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Is Boaty Ball still working #207058
10/21/2019 07:40 PM
10/21/2019 07:40 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 307
Lodi, California
shiloh8912 Offline OP
Traveler
shiloh8912  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 307
Lodi, California
Sorry to bring up a delicate subject, but is Boaty Ball still active? I signed up earlier today (back up plan for our upcoming trip we still plan on FCFS) but have yet to receive a confirmation email. I realize its a sore subject here on TTOL but I want to be sure we have access to a mooring ball.
That being said how crowded is it typically starting next Wednesday the 30th. Is it still somewhat quiet down there?


"We lost our corkscrew and were compelled to live on food and water for several days.
~W.C. Fields"
BVI Sponsors
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207063
10/21/2019 08:15 PM
10/21/2019 08:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
N
NCSailor Offline
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NCSailor  Offline
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N
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
Yes, its still active. This time of year it will not be crowded. You should have no problem finding moorings. I just check the BB app and they have moorings available at all of the anchorages.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207068
10/21/2019 08:39 PM
10/21/2019 08:39 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
agrimsrud Offline
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agrimsrud  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
Originally Posted by shiloh8912
That being said how crowded is it typically starting next Wednesday the 30th. Is it still somewhat quiet down there?


It will be quite. You will have no problem finding a mooring. Unlikely that BB will be necessary - there should be plenty of FCFS moorings.

We're right behind you starting on Nov. 1 for a short trip.


Life's short - sail more!
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207084
10/22/2019 08:45 AM
10/22/2019 08:45 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,675
An island state of mind
tradewinds Offline
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tradewinds  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,675
An island state of mind
There are no Boaty Balls in the Bight

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207098
10/22/2019 11:22 AM
10/22/2019 11:22 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 528
Ohio
jagmansr Offline
Traveler
jagmansr  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 528
Ohio
We land on the 30th and set sail on the 31st, October, look us up, We're on Leopard Island Fun, flying an Ohio State University flag. GO BUCKS!

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207099
10/22/2019 11:25 AM
10/22/2019 11:25 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 528
Ohio
jagmansr Offline
Traveler
jagmansr  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 528
Ohio
As for boatyball, have NO plans on using them.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207100
10/22/2019 11:39 AM
10/22/2019 11:39 AM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,343
Washington DC
B
bailau Offline
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bailau  Offline
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B
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,343
Washington DC
Use them as a "moorings availability" proxy...you can look at the website and as long as some are open you know you will be fine to end up on them as last resort if you cant find a FCFS ball. I am sure plenty of people are squatting on them as well since there is no physical collection mechanism.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207104
10/22/2019 12:18 PM
10/22/2019 12:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 962
Middleburg, VA
cwoody Offline
Traveler
cwoody  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 962
Middleburg, VA
They just sent this link out today.

BoatyBall Partners


Chuck W.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207107
10/22/2019 12:40 PM
10/22/2019 12:40 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
Traveler
warren460  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
Yawn, who cares, why bother with something you likely don't need.


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: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207142
10/22/2019 10:49 PM
10/22/2019 10:49 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 643
Ft. Worth, TX
L
Lcrich Offline
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Lcrich  Offline
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L
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 643
Ft. Worth, TX
We’ve been down here for 2 weeks and there are plenty of open balls everywhere. We did use one last at Anegada for piece of mind. Worked great.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207275
10/25/2019 07:42 AM
10/25/2019 07:42 AM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 63
Midwest
S
sunshine44 Offline
Traveler
sunshine44  Offline
Traveler
S
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 63
Midwest
Stayed in CGB last night about 15 boats on FCFS balls, all Boaty balls empty until one boat came in late and took one(not reserved). Saw the young man collecting this morning stop at that boat and he told me he did collect the $40 from them.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: sunshine44] #207278
10/25/2019 07:53 AM
10/25/2019 07:53 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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GeorgeC1  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
It’s sad that boatyball took the best balls in CGB and they now sit mostly empty.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: GeorgeC1] #207296
10/25/2019 11:35 AM
10/25/2019 11:35 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by GeorgeC1
It’s sad that boatyball took the best balls in CGB and they now sit mostly empty.

I don't know why these are the best balls in CGB? They are not in the front, not in the back, not closest to the dock, and not farthest from the dock. Not sure how much more neutral they could be.

