Traveltalkonline.com Forums


BVI Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors BVI Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics38,430
Posts310,040
Members26,538
Most Online2,218
Jan 21st, 2020
Top Posters(30 Days)
RonDon 115
pat 43
jazzgal 41
Todd 40
Member Spotlight
pony600
pony600
CT
Posts: 1,297
Joined: June 2008
Show All Member Profiles 
Today's Birthdays
ecco, OceanDrop, vincent
Who's Online Now
46 registered members (lbksxm, RonDon, NoelHall, Whale Tail, MrEZgoin, steve74, camview, UncleLuff, foreversxm, road3682, pbd007, snman31, lcote, Fitzhughlaw, richard4th, Donaegada, SXMScubaman, Matt W, LauraJim, JandIrene, MKGrey, Swifty, Fran, RickBlaine, mark37, Wahnfried, nevar37, ChuckG, BHK, Cincinnati_Kid, SeaLady29, pandpfromcanada, socamon, CaribbeanCanadians, sailingbob, polaris, 10 invisible), 858 guests, and 68 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? #161167
05/19/2018 09:46 PM
05/19/2018 09:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 28
SC
rsherer Offline OP
Traveler
rsherer  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 28
SC
Since the Willy T is heading to Great Harbour at Peter Island....are there any mooring balls in place? Or should I just be happy that the Willy T. has a new home?

BVI Sponsors
Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161168
05/19/2018 09:50 PM
05/19/2018 09:50 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 631
BaardJ Offline
Traveler
BaardJ  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 631
Lots of mooring balls in place. They looked to be in good shape a few months ago.

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161171
05/19/2018 10:25 PM
05/19/2018 10:25 PM
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 52
Montreal, QC, Canada
F
Freedom21 Offline
Traveler
Freedom21  Offline
Traveler
F
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 52
Montreal, QC, Canada
We were just in Great Harbor on Peter Island last night and the mooring balls are good.

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: Freedom21] #161175
05/19/2018 11:00 PM
05/19/2018 11:00 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3
Mandeville, LA
2
2000Hoo Offline
Member
2000Hoo  Offline
Member
2
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3
Mandeville, LA
Roughly how many mooring balls are presently available? I’ve been seeing a fairly wide range of estimates since the Willy T news broke (Everything from about a dozen to 75). We depart next Saturday & I’m trying to get an update from someone who has been there recently, so we can plan accordingly.


Life is short. Don’t sip.
Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161177
05/19/2018 11:17 PM
05/19/2018 11:17 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
Traveler
warren460  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
They were likely a few dozen when I was there in February.


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161178
05/20/2018 06:51 AM
05/20/2018 06:51 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 315
Hilton Head, SC
Steve27 Offline
Traveler
Steve27  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 315
Hilton Head, SC
Just remember you only need one...


Cruising the local waters here in SC and GA. Love the BVIs and miss the Tradewinds!
Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161181
05/20/2018 07:08 AM
05/20/2018 07:08 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
Traveler
GeorgeC1  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
I doubt the total is more than 20. Probably closer to 15. Be careful where you anchor. Some spots have coral.
G

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161182
05/20/2018 07:08 AM
05/20/2018 07:08 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 109
SailOrion Offline
Traveler
SailOrion  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 109
If you take a quick count of mooring balls at any anchorage you are visiting and post as a comment to the BVI Mariner web site, reference pages will be updated for the benefit of all. You can also just send an email to bvimariner@gmail.com if easier. Thanks - Mark

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161206
05/20/2018 01:17 PM
05/20/2018 01:17 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 85
B
burge Offline
Traveler
burge  Offline
Traveler
B
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 85
A friend of mine was there three days ago and he reported to me that he counted 40 mooring balls.

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: burge] #161247
05/20/2018 10:46 PM
05/20/2018 10:46 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 631
BaardJ Offline
Traveler
BaardJ  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 631
In early December I counted exactly 34 mooring balls in Great Harbour, stretching from the western shore to the eastern shore by Oceans 7. Sounds like a few that disappeared during the storms were since replaced and we're now at 40.

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161255
05/21/2018 07:12 AM
05/21/2018 07:12 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 109
SailOrion Offline
Traveler
SailOrion  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 109
Thanks burge & Baardj! The Peter Island, Great Harbour page (link) on BVI Mariner has been updated to reflect 34-40 mooring balls at this anchorage. In comparison, I counted 60 balls (plus 5 at Kelly's Cove) at The Bight (link) pre-Irma. Thanks again!

