TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Trellis Full Moon Party - June 2

I've tried to look back through old posts, but haven't been able to find an answer. It seems everyone is in agreement that during the high season, you need to get to Trellis Bay early to secure a mooring ball for the full moon party. Are the crowds (and the rush for a ball) as bad during the summer (June 2)?

We'll be sailing from Norman that morning and would like to do a lunch/snorkel stop at either Monkey Point or Great Dog, but I'm not sure if there will be any mooring balls left.

Our plan is to stay in the Marina Cay mooring field and take the Marina Cay ferry back after the Full Moon Party (I assume it runs late?).

Thanks for your help.

That's my plan too. I want to stay at Marina Cay and take the ferry. Looking up when it runs, what it costs, etc, has been on my to-do list, but I haven't done all of that yet.

Hmmm, hopefully they have extended hours for the FMP: http://www.bestofbvi.com/info/bviferry_marinacay_tortola.htm

Look for Hallucinations. we have several meet-ups-planned. My bartender arrives back from Rome, the dog doctor is doing her last hurrah for the year. tempted to "hit the easy button" and getting a slip at the taj ma hal (scrub).

not swimming back, and taking a VERY long relaxed trip back on the SS'Lemmiwinks (the dingy)

if there is an outside ball in the field, I might plans B. or C, or D

I emailed Marina Cay to see what they say.

Let us know, we're planning on doing the same thing on June 2. We'll be on a Leopard 40 with Conch, look us up!

You might also take a look at Scrub, and see if their discount applies during the FMP. Their ferry may run more often and hold more people.

check the TTOL classified ads, Scrub has an ad

You guys read my mind.
I also thought about dinghy-ing over and back. We are upgrading to a larger dinghy and I think it has lights.

I'll be on a Leopard 43' from ProValor

I had the same concerns earlier this year as i wanted to make a stop and not have to worry about getting there to get a ball. We reserved a slip at Scrub Island and spent a nice day on the water not worrying about it. It is a little pricey comparatively but the ladies loved the nice showers and facilities and the ferry runs every hour. Just another alternative to the ones above but it sure was nice not having to think about it all day long knowing the slip was secure.

I wasn't planning on eating at the FMP. We were just going to browse around with the kids. I assume that is ok?

That's what we do too, never a problem.

thanks for the confirmation.

Ferry for 9 at Marina Cay or slip at Scrub makes for a $100-ish just to attend the thing. Since it's June, I wonder how early you'd actually have to get there to still get a ball in Trellis.

No one has mentioned that funny looking hooky thing hanging off your bow. They work great, holding at Trellis and Marina Cay are quite good.

LIKE <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

What do y'all think about dinghying between Marina Cay and Trellis Bay? We are upgrading to a 15' dinghy with a 70hp engine.

I hadn't thought about anchoring at Trellis. We get to EIS almost too early Saturday morning and so we'll kill some time at Trellis. With 5 kids on the trip, I don't want to also have to get there early for the FMP and then not have much to do. That's why I'm looking at MC or Scrub for other options. We'll be coming in from Leverick, and would like to snorkel the Dogs as long as possible while on the way to the FMP.

It's not the engine you have to worry about, in fact too much engine might cause issues. You don't want to try and make that passage on plane. The water is deep enough and the waves large enough that if you're on plane you might run into serious problems. You're better off taking it really slow. It's certainly do-able, just be careful about it.

I agree with slow. The main reason we like to upgrade is for a dryer ride and it has lights, so we're safer at night.

I have made that journey a few times in a Dingy... if the conditions are right it shouldn't be a problem... just try and keep your party from becoming inebriated.

Holding is great as others have mentioned if no balls are available.

That said, what goes on at the Rob White bar these days?

Where would you choose to anchor; Trellis or Marina Cay?
And where outside the mooring field would be best?
Thanks,
Tim

The issue with Trellis is that there are a lot of liveaboards, so finding a good ball or anchoring spot is not always easy. Marina Cay, to me, seems to have more space available.

That said, I hate the trip to Trellis at night, even in a 17' boat. What is an easy ride in daylight becomes very different after dark, particularly if the wind picks up or it starts raining. You also have the problem of finding dock space, which can become highly competitive.

If you want a worry-free evening, taking the ferry from Scrub is the way to go.

Trellis is very easy to anchor, almost a mud like consistency. The negative to Trellis is it's not what I would call a clean swimming area. Marina Cay also has good holding, but the back of the field is pretty deep. Most charter boats do not carry adequate amount of chain for 30' of depth. We anchor inside the field in about 8' of water between the restaurant and the dock.

The slip at Scrub is reserved. It is actually cheaper than mooring ball + ferry fee for 9 if we were staying at MC. Having a place to dock the dinghy was also a concern. I see that was mentioned above as well.

Are you getting the TTOL rate? I seem to remember reading somewhere when considering that a season or so ago that the rate wasnt available for FMP nights. Just curious if that is the case.

How much is the MC ferry?

I didn't think to ask for the rate.

$5 per person per trip. We have 9, so $90 + mooring ball = $120. Scrub was $100 after tax.

Scrub, plus water and electricity?

That doesn't include water and electricity. Power will be another 20 or so.

Looks like we'll be setting the hook at MC. Thanks for the info...