World Oceans Day celebrated at Dragon Bay

Luxury resort community anchored by The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman puts a focus on marine conservation

Dragon Bay is celebrating World Oceans Day with a range of activities throughout the week of June 7th.

World Oceans Day was officially declared by the United Nations as June 8th each year beginning in 2009 to honour the world's oceans, celebrate the products and marine life the oceans provide, and to appreciate the oceans’ intrinsic value.

Michael Ryan, from the inception of the Dragon Bay project, has been committed to preserving the pristine marine environment that surrounds us. Joining him in this commitment was one of Dragon Bay’s first partners - the Ocean Futures Society led by Jean-Michel Cousteau.

The mission of the Ocean Futures Society is to inspire and educate people around the world to act responsibly for the protection of the ocean.

The result of this successful partnership is the renowned Ambassadors of the Environment programme at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman that attracts both children and adults in the exploration and education of the Cayman Islands’ marine ecology and conservation practices and ideologies.

“We are all a part of the living world and the oceans that connect us all. Similarly, everything at Dragon Bay is connected to and by Cayman’s waters - which provide us with a wondrous array of adventures and inspire us with their natural beauty,” Mike said.

Because of Dragon Bay’s vital connection to the water, the community will be celebrating World Oceans Day in a number of ways.

Recognised marine biologist Holly Lohuis of the Ocean Futures Society will be visiting The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman as a featured speaker at Afternoon Tea at the Silver Palm Lounge on Saturday, 12th June discussing the world’s oceans and how we can help protect them.

With a degree from the University of California in Santa Barbara, Ms Lohuis has been diving around the world with Jean-Michel Cousteau for more than a decade. A key member of the Ocean Futures Society expedition team, she acts as a liaison between the team and scientists, and is responsible for confirming the factual accuracy of the content of Ocean Futures Society documentaries.

Also a marine educator, Ms Lohuis has taught thousands of children and adults about the wonders and fragility of the aquatic environment and the importance of protecting them for future generations. For her educational outreach efforts, she was honored in 2009 with the Hall of Fame award from the San Juan School district in her hometown of Sacramento, California.

Joining Ms Lohuis as a featured speaker at the Afternoon Tea will be Bradley Johnson of the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment, who will give a presentation on the Grouper Moon Project – dedicated to the conservation of the endangered Grouper and based in Little Cayman.

Ms Lohuis will also lead the Ambassadors of the Environment Adventure Series on Saturday, 12th June from 9:30am to 1:00pm. Catering to children aged four to seven, the programme will focus on preserving the world’s oceans. Top science students from all Government Primary Schools on Grand Cayman have been invited to attend the programme, sponsored by Dragon Bay.

World Oceans Day also highlights the need to make good choices in the seafood that we consume. Today, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, no part of the oceans remains unaffected by human activities. And among the many factors influencing our ocean ecosystems, none has a greater impact than fishing.

From the inception of the project, Dragon Bay joined by the Chefs of the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman and the Ocean Futures Society have always made every effort to support local fishermen and to make careful choices when buying seafood.

Blue by Chef Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is using its culinary influence as the only 5-Diamond restaurant in the Caribbean to promote the use of sustainable fish by creating a special six-course tasting menu to celebrate World Oceans Day.

Renowned for the innovative use of the freshest seafood in its gourmet dishes, Blue has called upon the talents of Chef de Cuisine Luis Lujan to showcase sustainable fish combined with the inimitable flavours of the Caribbean for the exclusive World Oceans Day tasting menu.

The World Oceans Day menu at Blue follows the Seafood Watch recommendations proposed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and will be featured for the entire week of World Oceans Day from Monday, 7th June through Saturday, 12th June. The ingredients include mainly indigenous fish from Cayman waters as well as local ingredients from sustainable farms on island and in the US.

