I really enjoy Cooper Island as a first night Anchorage. It's an easy sail across to get our sea legs and it's great place to find your way around the boat in between drinks, beach, snorkeling and the great restaurant and Rum Bar. Last year the anchorage smelled like sewage. Was that from the boats? From the island? Or was it not sewage at all?

Second question is about the backwinding / currents there. Several times we have spent the night listening to the mooring ball bump the hull again and again. Is there a technique to stop that? I thought I remembered a way to lift the ball slightly using a line from the anchor slide.

We will be down next week and I'd like to start with Cooper but I'd like to avoid these pitfalls.

Advice appriciated!