If I felt they were the best balls in any anchorage, I guess I'd be happy to pay $10 extra for that great mooring ball.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207348
10/25/2019 10:37 PM
10/25/2019 10:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
Traveler
GeorgeC1  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
Boatyball has almost the entire row closest to the beach. I like those balls so the kids onboard can go back and forth to the beach. They run almost from the dingy dock down towards Myetts.

Attached Files 56503949-8423-46C2-8F3A-BACB3716C006.png
Last edited by GeorgeC1; 10/25/2019 10:44 PM.
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207367
10/26/2019 10:04 AM
10/26/2019 10:04 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 307
Lodi, California
shiloh8912 Offline OP
Traveler
shiloh8912  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 307
Lodi, California
Glad to hear that we shouldn’t have any issues finding mooring balls. I’ve given up on trying to get the app to work anyways, I’ve used multiple emails to sign up with no answer from them. FCFS it is.


"We lost our corkscrew and were compelled to live on food and water for several days.
~W.C. Fields"
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: GeorgeC1] #207479
10/28/2019 11:10 AM
10/28/2019 11:10 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by GeorgeC1
Boatyball has almost the entire row closest to the beach. I like those balls so the kids onboard can go back and forth to the beach. They run almost from the dingy dock down towards Myetts.

Wrong. The row closest to the beach is all FCFS. BoatyBall has the second and third rows. I just checked from my window to be sure. If you're looking at the map on their website, it does appear that way but it's because they don't show the FCFS balls on their map.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #207502
10/28/2019 06:19 PM
10/28/2019 06:19 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Breeze Offline
Traveler
Breeze  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Gosh, Jason, color me shocked that BoatyBall would represent themselves that way. impatient

The whole enterprise has sounded to me like a frat-house dream project for Micro-Economics 201, dressed up as some bodies Masters Thesis boohoo

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: Breeze] #207549
10/29/2019 09:18 AM
10/29/2019 09:18 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by Breeze
Gosh, Jason, color me shocked that BoatyBall would represent themselves that way. impatient

I don't know why you would think they would represent themselves any other way. They have no control over when other operators add/remove balls so it would make no sense to put other mooring balls on their map.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #207551
10/29/2019 09:37 AM
10/29/2019 09:37 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148
road town
sleepychef Offline
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sleepychef  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148
road town
They are also trying to buy the FCFS balls from other mooring ball operators so they can own their own balls which would adversely affect their partners as they would sell their own balls before the other boats balls that they only recieve a percentage of.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: sleepychef] #207552
10/29/2019 09:43 AM
10/29/2019 09:43 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by sleepychef
They are also trying to buy the FCFS balls from other mooring ball operators so they can own their own balls which would adversely affect their partners as they would sell their own balls before the other boats balls that they only recieve a percentage of.

How would they sell their balls first when people pick the ball they want at the time of booking?

Can non-belongers hold seabed leases?


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207553
10/29/2019 09:58 AM
10/29/2019 09:58 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
At the very least it would make sense for boaty ball to indicate that there are other balls so one would know booking a boaty ball mooring they wouldn't be the closest boat to shore.


Matt
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #207561
10/29/2019 11:08 AM
10/29/2019 11:08 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
R
RatmansWife Offline
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RatmansWife  Offline
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R
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
Non-belongers can hold a seabed license, but it is neither a quick nor easy process.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: RatmansWife] #207562
10/29/2019 11:20 AM
10/29/2019 11:20 AM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
Traveler
Kirk  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Originally Posted by RatmansWife
Non-belongers can hold a seabed license, but it is neither a quick nor easy process.

Is anything a quick and easy process there? (Asking for a friend....)


Kirk in Maryland
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #207576
10/29/2019 12:24 PM
10/29/2019 12:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148
road town
sleepychef Offline
Traveler
sleepychef  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148
road town
Hi Jason,

they write the program so very easy to make their ball numbers come up first a simple change.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207593
10/29/2019 03:08 PM
10/29/2019 03:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
I write programs and considering its a visual map of available moorings I don't see how theirs would come up first unless they pretend the others are sold out until they sell all theirs.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #207604
10/29/2019 07:33 PM
10/29/2019 07:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
Traveler
warren460  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
And why would they not program it that way?