The specially-designed menu includes Local Wahoo Tartar with Organic Star Fruit, Local Sweet Potato and Orange Vinaigrette; Grilled Hamachi, with Lime Marinated Local Banana and Mint Chimichurri; Pan Seared Scallops, with Willie's Farm Local Pumpkin Salad and Coconut Curry Sauce; Grilled Local Snapper, with Willie's Farm heirloom tomato relish and Ratatouille Broth; Pan Seared Yellowfin Local Tuna with Braised Callaloo, Pickled Ramps, Seasoning Pepper and Soy Glaze; and is rounded out with Coconut-Cilantro Roasted Pineapple, accompanied by Sweet Avocado Puree, Brioche and Coconut Sorbet.

Guests choosing the World Oceans Day menu will also have the option to sample a wine pairing selected by Blue’s Head Sommelier Kristian Netis from biodynamic or sustainable wineries around the world.

In addition to the World Oceans Day observance, the Dragon Bay developer is gradually encouraging homeowners and guests to gradually adopt new “green” behaviors in a commitment to establish ongoing eco-friendly practices. The 360-acre luxury resort community has implemented an aggressive programme eliminating the use of Styrofoam and plastic bottles while also recycling paper and batteries.

“In order to create a culture of conservation, and make a substantial difference, we have to establish involvement from all of our residents and guests alike,” Mike said.

Further activities and programmes are planned throughout the year, encouraging Dragon Bay owners and staff to become a part of this culture of conservation. The ‘Dragon Bay Foundation’ will be established in 2010 to allow local residents, Dragon Bay owners and guests to support projects aimed at maintaining a healthy environment throughout the Cayman Islands. These initiatives are focused on reducing waste, recycling, replanting of mangroves and supporting efforts of other agencies working to protect local wildlife and their natural surroundings.

Mike hopes that by continuing eco-friendly activities, their efforts will encourage change and promote sustainability throughout Dragon Bay and beyond. Plans for the remainder of the year include National Threatened Species Day on September 7th, World Habitat Day in October, National Recycling Week in November and International Volunteers Day in December. For more information on the Dragon Bay community and its steps towards sustainable living, visit www.DragonBayCayman.com

To make reservations at Blue By Eric Ripert for the exclusive World Oceans Day tasting menu, to attend Afternoon Tea on Saturday, 12 June or to book your child’s space in the special World Oceans Day edition of the Ambassadors Adventure Series, please call The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on 943-9000.

The Dragon Bay Owners' Weekend will be held May 28-30, including the Dragon Bay Fishing Tournament and The Dragon Bay Golf Tournament hosted by Mike Ryan, Cayman Islands Developer of The Residences At The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.


Dragon Bay, a 330-acre luxury resort community in Grand Cayman is gearing up for an exciting event filled weekend for The Dragon Bay Owners' Weekend May 28-30.


The weekend kicks off with a cocktail reception Friday, May 28 with wine selections by The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman's sommelier and seafood canapés by Blue. On Saturday, owners will take part in an exciting Dragon Bay Fishing Tournament followed by lunch and awards at Periwinkle and a Champagne tasting at Sunset Terrace, The Residences, Grand Cayman. The weekend is capped off on Sunday, May 30 with the Dragon Bay Golf Tournament at the Greg Norman-designed Blue Tip golf course, followed by cocktails and awards.


Dragon Bay was created by developer Michael Ryan in Grand Cayman as part of the luxury residences that surround The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman. The Dragon Bay Estates are an exclusive enclave of water-oriented custom home sites with British Colonial Design that provide the unique opportunity to create and own some of the few single family estates that are planned within the Dragon Bay community.
The Dragon Bay community also includes residential communities The Deckhouses, Secret Harbour, and The Residences At The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Each luxury community has its own design, features and ambiance for a variety of options to live in luxury while enjoying all the amenities and high standards that the Ritz-Carlton brand is known for.


"One of our long range visions for Dragon Bay as a community is to fulfill the needs and desires of the people who choose to call it their home. The Dragon Bay Owners' Weekend is our opportunity to let everyone celebrate the luxury amenities and the exciting lifestyle that living in the Caribbean affords, while being part of a community," said Mike Ryan, owner and developer, The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman.