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161257
05/21/2018 08:08 AM
05/21/2018 08:08 AM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
aarpskier Offline
Traveler
aarpskier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
Hmmm. On our recent April trip to the Spanish Virgins, we saw no more than 6 balls in those anchorages that even had moorings, and usually less than half of those were in use overnight. No "BVI race for a ball." Definitely a different experience! thumbsup

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161265
05/21/2018 08:48 AM
05/21/2018 08:48 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 28
SC
rsherer Offline OP
Traveler
rsherer  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 28
SC
Thanks all! We're headed there June 29th. Looking forward to the Willy T in its NEW home.

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161269
05/21/2018 09:52 AM
05/21/2018 09:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 283
W
windward2c Offline
Traveler
windward2c  Offline
Traveler
W
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 283
On the BVI mariner site, under Cooper Island, it says there are 10 private moorings (BUT AVAILABLE FOR USE). Can someone explain what exactly the rules are for that?? I have never picked up a private mooring in BVI (except once off Guana when I had engine trouble and needed to change the fuel filter but they got off the mooring).

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: windward2c] #161402
05/22/2018 05:52 PM
05/22/2018 05:52 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
aarpskier Offline
Traveler
aarpskier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
Originally Posted by windward2c
On the BVI mariner site, under Cooper Island, it says there are 10 private moorings (BUT AVAILABLE FOR USE). Can someone explain what exactly the rules are for that??


It's been a couple of years, but it's my recollection that while the majority of the balls are owned, and rent collected, by CIBC, the 10 closest to Cistern Point are owned, and rent collected by, someone else. All are available for transients. The balls closest to Cistern Point are nice because you can easily snorkle to point right from your boat.

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: aarpskier] #161422
05/22/2018 09:27 PM
05/22/2018 09:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 61
San Antonio, TX
TreetopFlyer Offline
Traveler
TreetopFlyer  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 61
San Antonio, TX
Originally Posted by aarpskier
Originally Posted by windward2c
On the BVI mariner site, under Cooper Island, it says there are 10 private moorings (BUT AVAILABLE FOR USE). Can someone explain what exactly the rules are for that??


It's been a couple of years, but it's my recollection that while the majority of the balls are owned, and rent collected, by CIBC, the 10 closest to Cistern Point are owned, and rent collected by, someone else. All are available for transients. The balls closest to Cistern Point are nice because you can easily snorkle to point right from your boat.


Aarpskier is correct about the balls near Cistern Point. They don't seem to be maintained quite as well as CIBC balls, so be sure to check them for holding.

And since he brought up snorkeling at Cistern Point, we had a somewhat scary experience there last May. We'd snorkeled there several times in the past from our moored boat and had no problem. But in May we did the same, and found the current overwhelmed our swimming ability. It was easy to snorkel around shore out to the point (way too easy I should have realized); when we tried to turn around and go back there was no way we could fight the current.

Fortunately there was a boat moored to the one dive ball at the very end of the point. We swam (let the current take us) to that boat and they were nice enough to motor us back to our boat.

Lesson learned...pay attention to the current even when snorkeling!


Tom C.
Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: TreetopFlyer] #161428
05/22/2018 11:55 PM
05/22/2018 11:55 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
aarpskier Offline
Traveler
aarpskier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
Originally Posted by TreetopFlyer
... at Cistern Point, we had a somewhat scary experience there last May. We'd snorkeled there several times in the past from our moored boat and had no problem. But in May we did the same, and found the current overwhelmed our swimming ability. It was easy to snorkel around shore out to the point (way too easy I should have realized); when we tried to turn around and go back there was no way we could fight the current. ... Lesson learned...pay attention to the current even when snorkeling!


Good point. We have snorkeled Waterlemon Cay, Leinster Bay, St John twice. The first time, with 6 seniors, no problem circumnavigating the cay. The second time, with several small grandchildren, we had to get assistance from one of our crew in a dinghy. Different time of day, tides and currents. It's easy to get lulled into a sense of complacency, and a good idea to frequently turn around and check one's ability to return to one's starting point.

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161430
05/23/2018 04:52 AM
05/23/2018 04:52 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
Traveler
warren460  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
General rule is that the first part of the swim needs to be into the current. Then when it’s time to go back, you have the easy swim with the current.


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: windward2c] #161465
05/23/2018 07:25 AM
05/23/2018 07:25 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 109
SailOrion Offline
Traveler
SailOrion  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 109
The 30 mooring balls in Manchioneel Bay to the North are maintained by Moor-Secure, the other 10 are not. Per the 2017-18 Guide to Cruising the Virgin Islands (page 203), "The other 10 most southerly moorings near Cistern Point are privately owned, and a dinghy will come to collect the fee". Thanks - Mark

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: SailOrion] #161486
05/23/2018 11:17 AM
05/23/2018 11:17 AM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
Orange_Burst Offline
Traveler
Orange_Burst  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
Originally Posted by SailOrion
The 30 mooring balls in Manchioneel Bay to the North are maintained by Moor-Secure, the other 10 are not. Per the 2017-18 Guide to Cruising the Virgin Islands (page 203), "The other 10 most southerly moorings near Cistern Point are privately owned, and a dinghy will come to collect the fee". Thanks - Mark


Those 10 balls were owned by James Leonard, who had an accident and passed away last May. Since his death, I'm not sure if anyone is maintaining or collecting on his behalf.


