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New water sports business opens in St George’s

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Pictured (from left) are Just Add Water owners Neil Moncrieff and Faith Bridges, along with dock manager Nick Brown (Photo by Mark Tatem)

Just Add Water is one of the happenin’ Parish of St George’s newest start-up businesses.

With jet skis, paddle boards, kayaks and motor boats for rent and for guided tours, they are based on the ground floor of The St George’s Dinghy & Sports Club.

The old town of St George’s also has a Just Add Water premises where customers can book those tours — and also stock up on trendy beach wear. The shop features the British surfer line Animal as well as other popular beach brands.

Once you are dressed for jet-skiing in your new high fashion Animal bathing suit or board shorts, a tour of St George’s Harbour promises to be an experience to remember — the views of the 17th century town and the surrounding area from the water are breathtaking. As well, the stretch of water that makes up St George’s Harbour is tailor-made for beginners to get the feel of a jet ski. And for those beginners, there is that terrific sense of accomplishment having learned a new skill.

The jet ski tour (see Mark Tatem’s video on The Royal Gazette website) also takes clients through Paget, Higgs and Horseshoe Islands, where little white beaches nestled between the tropical greenery invite you to draw up your jet ski and relax for a while on one of the uninhabitated islands, or watch as curious turtles come to the surface.

Craig Outerbridge is the jet ski tour operator for Just Add Water, and the owners of Just Add Water are partners Neil Moncrieff and Faith Bridges.

The staff also includes Nick Brown, the dock manager and who will also provide packed lunches for tours and offer other food at the Yacht Club premises.

At the Just Add Water surf shop in St George’s, Mr Moncrieff explained how that part of the business started. After deciding to open their water sports operation at the Dinghy Club, they realised they needed a St George’s presence so people could book their tours, and so they opened the Just Add Water booking centre, where they will also book activities offered by other vendors.

“The apparel came second — we said: ‘So, let’s make this a surf shop!’ Animal is out of the UK and is a great line. It was originally pushed towards skaters and surfers, and it is going to be new to most people,” he said. The line includes board shorts, bathing suits, sun dresses, T-shirts, towels, flip flops, wallets and caps, to name some of the items.

The couple are both in the professional working world, Mr Moncrieff as a podiestrist, and Ms Bridges runs her medical billing business in Hamilton.

In addition to their careers, the enterprising couple run short term rental units in the area.

Mr Moncrieff explained that although their units are booked throughout the season: “There was a feeling there wasn’t enough going on in St George’s.”

However, he said their renters love St George’s and that inspired them to open Just Add Water.

He added: “We have always loved the water — I’ve always had boats and always been around boats.”

They also hope that members of the Bermuda community will come and take advantage of their new water sports business. Customers don’t have to ‘add water’ if they would prefer to stay on dry land — people can tool around the lanes and byways of St George’s on a pedal bike, and they are available at the booking centre as well as at the Dinghy Club.

“We are looking to offer night tours in our boat the future — to see the glow worms, for example.

“And we will be open all year round,” he said.

In addition to giving tours and renting equipment, he said they will be sponsoring a sport that is new to Bermuda — paddle board racing.”

For more information at www.justaddwaterbda.com or visit the Just Add Water St George’s branch on the corner of 3, Bridge Street and Water Street.

The Just Add Water team - starting second from left dock manager Nick Brown, owners Faith Bridges and Neil Moncrieff, and jet ski tour operator Craig Outerbridge. (Photo by Mark Tatem)
Just Add Water owners Faith Bridges and Neil Moncrieff in their St George's booking centre and surf shop. (Photo by Mark Tatem)
A Just Add Water jet ski on St George's Harbour. (Photo by Mark Tatem)
A Just Add Water jet ski tour tools around the islands that fringe St George's Harbour (Photo by Mark Tatem)
Just Add Water's jet ski tour operator Craig Outerbridge on St George's Harbour. (Photo by Mark Tatem)
A Just Add Water jet ski tour heads to the islands that fringe St George's Harbour (Photo by Mark Tatem)