Q3 & Q4 2025
IGY is like one big family, and this is especially true in Sint Maarten, where Joe-Anne Giraud and Clara Halley work together to manage two adjacent marinas, Simpson Bay and Yacht Club Isle de Sol.
You both play a big part in making sure the offices run smoothly at two iconic IGY marinas. Can you explain what your role entails?
Joe-Anne: We are doing the same job at two different marinas. I work at Simpson Bay and Clara at Isle de Sol. We manage deposits, credit card payments, transfers, AR (accounts receivable), and invoicing, as well as utilities. We are both very hands-on – we will go out and catch lines if we need to! Every day is different. My role also covers HR at Simpson Bay. I do payroll twice a month and I am responsible for recruitment and interviews.
Clara: As well as the office duties outlined by Joe-Anne, I do restaurant accounting at Yacht Club Isle de Sol when the marina’s restaurants are open, and I oversee guest service coordination.
Simpson Bay and Yacht Club Isle de Sol are right next to each other, but cater to quite different yachts. What are the main differences?
Joe-Anne: Simpson Bay Marina (SBM) is a mixed-use marina for large and small vessels. We cater to people who sail across from the Caribbean, South Africa and Europe. They may have a broken sail, for example, or they may need their water filter cleared, or similar problems.
Clara: We don’t have any small boats. It’s megayachts at Isle de Sol, and charters. Everyone knows what they have to do. We try to keep customers happy and stay out of their way.
Joe-Anne: Customer service is very important at both marinas.
Working for IGY can open up different career paths. How did you become office managers?
Joe-Anne: I’ve been in the marina industry since 1996. I originally started in the fueling department, working at the same marina but under a different owner. At the time, I knew nothing about the docks, the lines, or the dimensions of vessels—absolutely nothing. Before IGY took over, the previous owner noticed me working on the fuel dock and asked why I was there when I could be in the office. She then offered me an office position, where I received training.
Clara: Before, I was working as a property manager. In 2010, I started with IGY. Someone said they were looking for a guest service coordinator, checking in and checking out guests. I got the job and then took on the role of office manager.
What is your greatest challenge?
Clara: Dealing with all the different personalities and making sure everyone gets along. It’s something we’ve succeeded in doing. We are like a family. We spend more working hours with our colleagues than our families. When our colleagues achieve something, we are all happy for them.
Joe-Anne: The challenge for me is getting things done on time for the corporate side of the business, but Clara is right, we are like a family. I love it here. I love my colleagues. Everyone looks after one another.
How do you spend your downtime?
Joe-Anne: I am a church person. My downtime is devoted to home and church. I like going on drives with my husband, going to the movies, going out for dinner, but Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays are my church days.
Clara: It may surprise you, but I am a farmer. I come from a family of farmers and I have a smallholding with a lot of animals. I have eight goats, 22 chickens and a goose. I milk the goats and make cheese, and I enjoy cooking with homegrown food.
Where did you grow up? 
Clara: I was born in Sint Maarten and my family here goes back generations. My father’s family were fisherman but I never wanted to go into fishing myself!
Joe-Anne: I am from Dominica. My brother was in Sint Maarten already and I decided to join him in 1991. The culture is different here. Dominica is more agricultural and the Sint Maarten economy is very good.
What are you most proud of?
Joe-Anne: I never thought I would be here doing what I am doing right now, and I am proud of what I have achieved. I am very happy where I am right now. I love what I am doing and I love the people I communicate with in my role.
Clara: I am proud that everybody feels they can come to us for help. If they ask Joe-Anne or me for something, they can be confident they will get what they asked for.
If you had access to any yacht in the world for two weeks, where would you go and what would you do?
Joe-Anne: Europe. In my previous job working dockside, at the end of the season, the captains were all going to Europe, and I wanted to follow in their paths. I’ve been to London because my kids are there, and everybody knows I love it there, but I would also love to go to Rome in Italy.
Clara: I would cruise down the Caribbean chain to see the islands and go through the Panama Canal. I’ve been to the islands closest to Sint Maarten, and now I would like to explore further south.
