The newest market of Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) real estate buyers are seeking not only beauty and luxury, but privacy, discretion, security, advanced communications as well as accessibility in the form of superyacht marinas and private jet ports. Because the top four residential locations for this new clientele are located in the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, the luxury resort industry has begun to take notice and offer properties that appeal to the “vacationer” of this market.
I recently returned from Canouan, an 1800-acre island in the St. Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) chain of islands, just south of Mustique. This small island is where Lord Glenconner might be considered to have pioneered this exclusive market in the 1950s. The resources that are in demand now were not even dreamed of at that time. All criteria for the UHNW market are met at Canouan, including the longest private jet runway in the region. The new marina also includes three super yacht slips and world class provisioning is planned to welcome ships late in 2017.
The Pink Sands Club on Canouan has taken to heart a profound understanding of what the UHNW market hopes to find as well as many services within the club not always found in this market. The seemingly natural curves of the golf course, designed by Jim Fazio, roll through the hills and valleys on the 1200-acre southern end of the island providing ocean views at every turn. There is an old church, which was carried over from Scotland 150 years ago, and a truly remarkable Kids Club for all ages in the valley that leads to a dock where outer island excursions begin. Five restaurants offer endlessly changing menus, and the concept of “your wish is my command” pervades.
All parts of the compound are connected by paved golf cart paths, and whether you stay in a villa or at the club itself, you are assigned one for your personal use.The Pink Sands Club suites have patterned marble floors, dark wood furnishings with heavy linen fabrics combined with high ceilings, diaphanous sheers, and large elegant spaces. Lights, temperature, drapes and sheers are all operated by tablets which respond to commands in silence, as if the rooms were telepathic. A wide variety of existing villas hang along the hillside, each elegantly designed with privacy and views in mind. Recently, a small number of two acre parcels became available for sale, all if which are scattered around the island as well. There are restrictions on the build out of these parcels to maintain the high level of privacy, as well as ensuring view paths, but there are so few properties spread over so much of the island that it seems the concept of any kind of crowding would be impossible.
If you are interested in building on the island, the Grenadines Estate office can help you with all the details. There is a local architect, whose work is deliciously open to the breezes and seems to enfold you in island comfort without losing sight of grace and efficiency. There is a seamlessness about transitions from cool calm inside to the brilliant sparkling outside, which offers a small taste of daily life in heaven. If you are interested in taking refuge off the known planet, you can discuss the possibilities with Janine Sinson. She was able to give me a quick and very well informed overview as to what ownership at Pink Sands Club in SVG entails. There is a conveyance tax, but no annual tax. There are association fees, as well as onsite rental program, housekeeping, property maintenance and invisible security. An effortless and elegant respite from world cares, is the goal for life as an owner at Pink Sands Club on Canouan. In my experience, they exceed the mark on every front.
