TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Moorings question

One more question... We are supposed to land at 7:20 pm on a Monday night in Tortola and we have a sleep aboard. I am provisioning and the watersports rentals are being delivered Tuesday morning at 7:30 am. We are not in a huge rush, but I would rather be out than on the dock. Should I request a early morning boat briefing now by phone or will there be someone there at 8:00 pm that night to schedule the briefing the next morning? Given that it is a Tuesday start, I am hoping they will work with me. Based on your experience, what is the best way to ensure that the boat briefing happens relatively early so we can leave? Thank you!

I would call or email them. They will let you know what is possible. I doubt someone will be there at 8pm to do a chart/boat briefing...

We had a sleep aboard, 2 weeks ago, with Moorings. We arrived around 3 pm, and the boat briefing was already scheduled for 9 am the next morning. The guy who did the boat briefing arrived around 9h40, and we left the dock around 11 am. Be sure to do the chart briefing online.

I did the chart briefing. I am trying not to rush any part of this trip, but I don't want to sit around that morning wondering when the guy will show up - if possible. I will call the Tortola base today to see if I can arrange something. Thank you for replying!

I'm pretty sure they set up the boat briefs for sleepaboards first thing as a matter of course. The last two trips, the briefer, (Chris, same guy each time) has essentially woke me up at 8:30 or thereabouts.

I'm also fairly sure that, technically at least, your charter doesn't start until 11:00. However, once the boat brief is done you can pretty much head out at your convenience.

This year the Moorings sent me an email that I could do the chart briefing online. It was a nice video presentation that was about 30 minutes long. It sounds like this isn't available to everyone and it might be because I have been going with the Moorings in the BVI for 30 years. I forwarded it to the crew and they did it too. It was nice to be able to have a leisurely breakfast and then get on our 474 PC to start our charter.

I wouldn't bother contacting them ahead of time - bring it up when you arrive and again first thing in the morning. This is the best way to ensure you get the briefing done as early as possible.

Ask at customer service for the name of your briefer then locate that person on the dock and ask to get the briefing started.

Relax, take your time, what is the hurry, leave when the boat and everyone on the crew is ready. Most of our largest issues and frustrations go back to the early trips when we thought getting away from the dock was some sort of race or contest to be mastered and won. Be nice, be polite, you usually get what you want across the BVI better that way. Do not be "the guy" or "that woman"....

All that dribble aside. Ready your contract. You may have a sleep aboard but not have the boat until Noon or some other specific set time in the contract.

"watersports rentals are being delivered Tuesday morning at 7:30 am" .... maybe... what is the delivery person doing the night before? What time are they loading the truck and headed your way?

My plan is to relax and enjoy this trip. I have heard you loud and clear in prior posts StormJib and I know from my mistakes last year that you are right. I rented the water sports equipment from Chris with BVI SUP. He has great customer service, so I know he will be there. I don't mind being on the dock for a little while, but we cherish the time down there so much that I would prefer to get a relatively early start. Regardless, we will be polite. I don't like "those people" either:

For next trip:
1) Sleep Aboard night before
2) If your arrival time allows, have provisions delivered evening of arrival (i.e.5:30- 6pm, as we arrived at 3:30)
(Settle into boat and store provisions and confirm all is there.). Can try to have "toys" delivered night before by calling when you arrive on island (airport or ferry).
3) Check out all systems , run generator , top off water if needed)
4) Choose a charter company that has 1 on 1 briefings, instead of waiting around for class to start.