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Damaging coral and the Horizon yacht charter
#89380
03/08/2016 04:00 PM
03/08/2016 04:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 285 Orlando, FL
mmchaplin
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 285
Orlando, FL
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We are not professional sailors hence why we find an experienced captain and crew. We are at Cooper anchored at Haulover Bay. Saw a boat adjacent to the National Parks mooring ball with anchor down in coral. Captain let them know this is a no no. So, they tried to pull up anchor and hauled up a large piece of coral after 20 minutes of back and forth and some crunchy sounds. They then made several attempts at the mooring ball and finally made it. Now trying to figure out how to remove the large piece of coral off the anchor and sure they are our neighbors for tonight. Hope they don't try anything else stupid or injur more coral, themselves or others!!
Cheers,
Marcia
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Re: Damaging coral and the Horizon yacht charter
[Re: mmchaplin]
#89383
03/08/2016 05:02 PM
03/08/2016 05:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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mmchaplin said: We are not professional sailors hence why we find an experienced captain and crew. We are at Cooper anchored at Haulover Bay. Saw a boat adjacent to the National Parks mooring ball with anchor down in coral. Captain let them know this is a no no. So, they tried to pull up anchor and hauled up a large piece of coral after 20 minutes of back and forth and some crunchy sounds. They then made several attempts at the mooring ball and finally made it. Now trying to figure out how to remove the large piece of coral off the anchor and sure they are our neighbors for tonight. Hope they don't try anything else stupid or injur more coral, themselves or others!! Pictures with the boat name?
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Re: Damaging coral and the Horizon yacht charter
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#89385
03/09/2016 06:25 AM
03/09/2016 06:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 285 Orlando, FL
mmchaplin
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 285
Orlando, FL
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Was reported to BVI government. We have pics and they left soon after. Will see if the one pic I took shows name of boat.
Cheers,
Marcia
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Re: Damaging coral and the Horizon yacht charter
[Re: StormJib]
#89390
03/09/2016 10:42 AM
03/09/2016 10:42 AM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 167 Other
letsgosailing
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 167
Other
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Such a shame. Better briefings from the charter companies may help.. or perhaps a licensed captain is required on each vessel. Sitting at Leverick bay watching boat after boat run over mooring balls, trying to tie to them. (Pretty windy, but if you know what you are doing, it is easy! 2 boats just approached the buoys from upwind (heading downwind) Not much antifoul left on one of the boats! (as the buoy dragged under the boat, past the keel, and popped up the other side. Don't be gentle, It's a RENTAL!!
Capt. Russell
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Re: Damaging coral and the Horizon yacht charter
[Re: StormJib]
#89391
03/09/2016 01:02 PM
03/09/2016 01:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213 GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
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StormJib said: The real answer here is to follow the USVI lead and dramatically limit even eliminate anchoring. There are multiple BVI research studies going back to 1994 and before of the damage done by anchors and chains. The most compelling is the evidence that in the areas where people anchor the coral coverage is half that of the areas where there is little or no anchoring. In just the last few decades coral coverage in the areas frequented by anchoring have fallen from over 30 percent to 17 percent or less. The first step in the healing process would fix the issue above. In any area where you can see moorings. Anchoring must be prohibited. We hear and see so many BVI job creation projects. The installation, care, and enforcement of moorings should be project one. I would go so far as to include moorings in the cruising permit. There could be "Rangers" inspecting moorings and cruising permits in place of what we experience today. What about sand bottoms where there is no coral?
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Re: Damaging coral and the Horizon yacht charter
[Re: sail2wind]
#89392
03/09/2016 01:14 PM
03/09/2016 01:14 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,321 Charlotte, NC
SuburbanDharma
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,321
Charlotte, NC
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sail2wind said:StormJib said: The real answer here is to follow the USVI lead and dramatically limit even eliminate anchoring. There are multiple BVI research studies going back to 1994 and before of the damage done by anchors and chains. The most compelling is the evidence that in the areas where people anchor the coral coverage is half that of the areas where there is little or no anchoring. In just the last few decades coral coverage in the areas frequented by anchoring have fallen from over 30 percent to 17 percent or less. The first step in the healing process would fix the issue above. In any area where you can see moorings. Anchoring must be prohibited. We hear and see so many BVI job creation projects. The installation, care, and enforcement of moorings should be project one. I would go so far as to include moorings in the cruising permit. There could be "Rangers" inspecting moorings and cruising permits in place of what we experience today. What about sand bottoms where there is no coral? It would be hard (and not necessarily a good idea) to eliminate it, since there are plenty of places to anchor safely & efficiently. But with no one to monitor or administrate a program like this, there's no way to enforce any of it, whether it's a good idea or not. Clearly the rules that are already in place aren't being enforced. I get upset when I see snorkelers stand up on rocks or coral, I'd be apoplectic if I saw this. But it's true that briefings need to be much clearer, as in, "DO NOT ANCHOR IN CORAL. DO NOT TOUCH CORAL. DO NOT PEE OR EMPTY YOUR HOLDING TANKS NEAR CORAL." We've only been visiting the BVI for 8 years & I've seen the coral deteriorate badly in many places. The Caves at Norman Island are practically devoid of any living coral now, it's heart wrenching.
If I can't be a good example, I'll just have to be a horrible warning.
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Re: Damaging coral and the Horizon yacht charter
[Re: SuburbanDharma]
#89401
03/10/2016 10:19 AM
03/10/2016 10:19 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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I think a nightly charge paid in the mooring field is fine for the charterer. For the long term cruiser though, that doesn't work - some sort of monthly or yearly permit would make more sense and it simply could be something that couldn't be applied to charter boats, private boats only.
Matt
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