip full-service marina will be able to accommodate yachts up to 150 feet. Far-reaching amenities include a 90-unit resort with estate homes, a $2-million state-of-the-art spa; a water sports concession with dinghy rentals and fishing charters; helipad, and astronomy observatory.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong investor, Raymond Hung, plans to build an $80 million, five-star luxury hotel and villa complex to be called the Beef Island Golf & Country Club Resort on 650 acres on Beef Island. The resort facility will include a 200-slip marina capable of berthing 7 megayachts, as well as commercial enter and 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Anguilla

Island Global Yachting (IGY), the New York-headquartered company that built and opened Yacht Haven Grande on St. Thomas last spring, broke ground on July 9 for a new luxury five-star marina and upland facility at Altamer Resort on Anguilla. The development will serve as the official port of entry to Anguilla, a 35-square-mile island located 8 miles north of St. Martin. The marine will feature a 101-slip marina of which 30 percent of the berths will accommodate mega yachts.

St. Kitts

Yachts as large as 300-feet in length will soon be able to find dockage on the dual-island nation of St. Kitts-Nevis. Christophe Harbour, a master-planned, multi-million dollar tourism project that will include a megayacht marina, is slated for construction on St. Kitt's southern peninsula and due to open in 2010. When finished, the upscale development will include the 125-room 20-residence Mandarin Oriental, St. Kitts, plus restaurants, shops and boutiques. There will also be a spa with 11 state-of-the-art treatment rooms, a Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course, 225-seat ballroom with three additional meeting rooms, and opportunities for snorkeling, sailing and guided hiking tours through the island's rainforests.