As the new public docks at the Squamish Habour Authority move closer to completion, they are already delivering on their promise to bring an economic boost to Squamish. On Friday (March 21) the largest private vessel ever to dock in town crept carefully into the harbour. Several residents flocked to the water to check out the mammoth 151-foot-long yacht, dubbed After Eight. The family on board - who wished to remain anonymous - was looking for a weekend of boating and skiing, according the boat's captain Grant Lindsay. With the help of a car rental, they could access both activities from Squamish.Harbour manager Bill McEnery said he invited Lindsay to try out the new $80,000 docks, even though they are yet to be equipped with power or water services. He said the visit was intended to create a buzz in the boating community and show community members the value of harbour improvements."He is going to report to his cohorts what he did here," McEnery said, noting that the family on board took many of their meals in town and did their grocery shopping at local stores. As he prepared to head out of the harbour at about noon on Saturday (March 22), Lindsay said the visit was a success. "We've had a very enjoyable stay here. We'll definitely be coming back."However, he added he is hoping to see some dredging on the Mamquam Blind Channel so the boat is not restricted to travelling at high tide.If boats like After Eight continue to use the docks, McEnery said, they could be followed by charter boats bringing in 50 to 60 people at a time."It will be like the old days when the Britannia used to come in and drop a whole bunch of people off downtown." McEnery doesn't expect everyone in town to share his enthusiasm. He said that a plan of that scale would likely be met with resistance from some residents."We always have to fight that local group that doesn't want to do anything."