New British Colonial architecture about to make its mark in Cayman

Secret Harbour is Dragon Bay Developer Michael Ryan’s microcosm for his entire Dragon Bay development: communities connected by and with the water. With the first phase breaking ground next month, Business Editor Lindsey Turnbull speaks exclusively with Mike to find out more and reports.

Cayman’s Ritz-Carlton resort is not number one in the region for nothing. Attention to detail, excellence in the quality, service delivery and amenities that guests enjoy set it quite firmly apart, head and shoulders above the competition. These qualities flow through everything in connection with the resort and in particular the brand new Secret Harbour development, set to break ground in June and a labour of love for its developer.

“In the years that the plans for Secret Harbour have been on the table we have gone through seven complete iterations of the plans. Ensuring that the development embraces all the highest qualities that guests have learnt to expect from The Ritz-Carlton, while being mindful of the current market climate have all brought us to the stage where we are at now – ready to break ground on this extraordinary project,” Mike states.

The Secret Harbour project has been two years in the making, with Mike undertaking his 11-month voyage to visit all the greatest coastal communities of the world – from Penang to Singapore to Portofino to Rhodes. This tour brought Mike the inspiration he needed to develop his 360-acre Dragon Bay development, a luxury residential and resort community right here in the Cayman Islands.

Ground was broken last year for The Deckhouses, 19 five-bedroom, five-bath private island estate homes with integrated boathouses and guest cottages, with the first phase of Secret Harbour following suit in just a few weeks.

British Colonial sets the standard
Basing the design element of Secret Harbour around the British Colonial imprint that he was so inspired by on his travels around the world, Mike says Secret Harbour will be a brand new interpretation of that highly successful style of architecture: “The British Colonial style forms the basis for so many great communities, which have adapted the style to suit their own particular location,” he says. “Yet the format and structure of the design still remain true. As a coastal community and a British Overseas territory I felt that Cayman would be the perfect location to develop a contemporary British Colonial style, given its heritage, cosmopolitan population and multi-cultural society."

Important values held true
Striving as always to provide the very best, Mike says the changes in design (which had gone right through to the drawings stage each time) were necessary to ensure the success of the project.

“We took into account the current real estate and general economic climate and decided to be counter-intuitive and buck the trend of trying just to cut costs, quality and service. Instead we decided to concentrate our efforts in providing our owners with what they truly found valuable,” Mike states.

Mike says that a tremendous amount of effort, therefore, went into tightening the plans from every angle to ensure that no part of the design was wasted and owners were provided with real and tangible value for money.

“We have retained in our plans basic architecture that we felt was intrinsic to the design expression, such as 12 foot high ceilings, ten foot high glass window walls and intelligent layout so that the design flows throughout each property,” he says. “Rooftop terraces will give panoramic views of the North Sound. We found this outdoor living, which automatically connects you with the water, a fundamental part of the successful designs from our travels.”

In order to ensure the highest standards of luxury are met, but without added or wasteful costs, Mike says great attention was paid to using space and materials as intelligently as possible.

“We looked at communal spaces such as stairwells to ensure that the space was properly filled; we might decide to put a single sink in the powder room as opposed to a double sink – but that sink will be the finest quality,” Mike says.

The interior for each apartment is designed by the renowned design team of D’Aquino Monaco, whose first foray into design in the Cayman Islands resulted in the award-winning Silver Rain spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Known for the boldness of their work, interior designer Carl D’Aquino and his partner, architect Francine Monaco, have earned international acclaim for the design of exclusive private residences and high-end commercial projects around the world.

Attracted to quality
A testament to Mike’s belief in his latest project is the fact that over 65 per cent of the properties in the first phase at Secret Harbour have already been pre-sold. Work will begin on the series of one, two and three bedroom units as well as the host of top class amenities, such as the harbour itself with a promenade, bridged archway for boats to pass under, Clubhouse with La Prairie spa suites, a movie theater, a café inspired by Eric Ripert, and a business meeting area.

“We understand the lifestyles of our owners. We know that they will enjoy meeting at the café for a morning latté or cappuccino, perhaps conduct a meeting in our business centre or meet up with friends at the movies, and that is why these amenities are our top concern,” Mike confirms. “We want to create a product that has developed with a real sense of what local residents are looking for in their community.”