Colleen

[Linked Image]


Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161523
05/23/2018 07:54 PM
05/23/2018 07:54 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
Traveler
warren460  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
That's why we should test the mooring by backing down as recommended by some charter companies


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: Orange_Burst] #161646
05/25/2018 09:51 AM
05/25/2018 09:51 AM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 374
Tucson Az
BilgeBoss Offline
Traveler
BilgeBoss  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 374
Tucson Az
Originally Posted by Orange_Burst
Originally Posted by SailOrion
The 30 mooring balls in Manchioneel Bay to the North are maintained by Moor-Secure, the other 10 are not. Per the 2017-18 Guide to Cruising the Virgin Islands (page 203), "The other 10 most southerly moorings near Cistern Point are privately owned, and a dinghy will come to collect the fee". Thanks - Mark


Those 10 balls were owned by James Leonard, who had an accident and passed away last May. Since his death, I'm not sure if anyone is maintaining or collecting on his behalf.


Is James the fellow that sold lobsters on the dock. I think his mom ran a great roti place on tortolla. He was a very nice chap.

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: BilgeBoss] #161656
05/25/2018 10:54 AM
05/25/2018 10:54 AM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
Orange_Burst Offline
Traveler
Orange_Burst  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
Originally Posted by BilgeBoss
Originally Posted by Orange_Burst
Originally Posted by SailOrion
The 30 mooring balls in Manchioneel Bay to the North are maintained by Moor-Secure, the other 10 are not. Per the 2017-18 Guide to Cruising the Virgin Islands (page 203), "The other 10 most southerly moorings near Cistern Point are privately owned, and a dinghy will come to collect the fee". Thanks - Mark


Those 10 balls were owned by James Leonard, who had an accident and passed away last May. Since his death, I'm not sure if anyone is maintaining or collecting on his behalf.


Is James the fellow that sold lobsters on the dock. I think his mom ran a great roti place on tortolla. He was a very nice chap.


Yes, that was James.


Colleen

[Linked Image]


Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: rsherer] #161703
05/25/2018 10:29 PM
05/25/2018 10:29 PM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 277
trueblue Offline
Traveler
trueblue  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 277
Three points
So sad Great Harbor, a beautiful natural harbor will be hosting the Willie T. Not sure how the developer of an Eco resort can justify sending a fleet of boats here.

There are not enough balls in the harbor currently to support the number of boats who will descend on the Willie T.

We are here tonight and watched them site the anchor spots for the Willie T. On the shore opposite the barge.

My heart is breaking.

Re: Mooring Ball in Great Harbour? [Re: trueblue] #161816
05/26/2018 09:55 PM
05/26/2018 09:55 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 463
Chicago
YachtReprise Offline
Traveler
YachtReprise  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 463
Chicago
Finally, a voice of reason.

GH is one of the last relatively pristine deep harbors in the VI. So much fragile marine life, which will undoubtedly be chased away. And the coral! Very much alive and resplendent, which will also be destroyed.

And the history....ruins of the old coaling station which will no doubt be pilfered. And the very secret ruins of a Great House on the hill. (I spent scores of hours sitting with Conrad over the span of 40 years, before his passing. He finally gave me directions to the house that I knew existed, but could never find. And then I did.)

And even though the fishing operation is only conducted occasionally these days, it will be impossible to do so with the Willy-T traffic. (The entire area close to the beach is a BVI Protected Marine Area. HA! What were they thinking?!)

Now, the peace and tranquility of the bay will be replaced with gurgling generators, drunken aging frat-pirates bellowing Jimmy Buffett songs,
and a floating Senor Frog's.

I remember the days when Great Harbor was redlined by the bareboat companies because it was too deep to anchor, and there were no mooring balls. It was a favorite of those of us running crewed charter boats. Now it will be the bright porch light attracting all kinds of insects. And the lack of mooring balls?! That can and will be remedied in just a few days. Where there's a buck at stake, there's a way.

I join you in your heartache for Great Harbor.
Originally Posted by trueblue
Three points
So sad Great Harbor, a beautiful natural harbor will be hosting the Willie T. Not sure how the developer of an Eco resort can justify sending a fleet of boats here.

There are not enough balls in the harbor currently to support the number of boats who will descend on the Willie T.

We are here tonight and watched them site the anchor spots for the Willie T. On the shore opposite the barge.

My heart is breaking.


Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1