The iconic Harbour Island landmark Romora Bay Resort and Marina has announced the appointment of Joseph Dargavage as operations manager.

Mr. Dargavage is a former president of the Marina Operators of The Bahamas and served as chairman of the Berry Islands Tourism Advisory Board.

“We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Dargavage, a man who fully understands how valuable and important the yachting business is in The Bahamas, especially to Family Islands like Harbour Island,” said John Davidson, of Bonachella Investments, the Miami-based company which purchased the property in 2005 and added a 40-slip, eco-friendly marina with nesting areas and educational components.

Dargavage, who took up the post in March, wasted no time zeroing in on marina activities and promotion and said today that response to Romora Bay’s presence at the Palm Beach Boat Show last week was “nothing short of phenomenal.

“We are going after a different type of boater, not just the sportsfish that comes in for a few days, but also the luxury yacht that can stay for the better part of a season or use a single port for a home base while they visit other parts of The Bahamas,” said Dargavage. “A marina is like anything in the hospitality industry – you have to make the guest feel welcome and wanted. That’s something that comes naturally in The Family Islands and we want to perfect it in Harbour Island where we already have so much going for us in terms of being a friendly destination. I see boaters who feel like they are coming home when they dock here and that’s the way we want it to be.”

Mr. Dargavage is no stranger to The Bahamas. He served as Island Manager for Great Harbour Cay, The Berry Islands, from 2009 -2013 and was employed as General Manager for Cat Cay in the northern Bahamas from 1996 to 1999.
He was named chairman of the Berry Islands Tourism Advisory Board and served as the only non-Bahamian elected president of the Marina Operators of The Bahamas.

A frequently quoted source on the value of the yachting industry to The Bahamas, he presented on behalf of the marina and yachting industry at the “The Economic Development Strategy for The Bahamas” in 2012, a major event featuring contributions by the prime minister and several Cabinet ministers.

“The appointment of an operations manager with extensive marina experience shows a new thrust for Romora Bay,” said Mr. Davidson. “In the past we had an international client manager, hoping initially to develop the property with island style condo hotel cottages. We are very grateful to Anne Ward, who has now moved on, for her years of service. Now the appointment of someone whose focus is on the marina shows we are aiming in a new direction and we hope the public continues to respond in the positive way they have this month. We’ve been slammed and that’s a very good problem to have.”

Located on nearly five acres, Romora Bay has 15 hotel rooms, a small fitness centre for marina guests, infinity swimming pool and the popular Sunsets restaurant.

It gained fame when its security guard Kenneth Strachan spotted the Barefoot Bandit, helping police nab the man who had eluded authorities in three countries, leading them on wild chases as he stole planes and boats and dodged the law while amassing a huge following on social media as a kind of renegade folk hero.

In the end, the Barefoot Bandit whose real name was Colton Harris-Moore turned out to be a tired teen ready to surrender from a nearly two-year adventure that simply got out of hand.