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Cooper Island pros/cons #92253
03/30/2016 11:50 AM
03/30/2016 11:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
capndar Offline OP
Traveler
capndar  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
Hey Folks!

After multiple US/BVI charters (with different crews) we are inclined to explore some different islands this trip....and someone mentioned Cooper as one we had not visited. Thoughts on pros and cons for a Cooper Island overnight stop?

Thanks


Capndar
Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing
3rd generation sailor
BVI Sponsors
Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: capndar] #92254
03/30/2016 11:58 AM
03/30/2016 11:58 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,676
An island state of mind
tradewinds Online content
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tradewinds  Online Content
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,676
An island state of mind
Great snorkeling, happy hour & food.

Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: capndar] #92255
03/30/2016 11:58 AM
03/30/2016 11:58 AM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
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Kirk  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
2nd favorite happy hour
Dolphins usually seen
Great sunset
decent snorkeling very close


Kirk in Maryland
Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: capndar] #92256
03/30/2016 12:05 PM
03/30/2016 12:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,082
Maryland, US
gordapeak Offline
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gordapeak  Offline
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Posts: 1,082
Maryland, US
We generally make Cooper our last night out stop. Easy to get back to base the next day, great time at happy hour, very good restaurant for dinner, and sitting there watching Tortola shutting down at night is just about perfect.


"Confidentially, I've had these problems with the tides before"

Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: Kirk] #92257
03/30/2016 12:05 PM
03/30/2016 12:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 167
Other
letsgosailing Offline
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letsgosailing  Offline
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Posts: 167
Other
Rolly in a North swell.
Great snorkelling and restaurant.!


Capt. Russell
Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: letsgosailing] #92258
03/30/2016 12:12 PM
03/30/2016 12:12 PM
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
The only con is that it can sometimes be rolly. We've never really had an issue with that, more just the boat moving around and going over the mooring ball so you hear the ball bang on the hull sometimes.


Matt
Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: letsgosailing] #92259
03/30/2016 12:15 PM
03/30/2016 12:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,199
Devon, UK
salica Offline
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salica  Offline
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Posts: 1,199
Devon, UK
Agree with' let's go sailing'. Great restaurant, reservations essential plus they do two sittings. However we have had the worst night ever here, so check weather forecast. Rocking and rolling all night long on a mono, not my idea of a good nights sleep. The mooring field tends to fill very quickly, often full by 2pm, so have an alternative in mind.

Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: capndar] #92260
03/30/2016 01:40 PM
03/30/2016 01:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 91
The Blue Mountains
M
macpete Offline
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macpete  Offline
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M
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 91
The Blue Mountains
Pros - great happy hour drinks and munchies, awesome sunset, good snorkeling and outstanding Marina TV watching boats racing in at 1600 hrs for the last mooring ball.
Cons - being THAT GUY arriving for a 1600 hrs for the last ball (we try and get there by noon to enjoy a swim, snorkel and a few hours in our hammock resting up for happy hour). Really rolly in a north swell

Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: macpete] #92261
03/30/2016 02:08 PM
03/30/2016 02:08 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 396
Pacific NW
S
snmhanson Offline
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snmhanson  Offline
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S
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 396
Pacific NW
Good snorkeling at Cistern Point, nice restaurant and a laid back beach with the only people there generally being from the resort and from moored boats. Great rum bar too with several different rum flights to try and/or tasty and creative mixed concoctions. If conditions aren't too bad and you are confident in your dinghy you can take it over and explore Salt Island (bring a handheld VHF with you of course). We took the dink all the way to the Rhone on our last trip and it was nice not having to stop there with the big boat. Also, Cooper is a great jumping off point for getting to The Baths the next morning before the masses. Wake up at sunrise, slip the mooring line off and motor over while the rest of the crew is sleeping.

You've been made aware of the issue if there is a North swell. As other have said, do get there early or you'll likely find yourself in a race with three other boats for the last mooring ball - which you'll discover is missing it's pendant when you get to it. Anchoring isn't good at Cooper and most charter companies don't allow it there.

