APRIL 2017 APRIL 2017

PHOTOGRAPH: GETTY IMAGES

VOYAGE

The isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet

airs, that give delight and hurt not,” says

Caliban in Shakespeare’s The Tempest,

when describing his deep devotion to the

island on which the

play is set. The true

location of the island

is a matter of academic

debate but arguably

the rugged volcanic

topography and lush

forests of Dominica

offer an equally

mystical modern day

alternative.

“It is the last island

in the Caribbean

that has not been

discovered as a

tourism destination,”

says Dominican Andrew “Cobra” O’Brien,

owner of Cobra Tours & Yacht Services,

as he drives us from the small domestic

airport. “You get a piece of everything on

Nature Island – rainforests, mountains,

untouched champagne dive sites, more

waterfalls than anywhere else in the

region, therapeutic hot water baths

and active volcanoes.”

The island experienced its own tempest

in 2015 when Tropical Storm Erika struck.

The deadliest natural disaster in

Dominica since Hurricane David in 1979,

it killed 30 people and destroyed hundreds

of homes. Despite a valiant recovery

effort, the scars are still visible – roads are

in need of repair and temporary structures

replace most of the shoreside bridges that

were washed away in the storm. However,

driving along the twisting roads past

deserted black beaches, tropical forests

and mist covered mountain peaks, I am

instantly enchanted by my surroundings:

this is no typical Caribbean island.

Thankfully, while The Tempest is based

around events after a shipwreck, my

exploration of Dominica is anything but

unfortunate, on 162 foot Christensen

motor yacht Remember When. Dominica

has been described as “self-defensive”,

with its rugged topography making it

difficult to build the large luxury hotel

developments seen on other Caribbean

islands such as St Lucia. So a superyacht

is the best way to enjoy this undeveloped

destination and, with

her pristine interior,

vast selection of water

toys and professional

but adventurous crew,

Remember When is the

perfect vessel.

Captain Hennie

du Plessis, who was

involved when the

original owner built

the yacht in 2010,

believes Remember

When’s layout helps

her to gain charter

clients. “It is one of

the best for its size for charter,” he says.

“She has a lot of cabins and big deck

spaces. Everyone who comes on here says

how charter friendly she is.”

While Dominica has a stunning

coastline to explore, many of its treasures

are on land. The country is home to the

Caribbean’s longest hiking trail, which

passes through gorges, valleys, natural

springs and cascading waterfalls. The

115 mile Waitukubuli National Trail,

which is split into 14 sections and takes

two weeks to complete, is not for the faint-

hearted. However, for those who just want

“You get a piece

of everything –

rainforests,

mountains,

waterfalls, hot

water baths

and volcanoes”

“

NURTURE

IN NATURE

Nicknamed Nature Island, Dominica’s mountainous landscapes

promise new adventures. Sophia Wilson discovers the Caribbean’s

wild side in luxury, on board Remember When

T

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Dominica boasts

a rugged, volcanic

landscape with lush

green rainforest but

it remains untouched

by the levels of tourism

found elsewhere in

the Caribbean

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