That was the belief of Guernsey Boatowners Association president Nick Guillemette, who said the association and the Marine Traders Association fully supported plans for a new breakwater, more moorings and better facilities unveiled by Guernsey Ports this week.
‘We are right behind this and have been pushing for it for the last four years,’ he said.
‘There is a real lack of moorings, especially for boats with a deep draft. The current visiting facilities are really poor. The showers on the Victoria marina are past their sell-by date. That feedback is coming from visitors, not locals.’
Visiting yacht numbers, calculated in berth nights, have fallen steadily since 1995, when about 30,000 nights were recorded, compared to approximately 15,000 so far this year.
‘It’s started to pick up a bit since Covid, but figures were way down before that,’ said Mr Guillemette.
‘People who come here compare us to the marinas from Cherbourg to Roscoff. The French have ploughed millions of Euros into upgrading their facilities, and Jersey has woken up and done something about theirs. We are the poor relation.
‘The States have not had the will to invest, but this is where the money comes from. Boating visitors spend a lot more then cruise ship visitors. We calculate 3.1 crew per yacht, and they are spending money, not just on berthing, but restaurants and shops too.’
He calculated the value to Guernsey and the harbour from the development would be £8m. to £10m. more each year from visiting boats.
‘The wider population will see a benefit too. Increased footfall in Town, boat maintenance by local companies, who pay their staff to spend in the local economy, and so it rolls on, you get an economic multiplying effect. Seeing that development will say Guernsey is open for business again.’
Marine Traders Association president David Norman echoed many of his counterpart's sentiments.
‘The problem at the moment in the marina is accommodation,’ he said.
‘Any eastern wind and it’s pretty horrible. This would give us a sheltered marina and extend the visitor season substantially. People will come earlier, stay longer and leave later. We will even see people overwinter their boats here, going away themselves, but leaving boats to be serviced before returning in the spring.’
And Mr Norman pointed out the many benefits for local boatowners in the plans.
‘A lot of people want bigger boats and this would give us so many more berths.’
Mr Guillemette believed the £90m. estimate for building the new marina was pretty accurate and allowed for things like inflation.
‘If it got the green light it could be completed in three to four years, with the biggest most difficult part of the building being the stone breakwater, which will have to withstand heavy winter weather.’
The development is due to be discussed in the States next year and Mr Guillemette said he would be greatly disappointed if deputies did not go ahead with the project.
‘It would stifle the marine industry. The demand is there, if we don’t do anything the marine industry will shrink and we will get less and less visitors.’
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