TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums US VI and Puerto Rico Salt pond bay moorings

Hey fellow sailors. Just a heads up, there are currently only 3 NPS moorings in the bay. They look freshly maintained though which is nice. I’m wondering 3 is the new standard or they are just in the process of maintaining them all.

From seaward, the inner left mooring had its 3 sand screws yanked out sometime in December/early January. The inner and outer moorings to the right were yanked out in early March. Alistair the bay host expects them to be replaced at some point.

How were they “yanked out”?

Alistair believes it's been the continued pressure on the moorings from large 58-60' cats with lots of windage. He's also seen 62' crewed charter motoryachts on the moorings. One of the moorings had 2 of 3 sand screws fully pulled out with the 3rd screw partially pulled out.

I had the pleasure of meeting Allistar the other evening. Yes, he confirmed they were damaged. Boats are getting too big.

The boats are absolutely getting too big. This has become an issue everywhere USVI and BVI. Moorings fields were not set for large boats. We have seen moorings fail a few days after big crewed cats were on them in White Bay Guana and White Bay JVD as well. And they know better (but flat out don’t care).

Would you toss out an anchor while on a questionable ball, just in case?

That location is in the Coral Reef National Monument. No anchoring allowed.

Cheers, RickG

You never want to drop an anchor while on a mooring. You can’t set it properly and there is a good chance it will foul the mooring.

Hi, is there any update for this thread?
thanks

Still only 3 moorings in Salt Pond.

Bob

Salt Pond Bay is now down to only 2 moorings. Sometime in the past 9 days the 3rd mooring disappeared.

That is sad news. I wonder if they will ever replace the missing balls.