Just reading a Moor Secure ad in The Cruising Guide and they specifically say "do not extend the pennant". I have always used my own lines to form a bridle when mooring. Also, is it cricket to "hold" a mooring ball with your dinghy while you go day sailing? Just wondering what others thought about this.

It's ok to use your line to attach to the pennant, they don't want an excessively long where it's possible to bang into another moored boat when the wind dies out.
Tying your dinghy to the mooring could be a hassle because some other rude boater will usually ignore the dinghy and tie up.
If you decide tie your dinghy you should first pay for the mooring.

How about reserving an empty ball for a friend. No boat or dingy tied up. Would it be rude to take the ball when the friend is yelling that ball is taken.

I don't know what they mean by "don't extend the pennant" but everyone ties a bridle to the pennant. There is no other way to safely attach to the mooring buoy.
No problem tieing a dinghy to a mooring. A dinghy is a boat and moorings are there for boats. To avoid conflict I would pay for the mooring and keep the receipt handy.

There is no reserving a ball for a friend. If it was the last ball and someone was yelling it was reserved I would tell them to stick it.

I told them to stick it, my wife wanted to move on. In all of my travels to the BVI, I have never heard such a ridiculous claim. I dont think that they even said please dont use it. Furthermore, they could have put there own dingy on the ball. They claimed that their friend had already paid for the ball and would be back. It was at Kellys Cove Norman Island, and there is no way that the mooring charges were already collected by 3pm. Our downside was that I planned on doing a night dive there.

Tell them it isn't a spinning class where all the soccer moms save bikes for their buddies who never show up.

very funny

FYI... In this brief article, the owner of Moor Seacure (most of the balls in the BVIs) discusses reserving mooring ball by leaving a dinghy on it. Reserving a Mooring Ball

".... It is Mr. Moir's feeling that once a mooring ball has a dinghy tied on, that mooring is effectively "in use" ... regardless of the size of the vessel. The presence of a dinghy is a clear indicator that the dinghy owner or lessor intends to return. By design, the moorings system is offered on a first come, first served basis. A dinghy is a boat and subject to the same fees as any other boat, regardless of its size. ....."

I have never done this. Personally, I think it could potentially lead to a stressful situation if other boaters have different views.

There are two good reasons for a tight bridle.

1. an excessively long bridle can allow the ball to go up under your yacht, and wrap the chain around your rudder/prop/keel. not a good way to start your day.

2. with most balls set at 60ft, having a 10 foot bridle on a ~58 foot cat will make you a hazard.

Last week in Leverick Bay found a mooring ball with a boat fender attached marked "Reserved" in big bold letters. I wasn't offended, just moved on to another mooring. What was offensive was as we moved in to position for the next mooring, a monohull charged in front of us making for the same ball. Had to slam it into reverse so we wouldn't hit them. "Credit Card" Sailors!

Why would you sail anywhere without your dinghy? There are always balls available, unless it's New Years eve at Foxys, in which case someone would probably cut your dinghy loose.

Their ad says "have member of the crew lift the pennant on board and attach to the bow cleat". I'm not sure that size line with a thimble in it would actually go around a bow cleat.

I love sailing without my dingy slapping around behind when the wind is perfect,

and...someone is having a birthday today. happy Birthday, you know who you are

by "cricket", if you mean playing fair, being sportsman like, acting like a gentleman ... I don't think so but that's my opinion.

Can you do it ... whatever, I've seen a lot worst but I also wonder why you would want to sail around without your dinghy

They're leaving their dinghy because it's probably a FMP and the moorings are full.
Is that right or fair well it's not.
That why we have to put up with the occasional horses rear end.

This is not a new issue. It is now and always has been legit to pay for a mooring, then leave your dingy on it to go on a sail, go snorkeling, or whatever you like. You could pay for two nights on a mooring and go do a day trip, leaving a dingy, kayak, or similar to keep your spot. This is proper mooring etiquette in the BVI or anywhere else.

You are 100% correct but there are those who will take your mooring ball when they only see a dinghy attached.
You can argue and bitch about it but that's life

+3, the dingy is an registered/titled boat, just like it's big brother boat. Whatever my motivations for leaving my dingy behind, sailing naked, enjoying a healthy 20+ kts wind, sailing with my runner s to the water. Pay for the mooring, and you are not being a rude person. that said, FMP would be slightly in bad form, but totally defensible.

Now, if someone reserved a mooring that they had not paid for...bad form.

if someone were to encroach, damage, untether a dingy at a mooring...then it becomes a matter of maritime law and should have a nice view from the hilltop with the place with little windows.

Also, the reserved ball at leverick, could be where an awesomely nice person on this board has an longstanding arrangement.

I believe someone is calling your name Kim. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

We have a private ball at Leverick at the back of the mooring field marked private. we don't have a boat fender on it marked reserved that I know of .

Mooring etiquette...in the BVIs. Hahahahaha. That has become an oxymoron - especially w powercats charging thru the field to cut you off from the last open mooring you spotted thru ur binoculars 1/2 mile out!!

If you actually want to sail a boat. You would never want to drag a dingy or even have the weight on deck. There are no issues with anyone leaving a dinghy on a mooring they have paid for. Once you pay for it, that mooring is yours whether you have a paddle board or 50 foot cat on it. The price and rights are the same. It would be wrong, illegal, and poor etiquette to touch the other vessel on a mooring no matter how "small" you thought the dink was.

I think "first come first served" doesn't equal "first seen, it's mine"-- just MHO. 1/2 mile out is one thing;1/2 boat length is quite another....

I think "cricket" is a British (English) thing perhaps not fully understood by a lot of Americans.

I agree, wouldn't even think twice if I saw a dinghy or a kayak tied off to a ball, would just assume the person was out day sailing. Now a life jacket or floatie thing, that gets questionable.....

By the way, Kim, we tried to pickup the private mooring ball twice on Reef Song and both times it was taken by another boat. I don't believe people 'honor' the reserved mooring balls in the back of the field. I'm sure you already know this. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

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