Raldo Charles is perhaps Nanny Cay’s longest serving team member. He is a reassuring constant for general manager, Miles Sutherland-Pilch who touches base with Raldo daily.

Raldo’s history with Nanny Cay spans more than four decades and is vested in the growth and success of Nanny Cay Resort and Marina. His family owns the land that marks the entry to Nanny Cay. He and his father were instrumental in opening the way to the development some fifty years ago. They were approached in 1961 by Gary Turpin, a developer from the UK. Turpin wanted to build a road across their land to provide access to three cays, which were earmarked as a marina development.

The initial guests of the marina were pleasure boaters. The amenities were rudimentary to say the least and water had to be trucked in on a regular basis.

Gradually, the marina expanded; floating docks were brought in by cargo boats, storerooms were built and a fuel dock was constructed by the boatyard.

With each new developer came new plans. The storerooms were converted into the resort hotel and those near the boatyard were redesigned to house marine related businesses, shops and offices.

The cays were uninhabited and had been a playground for Raldo and his friends. They would swim across the narrow strip, herding their family’s livestock to let the goat and sheep graze off the scrub and drink from the fresh water spring at Hog Hole. Today, the hotel reception sits on the site of this watering hole, which had eventually dried out.

The Charles gentlemen considered the request for an access road and, being a man keen on the idea of development, Raldo agreed to grant permission.

Soon after he made the decision, Raldo moved to St Thomas where he worked as a carpenter. By the time he returned to Tortola in 1977, Raldo was well versed in many aspects of construction. He set up as an independent builder and was approached by the developer of the day to get involved with the construction of Nanny Cay Marina.

Raldo’s intimate knowledge of the lay of the land, his professional experience and enthusiastic approach to development made him the perfect foreman.

Some dredging was necessary to deepen the harbour and upon completion of the first phase, Nanny Cay comprised eight fixed docks. Raldo remembers the concrete for the boatyard being poured at night to ensure that it didn't dry out too soon.

Raldo recounts his memory of the pilings being driven on Miss Peggy Cay to support Peg Leg Landing, the restaurant at the mouth of Nanny Cay. The effort was met with concern and skepticism by the planners of the day. Raldo proudly points out that these pilings remain in place and shares a nugget of knowledge that the tallest coconut tree on the resort is adjacent to the first driven piling.

Nanny Cay has had a number of owners over its 30 years of existence including a brief stint by famous brewers, Guinness. In fact, Nanny Cay holds a minor footnote in legal history having been the subject of a receivership for over 12 years during the 1980s and 1990s, the longest ever receivership in the history of Barclays Bank PLC. This receivership ended in 2000 when current owners Cameron McColl and John McCoach bought Nanny Cay from Barclays; it has been going from strength to strength ever since.

Today, Nanny Cay marina and boatyard has berths for 180 motor cruisers and yachts and two boat lifts of 50 and 70 tons capacity with storage for 200 boats "on the hard". It also includes a 40-room hotel and new waterfront townhouses for purchase and rental, two restaurants, a small supermarket, shops and boutiques, a dive shop, a water sports center, free WiFi service, and a gym and spa.

Nanny Cay is the host and presenting sponsor of the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival and host for international cruising rallies ARC Europe, the Caribbean 1500 and the Atlantic Cup.

Development is being undertaken with sustainability in mind. A mangrove plantation scheme is in place and other plans are in the works to deliver a more environmentally conscious service throughout the resort and marina.