TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands More greed in the BVI

In a new attempt to get into your pocket, there are now mooring balls in the anchorage off the Moorings break water.
I have been using this space for almost thirty years to access provisions, parts, restaurants and services. Now short stay will cost you 10 dollars and overnight $30. This is just another on the long list of private and government charges designed to drive the cruising sailor out of the BVI. Almost as bad as the per foot charge they tried last year.

I have sat on these balls before, no one came out to collect for short term usage. Who owns these?

As long as no one complains they'll keep thinking of ways to get the money out your pockets

I don't think you have to use the mooring balls. I imagine they are not cheap to install or maintain. I appreciate them when I use them.

I cannot think of many people I know, would use those balls in the location they are, and trust a mooring ball there with the Break wall 20 feet or so behind you.

I think those balls are a hazard waiting to happen. The crewed charter boats will tell you there is tons of weather in that spot, and a very rolly place most of the time.

Only my opinion. If you use them, dive them and then don't even trust them

I've anchored in that location before for a quick trip to the docks and agree with kerry that the location is exposed and that any mooring balls there are going to be subject to high stress and likely to fail if not monitored carefully... and we all know how that kind of maintenance schedule is likely to be upheld in the BVI...

I was there last night, on the hook, BVI official came out and told me that the area was no longer available to anchor and I would have to leave. He also went over the new fees which started Nov 1

As far as I know, the Port Authority had those installed to try to help with the problem of anchored yachts that swing in to the turning basins for both Port Purcell and the cruiseship Pier.

Having run the pilot vessel for several years, I can remember many mornings having to wake up crews of poorly anchored vessels while a ship stood by waiting to get to their berth.

I can understand how poorly anchored boats could be a problem but feel there are other ways of dealing with it. Anyone anchored close to the new cruise ship pier would have to be in the main channel. Same for boats near the commercial port. Do we need more layers of government? I have been using this anchorage for thirty years without a problem (until 2 days ago) Having to add ten dollars every time I stop for provisions or a meal at Village Cay will make me think about how often I use the services in the area. I am here for the season and a frequent user of the anchorage.