Spare a thought for Joshio Fisher, the V&A Waterfront marina manager whose juggling act gets trickier every year – fitting more boats into the same water space.
Fisher said booking traffic for the upcoming summer season was particularly swift due to two incoming rallies added to the usual demand of the summer cruiser influx. For the first time ever the marina was fully subscribed for the year-end season by the end of January. The previous full-up booking record was May.
Fisher says the higher numbers are indicative of rising cruiser visitor numbers. The two incoming rallies, the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) and the Oyster, would provide a significant revenue stream for the local boat repair and hospitality sectors, he said. The Oyster fleet is scheduled to arrive in December; on its website the stopover is described thus: “Bringing together a myriad of cultures, cuisines and landscapes, Cape Town is a one-off and not to be missed. It is a great place to kick back after completing the Indian Ocean leg of the rally.”
The World ARC takes place over 15 months and covers 26 000NM. Participants are expected to be cruising South African waters between November and January. .
Meanwhile Cape Town is still basking in the glory of the recent cruise ship bonanza – two of the world’s premier cruise ships visiting the Mother City simultaneously. The Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 had photographers in a froth when they tied up together in the Cruise Terminal, providing yet another good omen for the local maritime sector.
