TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Cooper Island - anchoring

Hi,
This afternoon I notice a lot of boats anchored outside the mooring field at Cooper...(looking at the Quart-a-Nancy point webcam). We have a charter coming up near end of Jan and, since the mooring balls seem to fill up quickly there, I was just wondering how the holding is should one decide to anchor beyond/east the mooring field? Thanks in advance,

DO NOT ANCHOR EAST of the MOORING FIELD. Been there done that spent the next 5 years selling anchors to make up for it. Bottom is seagrass over sand but that is not the main problem. At night the trades drop down and form a vorex west of Cistern Point. That vortex will screw the best anchor right out and it will happen around 3AM.

Totally agree with Glen. Don't even think about it. If the mooring field is full move over to Marina Cay or Trellis. You will have a far more comfortable night (even if you don't realise it at the time). Listen to experience,

Last time I was there, late arriving boats that attempted to anchor were asked to leave by resort staff... not sure on what authority.

Aye Captain Glenn. TELL IT !!!!!


Setting a lunch hook at Cooper is one thing. A swim/snorkel, boat lunch-- I get it . MOVE TO A MOORING if you plan to stay overnight, and have Plan B for another place to overnight should there not be a mooring open up. Execute Plan B when there is ample time to complete Plan B.

Even securely on a mooring in Cooper is no guarantee of a peaceful night. BTDT, 2 AM to 5 AM all hands on deck, all fenders out, dinghy snugged up close, Iron Jenny fired, and boats swinging every which way AND LOOSE. Absolutely nutso, and happens very quickly.

Don't get caught in a seriously nasty situation because you haven't heard about it or are just too comfy and complacent.

If you get stuck with approaching darkness Haulover Bay on the east side of Cistern Point is a reasonable, if not optimal alternate.

The problem with Manchaneel Bay is that as the land cools the trade winds drop down and funnel through the gap at Haulover/Trash Beach. It is partially blocked by Cistern Point. This creates a train of vortices that roll over the mooring field. At any one time every boat in the field will be pointing in a different direction.

Boats at anchor in the seemingly ideal spot in the gap between the point and shore will spin in place. Bahama moored on all chain 5/1 scope between a 50 lb CQR and a 40 lb Bruce we did at least 12 complete 360s between 9PM and 3AM when the CQR finaly broke out. A wind powered Spanish windlass.

Thanks for the advice, we will follow it.

There certainly does seem to be a lot of boats anchoring there though.... We will stick to the moorings while there.

I totally agree with Glenn, sail over to marina cay, but don't anchor and don't destroy the seagrass.

Most charter boats don't have enough rode to anchor properly outside the mooring field, the water drops of quickly.
If you do have to anchor use two anchors spread out like a Bahamian mooring so you're more or less in the center and you won't swing.

A Bahamian mooring in Manchaneel Bay will result in tangled rodes making it impossible to retrieve either anchor unless you tie the second rode to the stern or hang both rodes off a swivel. Like I said, been there, done that.

I've done many times and never had a problem.

Cooper taught us a lesson.

When in a mono with high freeboard, and forward windage, make sure your mooring pennant/bridle is close hauled. I mean so the eye is literally resting at you bow.

wrapping the mooring chain around your keel is not a great way to start the day off. This is due to the above mentioned adiabatic cooling, and shifting that happens there.

Cooper gets back winded quite often.

A little off topic, last week we saw two 50' cats rafter together on one mooring.

At the interline regatta they put two and 3 boats on every ball. Probably not smart but seems to work and they know how to properly raft boats. Having said that I believe rafting is banned in all charter contracts.
George

Rafting puts too much stress on the mooring and shouldn't be allowed.

Cooper has a sign at the dock that sets out the Weight limits. 2 50 foot cats, at least one was a charter, put them way way over the limit.

I wonder if cooper would have charged $60 for the ball or ordered one boat off?

We saw 2 Moorings Cats rafted on the first ball off the northern dock. They were kinda in the way of all the day boats coming in and out.

YET!

I see a comment earlier in this thread about anchoring east of the mooring field, I wouldn't think that would be wise either. I've anchored successfully west of the mooring field roughly straight out from the beach more than a few times without issue. I've done this with very good ground tackle on charter boats carrying 250', or more, of all chain rode.

Good catch.... I did indeed mean to say "west of the mooring field" and I am sure that Glen meant the same....
Still.... With such poor holding and frequent backwinding, I am surprised so many anchor there overnight. The last time we were there we were tied on the last ball on southern side, then a cat dropped anchor between us and cistern rock. Late in the afternoon we started swinging different directions and the cat came within 3 or 4 ft of us, At that point the capt of the cat asked our opinion of his set up.... We said did not look so good to us and they ended up moving somewhere else. I was just wanting to know more about experiences dropping the hook to the west side of moorings --- got the answer now. Thanks

I've been holding my tongue wondering if my internal compass was off. East of the mooring field seemed to me to be towards shore. I was assuming others were talking about South, South West or even West of the field. Most of the companies I've been with banned anchoring at Cooper claiming the grass bottom was not good holding, now I know the rest of the story.

Not to mention that the signage at cooper says anchoring on that grass is illegal and harmful to the sea turtles.

They actually need a sign to inform boaters of that?

Yep, especially those that should not be boating

Glenn and others are absolutely right. The middle-of-the-night swirling will put all the moored boats on each other, especially since the moorings have different depths. Anchored boats get the worst of it. Consider Fat Hog's Bay as an alternative -- there are some moorings and shallow anchoring near the reef. If you call ahead to the resort they may be able to tell you whether the moorings are filled.

Where is Fat Hogs bay?

Directly across from Cooper Island on Tortola.

As Mike says, straight across on Tortola. Not the prettiest bay, but well sheltered under most circumstances. There is an excellent laundromat, good Riteway and the superb Red Rock restaurant right there, Not just any port in a storm!

We spent a month one night at anchor at Manchioneel! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/titanic.gif" alt="" />
Heed the excellent advice above!