Matt

Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: snmhanson] #92262
03/30/2016 02:25 PM
03/30/2016 02:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,321
Charlotte, NC
SuburbanDharma Offline
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SuburbanDharma  Offline
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Posts: 3,321
Charlotte, NC
As usual, I have a different experience from most:

Okay food, slow, surly service, too few moorings for the number of people who want to be there & we've had maybe ONE night there that wasn't uncomfortably rolly. Every time we go there it's because I've said, "we haven't been to Cooper in a while, let's go there!" and when we leave I think, "that was just not worth it".

I haven't snorkeled there but if it's that good I might be willing to overlook the other things on a super-duper-extra calm night.


If I can't be a good example, I'll just have to be a horrible warning. [Linked Image]
Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: SuburbanDharma] #92263
03/30/2016 02:44 PM
03/30/2016 02:44 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
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Kirk  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Definitely go ashore as soon as you get there and make your meal reservation...we've been shutout of eating there twice as both seatings were already full.


Kirk in Maryland
Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: Kirk] #92264
03/30/2016 04:21 PM
03/30/2016 04:21 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Online content
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RickG  Online Content
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Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
We go for the first seating as the kitchen can fall apart part-way through service. The food is under-seasoned and over sweetened and they do not put salt & pepper on the table (ask when you get seated). But, the food is very pretty and well presented and ingredients are quality. We prefer to have apps at the bar and cocktails, then pop by the rum bar.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: RickG] #92265
03/30/2016 07:52 PM
03/30/2016 07:52 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 105
New York, NY, USA
P
pk5352 Offline
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pk5352  Offline
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P
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Posts: 105
New York, NY, USA
Love Cooper for many reasons. Cistern Point, the Sunsets, etc...Can get rolly, yes. And this last trip- last week- we pulled in at 1045 on a Monday morning and got the ONLY available mooring. And it was not because of late stayers either. There was a little bit of turnover through the morning and afternoon, but really not much at all. We called in for dinner reservation before 11AM and were told they only had 8PM available and that we got the last available table. So the crowds thing...

Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: RickG] #92266
03/30/2016 07:57 PM
03/30/2016 07:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 276
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
MarkS Offline
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MarkS  Offline
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Posts: 276
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
I really like Cooper and have moored there on the first day out for all five of my bareboat charters. The food has been consistently excellent, the service friendly and attentive and the facilities fine. Great views as well. I have consistently read about potentially rolly nights there but I have never had that problem personally. I did experience the current pushing our boat over the ball once but honestly it was not that bad. We make it out first stop so that we can get there early, enjoy a swim/snorkel, have a nice lunch, take a nap and then enjoy the "show" at 4:00pm when the fight for the remaining balls hits full speed. The view of Tortola at night is pretty spectacular as well. As long as you get there early you are sure to enjoy!


Mark Shichtman
"Live for Today!"

[Linked Image]
Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: MarkS] #92267
03/31/2016 09:41 AM
03/31/2016 09:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
capndar Offline OP
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capndar  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
Thanks! Great ideas....we'll likely give it a look if the N swell is not up.


Capndar
Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing
3rd generation sailor
Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: capndar] #92268
03/31/2016 03:27 PM
03/31/2016 03:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
UncleLuff Offline
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UncleLuff  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
I am also planning on making Cooper our first stop on our trip two relevant questions
1) if we are in a Cat, do we need to be worried about where the swell is coming from? most posts mentioning uncomfortable nights were in monohulls
2) is it worth taking a trip over to the wreck of the Rhone for snorkeling before heading to Cooper? Or is this mainly a dive site?

Re: Cooper Island pros/cons [Re: UncleLuff] #92269
03/31/2016 03:47 PM
03/31/2016 03:47 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Online content
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RickG  Online Content
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
We snorkel the Rhone when the swell is down and the water is clear. The shallow end, where the propeller is, is easy to see and the anchor is in shallow water too.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada

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