Units start at US$600,000 up to US$3 million with most in the US$1 million to $1.5 million region. And don’t worry, the luxury penthouse with its sweeping views of the North Sound is still for sale. But you had better hurry.

SAVE THE DATE! DRAGON BAY OWNERS' WEEKEND

Please join us for the Dragon Bay Owners' Weekend
May 28th - 30th 2010

Friday, 28th May
Cocktail reception featuring wines recommended by The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman’s sommelier and seafood canapés by Chef Luis Lujan at Blue.

Saturday, 29th May
The Dragon Bay Fishing Tournament followed by lunch and awards at Periwinkle.
Champagne tasting at Sunset Terrace, The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.

Sunday, 30th May
Dragon Bay Golf Tournament at the Blue Tip golf course, followed by cocktails and awards.

For more information or to register, please email: ttrumbach@residences-cayman.com

Fishing Tournament - Champagne Tasting - Golf Tournament - Prizes

Dragon Bay observes Earth Day with coastline clean-up

GRAND CAYMAN – (Thursday, 1 April, 2010) – In observance of Earth Day 2010, Dragon Bay developer Michael Ryan is sponsoring a waterfront clean-up on Dragon Bay’s North Sound coastline to encourage eco-friendly practices throughout the 360-acre luxury resort community.

Scheduled for Saturday, 24 April, the clean-up is open to all Dragon Bay staff and residents, as well as the wider community, and will take place from 8:00am through 11:00am. The first 200 volunteers will receive a commemorative Dragon Bay Earth Day 2010 T-shirt.

The Earth Day observation is part of a larger eco-awareness effort at Dragon Bay, spearheaded by Ryan and intended to incorporate green behaviours throughout the community. “In creating a culture of conservation, if we are to make any kind of difference, we have to get everyone involved and start from day one,” Ryan said.

Dragon Bay homeowners have already been encouraged to adopt new “green” behaviors. During the month of March, owners at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, The DeckHouses, and Secret Harbour were gifted with reusable cloth shopping bags and stainless steel water bottles. By encouraging residents to use these items rather than their disposable counterparts, the community hopes to reduce the number of plastic bags and bottles headed to the George Town landfill. This drive follows the implementation of an aggressive recycling program in Dragon Bay offices.

“We made a policy to eliminate Styrofoam and plastic bottles, recycle paper, and encourage staff to keep correspondence electronic, if possible, to reduce paper waste,” Ryan said. In continuing this green ethos, the ‘Dragon Bay Foundation’ will be established later this year to allow Cayman residents, Dragon Bay owners and guests at Dragon Bay to support projects aimed at maintaining a healthy environment throughout the Cayman Islands.

Dragon Bay will continue its green initiatives in 2010, focusing on reducing waste, recycling, replanting of mangroves and supporting efforts of other agencies working to protect local wildlife and Cayman’s natural environment. A range of activities and programs are planned throughout the year to encourage Dragon Bay owners and staff to become a part of Dragon Bay’s culture of conservation. Plans include Dragon Bay observances of World Ocean Day in June, National Threatened Species Day in September, World Habitat Day in October, National Recycling Week in November and International Volunteers Day in December. Ryan hopes these planned activities will encourage change and promote sustainability throughout Dragon Bay and beyond.

“My travels to many other parts of the world have reinforced what a unique and special place the Cayman Islands is and how we have to actively engage to protect it while creating the economic activity that the people need to sustain themselves and make the right environmental choices,” he said.

For more information or to register for the Dragon Bay Earth Day 2010 Clean-up, e-mail cloxton@residences-cayman.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman at Dragon Bay has, from the beginning, been a place where special things happen. I think it comes from something in the land itself that gives flight to the passion and daring of the people involved.

