Dominica unlikely haven for superyachts

Dominica has no marinas or international airport but in recent years has become popular with rich yacht owners because of its lush, mountainous beauty.

Captains used to be reluctant to venture to Dominica in case they had engine problems or couldn’t find a decent anchorage. They’d rather visit its French neighbours, Guadeloupe or Martinque with plenty of marinas, than gamble with the unknown, alluring as the Nature Island looked from the distance.

Even now Dominica remains a tightly held secret among superyacht owners. It turns out that the crews - typically young, restless and adventurous - started visiting for rest and relaxation, then informed their owners about what an unspoiled paradise it is.

That aura of untouched remoteness has become a magnet for superyachts, which typically gather in Prince Rupert Bay in Portsmouth and smaller, more intimate anchorages, where the only other vessels are a few sailboats and the local fishing fleet, with its brightly coloured wooden hulls.