Risk Strategies Provides Enhanced Health Insurance for VIPCA, New VIPCA Executive Director @ 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show, Nov 8-11, IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande St.Thomas

CORRECTION: Featured Yacht is Neptune’s Escape

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 13, 2024

Risk Strategies Provides Enhanced Health Insurance for VIPCA, New VIPCA Executive Director @ 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show, November 8-11, IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Charter yachts that register (usviyachtshow.org/register/) by July 1 receive a 20% Early discount for the USVI Charter Yacht Show, set for November 8-11 and hosted by the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA). IGY Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas offers a discounted berthing rate of $1.85 per foot per day from November 3 to 16 for any yachts that register and pay in full for the show by August 31, 2024. 

What’s more, VIPCA broker members can register (usviyachtshow.org/register/) for FREE. Exclusive show accommodations discounts are available at Bluebeards (bluebeards.com) by booking by phone (1-340-774-1600) with promo code ‘VIPCA Yacht Show’ and Bolongo Bay Beach Resort (bolongobay.com), which offers a 20% discount using the reservation link t.reservhotel.com/HyXZBJX0a.

Last year, a full house of over 70 boutique-style charter yachts, with a wait list in the wings, showed to over 140 charter yacht brokers hailing from the Caribbean. U.S. and Europe. Discounts to the Caribbean’s ‘must-do’ charter yacht show are one of a multitude of benefits of VIPCA membership. Other key advantages include medical and dental insurance for sea- and land-based VIPCA members underwritten by CIGNA and managed by the insurance specialists at Risk Strategies, a Boston, MA-headquartered insurance brokerage and risk management advisor.

Photo: L to R – Rick Bagnall of Risk Strategies, Matt Snider of Lovango Resort, USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. – Courtesy VIPCA

Insurance Updates

It’s essential to crews, especially to have quality health insurance, says Kevin Jonas, president of Bedford, NH-based Mainsail Yacht Charters, who finds the USVI Charter Yacht Show an excellent opportunity to talk to the crews, discuss ways to make the relationship more cohesive and profitable, and meet new crews to see if they are a fit for the broker’s clients. “Staying healthy for the crews is paramount for a successful charter. The crews work hard every week to make clients happy and typically work 12-14 hours a day. It takes away from the guest’s experience if they are not feeling good. The guests pay a lot of money to go on this type of vacation, and a healthy crew is a key factor to the success.”

“The Risk Strategies medical insurance deductible offered to VIPCA members has decreased to only $1000. There are now three options for medical insurance, ensuring the best coverage option for individual’s needs, says Rick Bagnall, Risk Strategies senior vice president. “We are excited to announce that over 90% of VIPCA members participate in the program, which has led us to roll out our new dental insurance program in 2023.”

Cigna’s newest offering to VIPCA members, dental insurance, has a $25 per person deductible and maximum annual benefits of $1500. Both medical and dental insurance includes worldwide coverage, including the U.S., which has 24/7 management services, multilingual claims administrators, and trained customer service professionals. 

Risk Strategies also offers Safe Travels Flex, a customizable travel insurance program through Trawick International. The companies have partnered with AeroMD, a U.S. Virgin Islands-based air ambulance provider recognized for its quality medical transport.

Photo: L to R – Oriel Blake, Staci Smith. Courtesy VIPCA.

New VIPCA Executive Director

Staci Smith assumed VIPCA’s executive director position on June 3, 2024, after one-plus years working as the organization’s assistant executive director and several years before that working as a successful charter yacht crew.

“I co-hosted last year’s USVI Charter Show, so I know firsthand all the teamwork it takes to run a great show. Before that, I had the pleasure of working as a chef on chartered vessels. This role allowed me to immerse myself in the vibrant yachting world and develop a deep appreciation for the yachting lifestyle. During these two years, I also had the honor of participating in the USVI Charter Show, where I experienced firsthand the excitement and intricacies of this premier event. As host, I am eager to contribute my insights and enthusiasm to provide an exceptional platform for showcasing the best the charter industry offers,” says Smith.

Smith replaces Oriel Blake, who is stepping down after 7-plus years at VIPCA’s helm and since the organization’s founding, to join her family in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Blake will stay remotely involved with some of VIPCA’s activities.

Under Blake’s leadership, VIPCA has grown from an idea to an association with many projects, programs, and initiatives. The three most significant accomplishments include, first, providing access to health insurance not only to professional yacht crew but to land-based professionals supporting the marine industry. Secondly, hosting two annual regional events, namely the USVI Charter Yacht Show, with exhibiting charter yachts on display to charter brokers, and the Virgin Islands Boating Expo, with exhibiting new yachts for sale. Third, the establishment of marine training programs tracking Virgin Islands public school youth into captain and crew careers with month-long practical seafaring courses for ages 13-29, ultimately offering STCW certification, on-the-job training for sea-time, and ultimately USCG captains licenses. 

Photo: Neptune’s Escape, a 2024 52′ Neel trimaran. Courtesy &Beyond Yacht Charters..

A full capacity of yachts, power, and sail, multihulls and monohulls, 40- to 100-plus feet, are anticipated to be displayed at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas. One is Neptune’s Escape, a 2024 52′ Neel trimaran, a new build by this French manufacturer and a new addition to the U.S. Virgin Islands-based &Beyond Yacht Charters fleet. 

“There is no better way to ‘explain’ this unique vessel than to have the brokers who will be selling her visit the yacht in person,” says Collin Steyn, chief executive officer of &Beyond Yacht Charters. “This direct marketing approach has proven to be an indispensable way for yachts to showcase their offering to the brokers and attract charter bookings.”

The trimaran hull, with its high-performance sail plan consisting of a code zero, jib, staysail, and mainsail, enables the vessel to reach high speeds with nominal wind and provides guests who are more sailing or adventure-oriented with a one-of-a-kind melding of performance, luxury, and comfort during a charter. A wide beam gives a spacious open-concept interior floor plan, spacious cabin berths in the outrigger pontoons and center hull, and a multi-level master cabin. Neptune’s Escape’s crew for the 2024-2025 season is South Africa’s Capt. Adrian Stanley and Chef Emma George.

About VIPCA

VIPCA is a non-profit marine association dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the charter yacht sector of the U.S. Virgin Islands marine industry. Its initiatives include offering membership benefits, promoting marine tourism, liaising with USVI, BVI, and PR to assist in cooperative efforts; seeking relevant official rulings from Customs and Border Protection (CBP); developing USVI marine infrastructure, including installation of vessel moorings now available at BoatyBall.com; and providing marine vocational training for USVI youth. VIPCA hosts two annual yacht shows, the USVI Charter Yacht Show at www.usviyachtshow.org and the Virgin Islands Boating Expo at www.vibe.vi. www.VIPCA.org

Media Contact: Carol Bareuther

Media, USVI Charter Yacht Show

Tel: 340-998-3650

Email: bareuther@earthlink.net

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