2nd Annual PAYS Dominica Yachting Festival

The 2nd Annual PAYS Dominica Yachting Festival is set to take place from March 23rd to March 31st, 2024, in Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth, Dominica. This year’s theme is “Bringing yachters back together again in 2024”. The event promises to be exciting and includes a packed program expected to attract many yachters from near and far, as well as Dominicans from all corners of the island.

Activities include a welcome reception and Creole jazz-themed party, a Special Appreciation Dinner, Awards Ceremony, Cultural Entertainment Night, Sunday and Wednesday barbecue dinners, island tours, hiking tours, history tours, cooking tours, and many other events and activities. There will be a games night featuring a fundraiser jackpot bingo and a sip and paint event, along with an art auction. The festival will also feature a Buy Dominica “Love Local” Market at PAYS, showcasing authentic Dominican products and services.

The Toucarie Seafood Lime is expected to draw much attention from the yachters looking forward to participating in this year’s seafood lime. The Open Class Fun Race sponsored by OPO will take place from Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth, to Mero Beach on Tuesday, March 26th, 2024. The return race to Portsmouth on Wednesday, March 27th, 2027, will culminate with the signature PAYS Wednesday Night Barbecue. The Portsmouth Association for Yacht Security (PAYS) is anticipating the support and collaboration of Dominica’s private and public sectors, believing that the yachting industry has tremendous socio-economic growth potential and will continue to contribute to sustainable livelihoods, employment, and economic opportunities for impacted communities in Dominica.

PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES

DAY ONE: Saturday 23rd March 2024

• 8:00am Registration of yachts all day. Includes complimentary Rum Punch and DJ Music at PAYS.
• 9:00am Buy Dominica “Love Local” Vendors Market at PAYS.
• 7:00pm Welcome Reception and Creole Jazz Party at Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth.

DAY TWO: Sunday 24 th March 2024

• 8:00am Palm Sunday Church Services.
• 9:00am Buy Dominica “Love Local” Vendors Market at PAYS.
• 9:00am Lion Fish Hunt with Island Dive Operations.
• 10:00am Kayaking the Waitukubuli Sea Trail.
• 10:00am Kenneth Gussie Cultural Tour of Portsmouth.
• 2:00pm Cabrits National Park/ Fort Shirley Historical Tour by Dr Lennox Honychurch –Dominican Historian.
• 7:00pm Sunday Barbecue Dinner with Music and Dancing at PAYS.

DAY THREE: Monday 25 th March 2024

• 9:00am Lion Fish Hunt with Island Dive Operations.
• 9:00am Full Day Syndicate Tour (with Lunch) visitng Syndicate Nature Trail, Parrot Habitat, Milton Waterfalls, and Free-Up Farm.
• 4:00pm Skipper’s Briefing at PAYS for Open Class Fun Races
• 7:00pm Lion Fish Dinner, Movie, Music and Dancing at PAYS.

DAY FOUR: Tuesday 26 th March 2024

• 9:00am Open Class Fun Race (Leg 1) from Portsmouth to Mero
• 3:00pm Beach Activities at Mero Beach including Beach Volley Ball
• 7:00pm Dinner, Entertainment, Music and Dancing at Mero Beach.

DAY FIVE: Wednesday 27 th March 2024

• 9:00am Open Class Fun Race (Leg 2) from Mero to Portsmouth
• 3:00pm Indian River Row Boat Tour, and Bush Bar Lime at the Indian River Bush Bar, Restaurant, and Tropical Gardens.
• 7:00pm Wednesday Barbecue Dinner and Open Class Fun Race Prize Giving, Music and Dancing at PAYS.

DAY SIX: Thursday 28 th March 2024

• 9:00am Full Day Northern Treasures Tour (with lunch) visiting Cold Soufriere, Bwa Neff Waterfalls, Calibishie Red Rocks, Chocolate Factory, Gin Distillery, and Paradise Valley Garden and Nursery.
• 7:00pm Games Night (Jackpot Bingo) at the PAYS.

DAY SEVEN: Friday 29 th March 2024

• 9:00am Voluntary Service Day includes
  1. Painting Project.
  2. Food Hampers Distribution Project.
  3. Tree Planting Project,
  4. Beach Clean Up Project.
• Time TBA Good Friday Mass at the Portsmouth Roman Catholic Church
• 7:00pm Toucarie Bay Seafood Lime

DAY EIGHT: Saturday 30 th March 2024

• 7:00am Saturday Morning Portsmouth Market and Local Cooking Tour Experience at PAYS.
• 9:00am Buy Dominica “Love Local” Vendors Market at PAYS.
• 3:00pm Sip and Paint Event and Art Auction at PAYS.
• 7:00pm Special Appreciation Dinner, Awards Ceremony, and Cultural Entertainment Night atCabrits Cruise Ship Berth.

DAY NINE: Sunday 31 st March 2024

• 8:00am Easter Sunday Church Services
• 9:00am Buy Dominica “Love Local” Vendors Market at PAYS.
• 7:00pm Farewell Sunday Barbecue with Music and Dancing at PAYS.