Guernsey Marinas has been awarded four ‘Gold Anchors’ for Customer Service Excellence by The Yacht Harbour Association.
The visitor marina was highlighted with the “internationally recognised seal of approval that recognises Guernsey as a prime location for visiting yacht crews”.
Despite narrowly missing the top ‘Five Gold Anchor’ rating, assessors praised the marina team’s exceptional dedication to the visitor experience, said Kieran Higgs, Assistant Harbour Master (Leisure).
“The Gold Anchor accreditation provides important insight into how our services stack up against international competition,” he said.
“We have placed real emphasis on the visitor experience in recent years, from the moment a yacht crew is guided to their berth to the moment they leave our island. This recognition reflects the hard work and passion of our small but fantastic team, and our ongoing commitment to ensuring every visitor enjoys their stay.”
Assessors praised the marina’s central location, easy access to marine services, and proximity to Guernsey’s vibrant cafés and restaurants.
The positive assessment followed a buoyant time for the marinas with around 20,000 people visiting St Peter Port in 2025, generally for longer stays.
“This year we have seen more yachts choose Guernsey as their destination of choice rather than just for a short stopover,” added Mr Higgs. “Our seafront setting and unrivalled access to excellent cruising grounds make Guernsey a perfect base for visiting yacht crews.
“The four Gold Anchor award strengthens Guernsey’s position as a leading maritime destination and will feature in future marketing campaigns as Guernsey Marinas continues to expand its visitor offering.”
The Gold Anchor award scheme is run by The Yacht Harbour Association and is intended to set a global benchmark for marina standards.
The scheme awards ‘Anchors’ in a similar way to the allocation of ‘Stars’ for hotels.
Mr Higgs said Guernsey Marinas is planning to have its other marinas accredited in the future, to continue measuring local facilities against modern marina standards and to help drive further improvement and investment in marina infrastructure.