I have noticed what seems to me to be quite a different technique for hooking up to a mooring ball. Large sail and power cats, after attaching their lines, hit reverse, full throttle. Why they do that? Trying to see the hook? Just an observation.

definitely not full throttle. Just like when anchoring, you back down on the anchor at about 2000 RPM. Backing down on the mooring ball is testing the strength of the ground tackle and the pennant.

If you're gonna back down on a mooring, then just go drop your hook. They're not maintained efficiently, and all it does is compromise the reliability. If in doubt, snorkel the mooring.

Had too many friends break free with mooring ball still attached after the ground tackle gave way not to give it some throttle back, but not full throttle. It also avoids tangles on the ball when you back away.

However as you two know not all charter guests are not comfortable on the hook. I feel more comfortable with a good solid anchor set than those flimsy mooring balls. I always find it humorous when someone says if you are on an anchor someone has to stay on the boat. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

There is a big difference between backing down on an anchor and backing down on a mooring.

The bow person has (or should have) just seen the entire tackle string on an anchor and noticed any weakness making it unsuitable for use. Backing down on it should not compromise it.

On the other hand, you have no clue about the condition of the ground tackle on a mooring ball. Repeated backing down on mooring balls will deteriorate the ground tackle. When you back down, you may have just broken all but the very last strand of line.

If possible, dive the mooring, just like an anchor.

The mooring balls in Norman, the Bitter End and the park moorings are about the only ones you have to be really concerned about because they're not maintained properly.
Moorings by Moore Secure have never been a problem.

Also private moorings should be avoided.

What about the ones in front of The Fat Virgin? Are they checked by Moore Secure?

The balls at Norman are moor secure maintained. At least they were two years ago.

Back down an anchor...sure. Then snorkel it too.
I've never backed down on a Moore Secure mooring. Would think that would shorten the life span. Secure, wait, watch, stay at the fore peak, double check for 15 minutes.
Go fix a drink.

Most definitely

That's good news, because Norman island had plenty of problems with their moorings

I don't back-down on Moorings Balls, but I do dive them and inspect the hardware as far down as I can snorkel. One warning... sometimes sea-lice live on the lines connecting the ball to the bottom, so I would not recommend rubbing against them. Sea lice bite!

I do back down on an anchor each and every time... usually around 1800-2000 rpm. Then I dive it to see how well it's set.

These precautions have been adequate in 34 years of cruising the USVI and BVI.

If you have the correct equipment and know how to use it, why would you ever feel the need to snorkel your anchor?

Two reasons:
1) The liability of a $1,000,000 boat that I don't own.
2) I sleep better.

Happiness is diving on your anchor and finding it actually plow down in a sand patch (and not eel grass)!

--- Many years ago, we chartered in the Bahamas. We anchored one afternoon in a protected bay next to some famous red-n-white striped lighthouse. We backed down on the anchor/waited 10 minutes and all was well. Then, we dinghied to shore and climbed the stairs of the lighthouse. A few minutes later, one of my fellow sailors pointed down at the mooring field and made the fateful statement: "Look at the idiot driving his boat through the mooring field". Upon closer observation, there was no one at the helm of the boat and the boat looked "very familiar". Twenty minutes and more than that many apologies later, we remedied the situation. We were subsequently informed about the eel grass throughout the anchorage.
-- Some charters boats have anchors with smaller cleats on the reverse side of the anchor. This allows you to still "catch something" if the anchor hits on a rock and flips upside before finally resting on the subterranean terra firma beneath you. It can also give you a false sense of security in anchoring. This is made worse in eel grass where the anchor won't dig in well.
-- Since then, we dive (scuba if we have it) every anchorage. A plow set deep in the sand with about 30' of chain stretched out on the ground towards the boat (scope of 4 to 5:1) makes for the quote: "that boat ain't going no where!"

So I guess you never anchor in deep water, cold water, low visibility water or at night? All good skills to have.

You might want to re-think that!

Ghads.
I really don't want to get into a p_ssing contest over this.
When practical I dive the anchor. This means most of the time.
This is the BVI forum and I was talking about the BVI.
I was also talking about expensive charter boats that I don't own.
I almost never anchor in water deeper than 25 feet in the BVI.
I can snorkel down to 35 feet.
We are not allowed to sail a charter boat at night, so no, I don't anchor at night in the BVI.