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USVI Boating report ***SERIES*** #265822
10/14/2021 09:23 PM
10/14/2021 09:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
LocalSailor Offline OP
Traveler
LocalSailor  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
Part *3* link
Parts *1* and *2* are linked in article
MORE parts to come
Well worth reading them in order

https://stjohnsource.com/2021/10/14/tensions-mount-in-quiet-east-end-of-st-john/

Last edited by LocalSailor; 10/14/2021 09:24 PM.
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Re: USVI Boating report ***SERIES*** [Re: LocalSailor] #265887
10/15/2021 07:40 PM
10/15/2021 07:40 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 663
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
caribbeangirl13 Online content
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caribbeangirl13  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 663
Vail, CO/St. Thomas, USVI
Wow! Super interesting to read and now I am totally confused! Are you not allowed to anchor off of Hansen Beach or for that matter in Coral Bay? The yellow line on the map is confusing.


Sue
s/v Ripple
Leopard 40

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Re: USVI Boating report ***SERIES*** [Re: LocalSailor] #266081
10/18/2021 01:34 PM
10/18/2021 01:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
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RickG  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
There is more to this story. Coral Bay is open for recreation.

The East End homeowners association is trying to rope off the beaches as private and put out swim buoys without beach access by dinghy. This is done nowhere else. Lime Out in Round Bay got the homeowners organized and they have the phone numbers of DPNR enforcement and DPNR head JP Oriel on speed dial.

The timeline went Lime Out, then COVID restrictions attracted US and international cruisers to the USVI as a haven. The National Park moorings were filled by lottery by the month. The remaining places to anchor were quite limited. Many boats, including cruising friends, anchored in Round Bay and were respectful. They were there for the good swimmng and protection, something you do not get in Coral Harbor or Johnson Bay. The East End residents objected to boaters anchoring outside of park waters in Round Bay. DPNR chased them off at 4PM on a Sunday. They had few options and DPNR's response was "not my problem."

The Coral Bay Yacht Club, Coral Bay Community Council, day and term charter companies, VIPCA, residents, and NPS experts are all providing input to DPNR that allows for public use of these resources. Why is this hard? There is a historic wreck somewhere in Round Bay, but it is unsurveyed and the current location is not know. That is the main argument for no anchoring. The example of anchoring over coral requires education and updated charts. The argument that it is illegal to anchor in grass is untrue, but it is unwise. The current statues state the basically all of Coral Bay, Round Bay inclusive is a "restricted area." Vessels, PWC, anything motorized must operate in as straight a line as possible and no exceed 6mph with no wake. There is nothing in there about "no anchoring."

Round Bay is not a designated long-term anchorage. Before COVID protocols we were allowed to anchor overnight in non-long-term for up to 14 days per year, not including NPS bays. We keep a log book. We know exactly how many nights we've anchored anywhere. Under COVID protocols, every vessel must have an anchoring permit and you cannot get an anchoring permit for Round Bay. So, in theory you are not permitted to anchor overnight in Round Bay now. Below is the article that discusses the statutes and a reference to the text of the statute.

https://stjohnsource.com/2021/10/11...icted-areas-offer-inadequate-protection/

https://coralbaycommunitycouncil.or...les-and-Regs-higlighted-for-St.-John.pdf

What are the solutions?
- Swim buoys are fine as long as there is a dinghy channel to provide access to beaches.
- The historical wreck should be surveyed and marked; along with the newly discovered historical wreck in Coral Harbor.
- There need to be day use mooring for professional day charter boats installed around Pelican Rock to reduce anchoring over coral.
- DPNR needs to install speed limit buoys at the entrance to Coral Bay, Round Bay, and Coral Harbor. Note, all buoyage in Coral Bay has been installed by the Coral Bay Yacht Club with support from our community and divers. DPNR has done nothing.
- DPNR needs to get out of the way of VIPCA installing moorings for charter use in outer Coral Harbor.

There are a lot of people working on these issues. Our small contribution was in writing a Cruisers' Guide to Coral Bay for the Yacht Club web site, that will be launched for this season. More to come.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada

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