Few are as passionate and daring as Eric Ripert. First he, as a young man, took New York by storm and redefined what could be done with seafood and flavors from around the globe refined through a flawless French palate. Then he came to the Caribbean, a place that stole his heart – along with his Caribbean wife Sandra, to redefine quality and excellence by creating Blue and working with local fisherman and producers to make it the finest restaurant in the region. Once this was completed, Eric continued to look for new and greater ways to share his love of the oceans and their bounty. The annual Cayman Cookout food festival hosted at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman has allowed him to share with his friends and the rest of the food world what he has discovered and created in Cayman.

Eric’s generosity of spirit and lack of star chef ego has garnered him an army of friends and supporters, and the festival gave many of them a chance to come together and celebrate food, wine and the beauty of the Cayman Islands.

Acclaimed chefs Anthony Bourdain, Dean Fearing, Gail Simmons of Top Chef, Grant Achatz, Jose Andres, David Chang, Cindy Hutson, Michael Schwartz, Paula DiSilva, Dean James Max and Alex Grunert along with the Food and Wine magazine made the Cookout’s third incarnation proof that, like fine wine, the event does get better each year.

Despite his humble personality, Eric continues to become increasingly well known for his talent and his ability to spread his passion for food. When he and I were discussing the then upcoming Cookout in New York in December 2009, he told me about how well his PBS TV show ‘Avec Eric’ was doing and that the second season was exceeding their highest expectations. I asked him why he was not doing an episode at the Cookout and he said he wanted to but things had gotten bogged down in bureaucracy. It was one of those ideas that was so obviously a great thing to do that we decided together right then and there to make it happen. We ended up with two episodes. The first on the Cayman Cookout and Eric’s fellow chefs and the second on the Cayman Islands and what it was about the country that persuaded Eric to come and work with me to create the greatest restaurant in the Caribbean and to make Cayman his second home.

So with one quick call to the Department of Tourism describing an opportunity to get two TV shows with Eric on PBS with over a million viewers who perfectly match our demographic and which would be picked up in over 90% of the country with a focus on Cayman as the food capital of the Caribbean, we were in business. This meant that along with the hundreds of guests, local media, and international media from Food and Wine, the New York Times and other print and electronic media outlets, we also had a full camera crew on site. It was lots of fun and also a bit surreal.

On the Friday night we were sitting on the beach at sunset having Eric cook some lobster and having a glass of Champagne, watching the sun go down and sharing stories of Eric’s attempts to fish and just behind us were people holding light shields and camera mounts. In the midst of this relaxed scene, we had mikes up our shirts, power packs digging into our lower backs and at the edge of our vision were people holding back crowds on the beach. In the middle of all this, I was reminded that I was sitting only a few feet from where I sat a couple of years before having another glass of Champagne with some of our owners when Kevin Costner, who just happened to be staying on property, popped out to see the sunset with his guitar and decided to join them in a glass, plopped down in the sand and had an impromptu concert (apparently he is not a half bad singer/guitarist) as the sun set and the stars came out.

There is really something about this place…

Continue Your Journey To Dragon Bay With Voyages

The February 2010 issue of Voyages, the lifestyle magazine of The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman at Dragon Bay, is now on-line at http://www.dragonbaycayman.com/

In the February issue of Voyages, readers can...

• Experience the Cayman Cookout 2010 - the Cayman Islands’ only 5-star culinary extravaganza hosted by Chef Eric Ripert.

• Get an insider’s view of the newly announced La Prairie Spa Suites at Secret Harbour

• Learn how Cayman’s coral reefs relate to our lives, with an interview by Dr. Richard Murphy - developer of The Ambassadors of the Environment program.

• Discover the arts in Cayman - from the visual arts of Art@Governors to the performing arts of the Cayman Arts Festival.

We invite all readers to submit their favourite book or photograph to be featured in our “Images of Cayman” section. This month’s cover photo features an exceptional moonlit view over the water from The DeckHouses.

To send us information or to receive the quarterly print edition, Please email us at dragonbay@residencescayman.com

Dragon Bay - a lifestyle so extraordinary that it seems impossible - until it comes true.

The Voyages Online:
Febraury 2010 issue January 2010 issue December 2009 issue November 2009 issue October 2009 issue