TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands BVI short report

Hi all.

Cruising the BVIs, here are 2 things that struck me.

A) At Jost/Great Harbor, I hope for you that you like pot smell. I was on a mooring ball 200 yards from shore and STILL smelling pot well inside the boat cabins... I have no idea where this was coming from. It did not stop for 2 days that I was there. And no, it was not coming from other boats. I have nothing against pot (actually I HAVE, but that is another story) but I should not be forced to smell it no mater what.

B) NPS morning balls.
I went to the Baths. Along with another boat, I waited for 1 HOUR in hope a mooring ball would free up. NOPE. . I saw people on their boat having lunch, or sun tanning on the foredeck, etc. You get the idea.... I got close to the boat where people where having lunch and asked them if they knew they should let other boats access to the ball. The guy gave me the finger, if you can believe that.
So I finally left...I was FUMING...
I think it is a mere SCANDAL that some boats settle on those balls for hours when everyone knows that this is a visiting site.
I know it is not easy, but something should be done, at least educating charterers on that issue. Something... whatever it is.

Safe and courteous sail, everyone...

Somebody posted a trip report a few days ago that they got to the Baths at 8:30 and also had lunch at the Top of the Baths, so I would imagine they were there longer than 90 minutes.

On my first charter to the BVI's, as we were tying our own line to a ball at the baths, we noticed a boat start drifting away from their mooring ball. We could see somebody sitting near the mast, but apparently asleep. There was nobody in the cockpit. We yelled and yelled and the person finally woke up and realized they were adrift-so he went back and started the engine. Then he basically just cruised the mooring field until his crew came back from the Baths in their dink. Some boats, myself included leave somebody on board when they go off to the Baths or snorkeling etc...

This is one reason we stopped visiting the baths by boat and visted from Leverick by rental car. You can spend as much time as you want and there's no issue finding a spot to park.

Us, too. And we can stop at Hog Heaven on the way back.

Oh how distressing, why didn’t you take off your high heels and throw them at them.

Not cool

That's what we've done too and it is much better. Anyone who wanted to swim and explore could and we never had to feel guilty about using a mooring ball.

Plus, I still remember a few trips ago when a nice monohull with nobody aboard broke loose, smashed itself to pieces on the rocks for hours while everyone watched.

Hard to teach common courtesy to strangers. I have no issue if a group seems to have run slightly past their time (who's timing?).

But when others are obviously awaiting a ball, then prep to leave and get underway even if some are still finishing their lunch slowly.

Be courteous, even when you encounter jerks!

Not exactly the same thread but related.

I always purchase the national park permit for my crew when entering the BVI. Even when I know we're not going to use it more than once or twice. I just want to make sure the moorings are available and hopefully in good order (don't burst my bubble and tell me the revenue isn't actually used for that purpose) and I don't mind paying for something that seems like it has some value. It's been a bit hard lately to get any value btw due to squatters on the mooring balls but that's a different story. So we arrived at West End the first of Nov with a total crew of 5. We were going to be in the BVI for 3 days. I clear out of C&I with the park permit. It wasn't until I was back on the boat that I figured out that I had been charged 5 people * 6 dollars a day * 3 days = $90. The park permit cost (printed on the form) is $75/week for up to 6 people. Yup... I guess I got the special of the day! Welcome to the BVI!