Sunday, February 5, 2012

Atlantis Marina Boat Show






Nassau is a working harbour in the capital city of the Bahamas.  When we came here on our honeymoon, 37 years ago, we were land-based...no boats for us then.  This was a charming, colonial place with so much to offer.  Things have changed over the years, and not necessarily for the better.  Unemployment leaves young people at loose ends.  Crime is rampant.  The city has become noisy, dirty and unsafe after dark.

For the past 11 years, Steadfast has come and gone as quickly as possible from here.  We stop for provisions and to wait out rough weather on our way south.  Our marina of choice has been Nassau Yacht Haven...a humble spot with a big-sounding name.  It is close to the shops (until the City Market grocery store closed down this year.)  There is a Starbucks within walking distance which is always a welcomed sight after three weeks away from home.  This year, things are different.

This year, Captain is entertaining his business partners onboard.  We are staying in the Atlantis Marina.  Wowzers!  What a different world we have been immersed in here.  Not only do we get to buddy up with the big boats, we get to play in all the pools, slides, gardens, restaurants and fun stuff in the resort.

Paradise Island.  What a name! What a place!! It's over-the-top opulence in every way.  It takes the breath right out of your mouth and leaves you gasping.  So I thought my blogging buddies should have a   walk around the marina and take in the boats.  Wanna come along????


The two channel markers on the left show the entrance to the marina from the inner harbour.



You'd never guess that a road travels right under this waterway, linking one side of the resort with the rest of the island.



Here is "Trade Wind", a 62 foot vintage 1938 Alden Sailboat with its two wooden tenders...a white hull rowing skiff and a small skiff.  They sailed here from Rockport, Maine.  On display, in bristol fashion.


M/V Laurel...241 ft./73 meter luxury yacht. With a crew of 19 and accommodations for 14 guests, you can tell people are pampered in grand style once on board.  Commissioned in 2006, she was the largest yacht constructed in America since 1921.


Heads definitely turned when "Plan B" pulled in.  Check her out!!!  Four decks, 161 feet long, helicopter tender.  riiiiiight!  She has a 10 ft. draft and a 33ft. beam.  She cruises at 12 knots and has a range of 5000 nautical miles in fair conditions.
Even the copter has its own custom designed canvas cover.


Here she sits in the rain.  Another angle to appreciate her lovely lines.  The colour scheme here is black and grey.  Even the deck hands wear black pants and grey tee shirts.  This boat is unique in that she is completely "understated", if  you can call 161 feet of millions "understated".  




Satellite, radar, antennae, undercover security.  Who's on board anyway?????  Flagged in the Cayman Islands, she is currently based out of New Zealand.  The crew all speak "Ausie".


This is a 75 foot Vicem.  A luxury yacht built in Turkey.  Nice one....




This boat is registered as home port Chicago.  Her name is "Sovereign" and she is my fav in all the marina.  A 1950's Burger, she was totally refurbished out of Fort Lauderdale last year.  What a honey of a boat.  Their miniature schnauzer has a thing for Nelson.  We are planning play dates.






Check out the toys on the lower deck:  two jet skis and a go-fast.   There are two cranes hidden in the ceiling that make deploying these guys an easy task.  There is a SWIMMING POOL on the upper deck!!

Blind Date is a 161 ft. Trinity yacht, built and commissioned for the owner in 2009.  She is offered for charter at a mere $235,000/week for 10 - 12 guests with a crew of 10.  Any takers out there?  Oh, and by the way, charter guests pay for fuel, for dockage, for food, for drink AND are expected to tip $2500 to each crew member at the end of the week.  Just saying.


We've made it to the Marina Village walk-way.  Here we often see people getting their pictures taken by a buddy, pretending they own the big boats.  
-Have you see my boat?  I'm lost!
-I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Here is a sign you see a lot around here.



We used to see Ronny Howard's 80 footer "Imagine" around Rhode Island.  Now he's moved up.  
High Class.
The tender is called "Imaginary".  Cute.


Yup,  Rain in Paradise.



AND THERE SHE IS, FOLKS, 
the humble 
Steadfast.
47 ft. Sabreline Express Cruiser.
The smallest boat in the marina.


9 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow- you really do look so small comparitively! Oh well... enjoy Paradise, looks fun!

Lucy said...

Looks like your enjoying the finer side of the Marina. Have fun!!

"Cottage By The Sea" said...

Remember, it's not the size that counts! Thanks for the tour it was a whole other world for me. Beautiful and (pricy) $2,500 in tips. Really?!!! Anyway, the water is such an amazing color of blue and it looks and sounds like you are having a fantastic time. Keep those pics a-comin!

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh...this looks like paradise to me. I could surely use a vacation aboard one of those boats. Actually, I could use a vacation just about anywhere. Great pics. :)

Sush said...

Yep it's a true case of size doesn't matter...it's how you want your fun! Everything is looking beautiful in your world today. Enjoy!

Hugs~

Veronica Lee said...

WOW!!! This certainly is paradise to me!!! Great pics as always, Rosemary!

Pat Tillett said...

I clearly was born into the wrong family! I can't even imagine travling around in one of those things! I'd like to though!

Tia Oshields said...

Do you still stay there? I think you found a very good place to dock… Paradise Island, it is. You should've taken more photos of Steadfast though. Even though it's the smallest boat in the marina, there's something special about it - it belongs to you. ;)

Brody said...

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