A charter and tour boat operator is uncertain he will be participating in the leisure business accompanying the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix next week, or that it will even mean much business for others in his industry.

Nigel Prescott of the boat charter company, Tam-Marina, said the expected interest in sailing aboard his Ladyboats to the Great Sound site of the racing has not materialised.

The owner of Lady Tamara, Lady Charlotte and Boss Lady said that issues include costs.

The 2026 event is scheduled for May 9 and 10 and the official race stadium and spectator experience is located at Morgan's Point, on the western edge of the Great Sound. The F50 catamarans will race within the natural arena of the Great Sound.

But Mr Prescott said the costs come on top of the heavy expense borne by boat operators all year long, including licensing and liquor licence fees.

And his prospective clients are not happy about taking on the additional charge. He says other boat operators may have a problem, too.

“I’ve talked to six other operators,” he said, “and they would rather stay with the cruise ships for that period of time and forget the SailGP.

“Some would like to have a booking but there is no interest.”

He said in the past, international companies would be interested, taking a crowd for the outing, but not this year.

“There is 1,100 exempt companies, but no interest,” he said.

In addition, he said some clients may have been turned away by the length of time they would have to be on the boat, including the required added time prior to the racing.

But SailGP responded: “An exclusion zone is enforced at all SailGP events worldwide to protect commercial rights and ensure a safe environment for all on-water users.

“Spectator and tour boats are no longer licensed for events, beyond our official Bring Your Own Boat Programme.”

For that programme, organisers are advertising boat tickets, with standard prices beginning at $575 for up to 39 feet; $860 for 40-59 feet and $1430 for 60-79 feet.

After more than six decades as a tourism ambassador on Bermuda’s waters, the 81-year old Mr Prescott said he was in the throes of retiring and putting the boats up for sale.