Captain John Bruce of Boat 4 A Day has sailed the world over but has never encountered waters as tranquil and turquoise as The Bahamas.

“I’ve been captaining for years now and there is nowhere like The Bahamas,” he said.

“I’ve been all around the world, in the Mediterranean, Norway and Sweden.

“When it comes to the Bahamian waters, there is nothing like it. We have by far the clearest waters, even down the Caribbean, there’s nothing like it.”

Boat 4 A Day and the Ministry of Tourism are partnering to kick off the first ever Bahamas Yacht and Travel Show set to take place this weekend, June 17, 18 and 19.

“We were thinking about it for a while and we wanted to be able to show and open to the public and everybody here on vacation a boat show similar to what there is in the U.S.,” Bruce explained.

“We want to do a weekend full of fun activities.”

Jerome Sawyer, of J. Sawyer and Associates, said the event is also aimed at “giving industry partners and professionals an opportunity to showcase what they do in the marine industry”.

“It is giving an opportunity to those who are involved in the industry a way to display what they are offering and also giving those in the business an opportunity to experience what happens at other trade and travel shows around the world,” Sawyer said.

“Tourists will be coming from Atlantis and cruise ships and of course we are inviting Bahamians to come and participate as well.

“You can come and take a tour of one of the yachts and experience what the vendors have to offer.

“We will also have amenities for the kids, a fashion show, a Junkanoo rush out, steel band performance and food provided by Green Parrot.

“It is another way to showcase tourism in The Bahamas. This is the first time an event like this is being held.

“I think it is a unique opportunity to showcase this segment of the tourism industry. the cruise and charter businesses have primarily come out of the US and so this is now an opportunity to showcase another segment of The Bahamas.”

The three-day event will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is $25 for adults and $15 for kids.

Bruce said several travel agents from the Unites States have been invited to the show.

“We are also going to be doing an auction,” he said.

“It is going to be a nonprofit. The proceeds of the auction will go towards The Bahamas Sailing Association.”

Bruce said he hopes that the show becomes an annual event that grows each year.

Robert Dunkley, director of the Bahamas National Sailing School and a committee member of the Bahamas Sailing Association, said he’s thankful for the donations.

“It is something where I went wow, this is absolutely fantastic,” he said.

“It is really going to help us, particularly with our summer sailing camp.”