BIMINI
Bimini Big Game Club will officially become the home base for Tropic Airways in Bimini. Management at BIMINI BIG GAME CLUB has approved construction of a $18,000 floating dock on the south end of the property to accommodate direct resort seaplane arrivals and departures for resort guests. In an agreement with Tropic Ocean Airways, “the airline that has reinvented seaplane travel in Florida and the Bahamas,” the Big Game Club will be able to exclusively afford guests the convenience of dockside customs and immigration check-in as well luggage pickup service. Resort General Manager Michael Weber said the floating dock should be installed and operational by the middle of June.Tropic Airways, which recently reinstituted regular scheduled service to Bimini on Fridays and Sundays, is currently the only U.S. based seaplane airline authorized by the Bahamian government to service the North Bimini Seaplane Base (formerly operated by the now defunct Chalk’s International Airline).
“With the addition of the floating seaplane dock, the Big Game Club will officially become the home base for Tropic in Bimini,” noted Weber.
Offering charter service to other Bahamas destinations as well as the Florida Keys, Tropic’s scheduled service to Bimini originates from Sheltair at Fort Lauderdale International Airport (a 30 minute flight to Bimini) and is adding additional flights in June to Bimini from the Miami Seaplane Base, located on Watson Island between downtown Miami and South Beach.
Tropic Ocean Airways CEO Rob Ceravolo said the single aircraft airline, which currently flies a five-passenger Cessna 206 Amphibian (the “SUV” of seaplanes) is planning to add a nine-passenger Cessna Caravan Amphibian in the future as business grown dictates.
Jim Barley snagged the Largest Lionfish during last year's Lionfish Bash, hosted by Bimini Sands Resort & Marina. Photo Credit: Katie Grutecki. BIMINI SANDS RESORT & MARINA will host the 2nd annual Lionfish Bashin honor of The Woody Foundation on July 13-15, 2012. This family event combines a fun weekend of fishing and entertainment with an environmental education theme, while raising funds to benefit spinal injury patients. The entry fee ranges from $150 per boat to $200. Guests staying at Bimini Sands will receive 10 percent off of dockage and condo rentals, and an entry fee of $150. Prizes will be awarded for the Largest Lionfish, Smallest Lionfish, Largest Jr. Angler Lionfish and the Most Lionfish Caught.The first Lionfish Bash, held at Bimini Sands last July, raised $20,000 on behalf of The Woody Foundation, which donated the full amount to Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital in Miami, Florida. The Woody Foundation, a 401(c)(3) organization, was founded by James “Woody” Beckham and his family in 2011, after the then-22-yearold athlete sustained a spinal cord injury in a college rugby match that rendered him paralyzed from the chest down.
Title sponsors of tournament include Bimini Sands, Dade Medical College and Brown & Brown Insurance of Florida, Inc. Marine Division. For more information, visit www.biminisands.com.
GREEN TURTLE CAY
The Green Turtle Club is the inaugural member of the new Expedition Properties Portfolio by Guy Harvey Outposts. Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts and the Green Turtle Club announced a new alliance between the two, naming the Club the inaugural member of the new Expedition Properties Portfolio by Guy Harvey Outpost.Making the announcement was Outpost President Mark Ellert and Club owners, Adam Showell and Ann Showell Mariner of Ocean City Maryland. Guy Harvey Outpost was founded by Ellert along with Dr. Guy Harvey and his long time associates Charles Forman and Bill Shedd to promote adventure travel, watersport recreation and sustainable tourism in unique destinations.
“We are extremely excited to launch the Expedition Properties Portfolio with the famed Green Turtle Club as our inaugural member hotel,” said Ellert. “Our intent with Expedition Properties is to showcase small independently owned properties in unique destinations that are focused on watersport recreation and whose owners are committed to customer service, sustainability and conservation. Given the Club’s legacy, the professionalism of its staff and dedication of its owners, I’m hard pressed to think of a better opportunity in the Bahamas than this,” he adds.
As an Expedition Property, Guy Harvey Outpost will market the Club and offer travel and booking services to its customers though it’s Outpost Travel Desk and central reservation office. “With this new alliance, we look forward to welcoming the world of Guy Harvey fans to their new Out-Island home, and know they’ll enjoy their stay with us,” added the Club’s General Manager Lynn Johnson.
