And do we care?
In a devastating blow to the champagne-soaked world of luxury yachting, The Bahamas’ once-glittering Charter Yacht Show is experiencing what industry insiders are calling a “nautical nightmare,” with registrations plummeting by a whopping 40% .
“Darling, it’s simply too taxing,” complained one broker, as attendance dropped from a robust fleet of 62 vessels last year to a mere 39 this season. The dramatic decline has sent shockwaves through the crystal-stemmed glasses of the yachting elite, who are apparently finding the Bahamas’ bureaucratic red tape more tangled than their boats’ anchor chains.
Peter Maury, president of the Association of Bahamas Marina Operators, reports that the paradise destination has transformed into a “tax nightmare,” with wealthy boat owners forced to endure the unthinkable: paperwork . The horror of having to submit VAT returns and acquire multiple certificates has sent the floating palatial community fleeing to more accommodating waters like Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands .
“We used to be the largest show in the Caribbean,” lamented Maury, presumably while adjusting his captain’s hat. “Now we’re just watching our super-wealthy clients sail off into the sunset” .
Local businesses are also feeling the ripple effects of this upper-crust exodus, as providers of essential yacht services – from champagne deliveries to artisanal truffle suppliers – face an uncertain future . Meanwhile, government officials appear more interested in cruise ships than keeping the caviar-consuming class happy .
In related news, several therapy groups have formed to support traumatised yacht brokers dealing with the emotional distress of filing additional paperwork.
For those still keen, Bahamas Charter Yacht Show runs from January 29 to February 2, 2025. And YES, we are jealous!
