Bahamas Bound

James Matthews checks out the world's first solar-powered, shared-ownership yacht and residences club, Club Ki’ama.

A futuristic eco-friendly yacht and residence club located within the new Ki’ama Bahamas enclave on a private island in Elizabeth Harbour, is causing quite a stir at present. Representing a one-of-a-kind offering, the investment pairing combines luxurious solar-powered, waterfront homes with a fleet of solar-powered and crewed yachts exclusively for residents’ use.

Derived from the Arawakan language spoken by the original inhabitants of the Caribbean islands, the name “Ki’ama” brings together “earth spirit” and “water” to perfectly capture the ethos of this private-island community.

“Club Ki’ama represents the future for sustainable residential and resort development,” says Steve Dering, EcoIsland Development partner and global pioneer of the co-ownership model. “It’s incumbent on us to protect Elizabeth Island’s ecologically sensitive environment while thoughtfully creating comfortable spaces where our owners and their guests can enjoy the best of the Bahamas.”

Combining bespoke land and sea adventures, Club Ki’ama is home to a fleet of eight crewed, fully catered, solar-powered SILENT-YACHTS available to owners. These remarkable 62-to 80-foot luxury catamarans eliminate the major drawbacks of traditional yachts – the environmental impact and noise of fossil fuel engines, high operating costs, and expensive maintenance – without diminishing the pleasures that make yachting one of the ultimate vacation experiences. In essence, it allows the exploration of 365 cays and islands spread over 130 nautical miles in a sustainable manner with unlimited range.

Completely self-contained, 100% solar, with near zero maintenance and operating costs, when docked at the island, SILENT-YACHTS and the Solar Residences structures “talk” to each other in a proprietary power-sharing system.

The Ki’ama Bahamas community, Club residences and facilities were designed by Silent Resorts CEO and founder Victor Barrett. The single-story Club residences will be constructed using linear designs that complement the natural topography of the island. They feature 10- to 12-foot ceilings for enhanced ventilation and light, “living roof” landscape systems, solar panels, and structural timber frames designed to withstand the local environment. Club Ki’ama will feature 16 four-bedroom residences allowing owners to enjoy a minimum of five weeks of vacation annually, including 10 yacht days, and have additional use, subject to reservation policies and availability.

Dering adds: “The Ki’ama Bahamas community will serve as a worldwide example of a sustainable development. All residences, yachts, buildings, and amenities will be fully and independently solar-powered. In addition to environmentally friendly energy, water and building systems, only 18% of the total land area will be developed, leaving most of the Ki’ama property undisturbed and left in its natural habitat.

The eco-conscious island sanctuary will also feature the oceanfront Ki’ama Beach Club, Spa & Restaurant. As the centrepiece of the community, the Beach Club construction will utilise the highest quality natural fabrics, bamboo and timber with very little impact on the environment.

Steve concludes: “We’re hopeful that our first-of-its-kind club and community will set the standard for eco-conscious development around the world.”

Find out more at Club Ki’ama.