Moorings News

Tortola, British Virgin Islands, October 12, 2011 – The Moorings Interline Regatta takes place October 11 – 20 celebrating thirty years of racing, parties and activities in the BVI. This year, Sol has teamed up with the organisers to offer a green awareness award produced by its environmental partner, the Green VI Glass Studio. The award will be presented to the sailing team that collects the most glass bottles to be recycled at the studio. Sol also is expanding its community support of the sailing industry in the Virgin Islands through its sponsorship of the race committee yachts and dinghy management teams.

The annual Moorings Interline Regatta is a pre-cursor to the official start of the sailing season in the territory. This year the event has a record entry of fifty yachts filled with the airline industry’s global employees and their friends and families.

This is the first year that Sol has become involved with the regatta although the green marine and environmental partnership with The Moorings has been active since 2006. In that year, Sol conducted the first of its marine clients’ oil spill management training days at the charter company’s marina base in Tortola.

“Sol operates under a Health Safety and Environmental policy that seeks to set industry standards and promote responsibility amongst customers to protect the environment and its biodiversity,” said Deborah Benjamin, country manager for Sol. “We saw an opportunity to introduce an environmental element to our support of the Interline Regatta. We have worked closely with The Moorings and our community partner, Green VI Glass Studio, to integrate the glass recycling competition as part of the regatta so that we can help to keep the glass out of the waste stream and the incinerator where it accumulates and clogs the system."

Sol signed a MOU with Green VI in 2009 to support a glass blowing studio to facilitate the removal of glass from the BVI’s waste stream and from the incineration process. Sol donates the LPG necessary to fire the furnaces 24 hours a day. The mission of Green VI, a not-for-profit organization, is to demonstrate the principles and benefits of sustainable living and to enhance capacity for adaptation to climate change through education and practical projects. For more information visit www.greenvi.org.

Sol is the largest petroleum company in the BVI with service stations in Tortola and Virgin Gorda. It has been supplying The Moorings with fuel and LPG for more than ten years as well as the marine community at Hodges Creek, Nanny Cay Marina, Village Cay, Bitter End, Biras Creek, Oil Nut Bay, Peter Island, Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour and Leverick Bay. Sol is a committed supporter of community initiatives including the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, the Royal BVI Sailing Club Junior Sailing Programme, Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, the Leverick Bay Poker Run, the Charter Yacht Society Crewed Yacht Show and is also a partner of the BVI Athletics Association.

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About sol
The Sol Group was formed through the acquisition of Shell's petroleum distribution and marketing businesses in the Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Suriname and Belize in February 2005. Sol acquired The Shell Company (Puerto Rico) Limited in August 2006, which was subsequently renamed Sol Puerto Rico Limited. Sol made a further purchase of Esso's assets in Suriname and Guyana in November 2007 and in Haiti on February 29, 2008.

Sol supplies fuels, lubricants, bitumen and LPG through an extensive service station network, marine and commercial operations, as well as acting as an agent for Shell Aviation and Shell Marine products. Sol uses the Shell brand under license across its service station network, and acts as the sole distributor of Shell's fuels and lubricants. This is fully backed by Shell's world-class technical expertise.

About The Moorings
The Moorings, world's premier yacht charter company, has delivered unmatched quality, service and attention to detail since 1969. Sail-it-yourself bareboat yachts, crewed yachts with captain and chef, and power yacht charters are available in over 27 destinations worldwide. The Moorings is proud to be a member of the TUI Travel® Group. Trust in TUI: Your vacation is in safe hands.

For more information contact:
Deborah Benjamin
Country Manager
Sol St. Lucia Ltd (BVI Office)
Tel: 1-284-494-2107
Email: deborah.benjamin@solpetroleum.com

For information on The Moorings contact:
Carol Hansen,
Marketing Manager
The Moorings
Tel: 1-727-437-5112
Email: chansen@mooringsnet.com