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: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: JasonHelmbrecht] #207610
10/29/2019 10:39 PM
10/29/2019 10:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148
road town
sleepychef Offline
Traveler
sleepychef  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148
road town
They move the goalposts all the time on the website they control it its easy to make a random selection for each mooring field once they own their own balls.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: warren460] #207639
10/30/2019 10:44 AM
10/30/2019 10:44 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht Offline
Traveler
JasonHelmbrecht  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Originally Posted by warren460
And why would they not program it that way?

Mostly because it would be pretty obvious that a group of balls suddenly became available after they showed as unavailable earlier in the day. Since they mostly sell out during high season, I don't see why they'd bother.


JasonHelmbrecht
Coconut Breeze Villas
Cane Garden Bay
reservations@coconutbreezevillas.com
www.coconutbreezevillas.com
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #208656
11/10/2019 01:21 PM
11/10/2019 01:21 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 307
Lodi, California
shiloh8912 Offline OP
Traveler
shiloh8912  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 307
Lodi, California
Ended up not needing a BB on our ten days, a few were taken when we arrived at Leverick, closer to the dock I guess, we were probably the 5th boat into Great Harbour on Wednesday and only 1 was being used but by nightfall the place was full up.


"We lost our corkscrew and were compelled to live on food and water for several days.
~W.C. Fields"
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #208679
11/10/2019 06:17 PM
11/10/2019 06:17 PM
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 13
Kansas
F
flyingcloud Offline
Traveler
flyingcloud  Offline
Traveler
F
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 13
Kansas

When was your trip?

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #208700
11/10/2019 09:31 PM
11/10/2019 09:31 PM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 296
K
Kryssa Offline
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Kryssa  Offline
Traveler
K
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 296
We are here now and there have been both Boatyballs and regular balls open at Anegada both nights. Regular and Boatyballs were all full at Cooper.

We will be using Boatyball for the Full Moon Party at Foxys.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #208726
11/11/2019 08:41 AM
11/11/2019 08:41 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
Traveler
GeorgeC1  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
I discovered the secret to boatyball. You need someone at home with fast internet to log in and get the ball booked for you during peak times.
G

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #208737
11/11/2019 11:52 AM
11/11/2019 11:52 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
L
Latadjust Offline
Traveler
Latadjust  Offline
Traveler
L
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
Question: how many total balls does Boatyball have? Looks like 53 judging by the website

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #208738
11/11/2019 11:57 AM
11/11/2019 11:57 AM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 296
K
Kryssa Offline
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Kryssa  Offline
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K
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 296
I see 43 on the map - 42 plus the one we have booked (red flag icon)

Attached Files 141E2A01-6037-41BE-B1AA-9758BA32106E.png
Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: Kryssa] #208741
11/11/2019 12:36 PM
11/11/2019 12:36 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
L
Latadjust Offline
Traveler
Latadjust  Offline
Traveler
L
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
I see that this morning, last night they showed 10 more in Leverick Bay....
Either way, that doesn't sound like very many. I wonder how many total fcfs balls there are in the bvi?

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #208989
11/13/2019 01:43 PM
11/13/2019 01:43 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
L
Latadjust Offline
Traveler
Latadjust  Offline
Traveler
L
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
Ok, now they show 54, 14 at Cooper and 10 at Leverick. Why dont they show all their moorings, reserved or not? It would help with planning

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: Latadjust] #208996
11/13/2019 03:26 PM
11/13/2019 03:26 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 64
Waco, Texas
A
Alec Atteberry Offline
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Alec Atteberry  Offline
Traveler
A
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 64
Waco, Texas
There are 55 reservable BoatyBall moorings in the BVI. From the map it will show this regardless of whether they are reserved or not. Bay owners have the ability to "hide" moorings, if they need to take them offline; that is why it showed that there were 43 a few days ago and 54 now.

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: Alec Atteberry] #209012
11/13/2019 05:42 PM
11/13/2019 05:42 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
L
Latadjust Offline
Traveler
Latadjust  Offline
Traveler
L
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 143
Folsom Lake, CA
Ah, thank you

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #209014
11/13/2019 05:45 PM
11/13/2019 05:45 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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GeorgeC1  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
How many first come first serve balls is boatyball ball managing?
G

Re: Is Boaty Ball still working [Re: shiloh8912] #210944
12/11/2019 09:01 AM
12/11/2019 09:01 AM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
Traveler
Kirk  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
It's getting to the busier time of year...just read about an incident (on the BVI Abroad - Hurricane Irma FB page) at Coooper where a person let a boat loose since they were squatting and refused to leave.


Kirk in Maryland
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