TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Willy T...denied

Not sure if anyone has seen this

http://www.virginislandsnewsonline....ly-t-govt-denies-anchorage-norman-island

Is this for legit reasons or just trying to get rid of riff raff / reasonably priced drinks?

oh yeah just saw this now on FB holy wow!!!... "He further explained that the seabed does not belong to anybody, while pointing out that the Willy T has a seabed lease at its usual location...." really, how can they stop them???

Also, if the seabed doesn't belong to anyone, who do you lease it from?

Also, if the seabed doesn't belong to anyone, who do you lease it from?

The seabed is owned by The Crown and is leased from the Crown

Dr. J has wanted to get rid of the Willy T sence he bought Norman Island. It is a major drawback to his plans for turning Norman Island into a 5 star eco resort. Irma gave him his chance and the Jereckis have lots lof clout with the NDP.

Unfortunately coming on top of the loss of the Bomba Shack, loosing the Willy T will end any reputation the BVI ever had for "debauchery".

A government statement I saw on FB says that the Willy T's seabed lease expired in February, 2018 and that they've been talking to the Willy T owners since early 2017 about their needing to relocate because of the Norman Is. development plans. If the lease did in fact expire and was not renewed, I think they'll be looking for a new home. Seems very odd, though, that the two parties wouldn't have gotten ahead of this and dealt with it before the new boat was about to be placed.

Shame on you Orlando and the NDP Government for bowing to the mighty $$ of Dr J..how many more attractions are you going to take away from the bread and butter visitors. Nor everyone is Oprah ar Branson..we survive on the folks who come back every year for that dream vacation.I am very sad to see this happen and surprised that Orlando and his boys are behind it and backing the big bucks ( quick profit) again. SHAME ON YOU.

Remember this a boat not a land based restaurant/bar therefore easy to relocate. Does it really matter where they end up. We will all certainty cruise there assuming still in BVI. Question is where? I can imagine it in a more remote harbor/cove as to not tread on other existing businesses.

Seems like the best place to relocate to would be North Sound near BEYC. But seriously, when will any large development on Norman be up and running - 4-5 years if they start immediately?

Dr. J does not want the Willy T in the Bight, period. Money talks.

North sound is to murky for diving into the waters at night.

The corrupt part of this is the sale of a BVI National Park to Dr J... The government sold the peoples National Park Norman island for personal gain.

Norman Island was never a National Park and was not owned by the Government. It was privately owned by the USVI branch of the Creque family and was up for sale for ages before being sold to Jarecki 20 years ago or so. At the time there was a lot of talk that the government should have blocked the sale because Jarecki already owned Guana Island, which he has always kept off-limits to the public. There were fears at the time that Norman would go the same way...

I was told otherwise.
If that’s the case then I retract what I said.

You need a large number of Moorings and easy safe transit to and from the WillyT to make the concept work. I don’t believe there are any other locations that are viable.
G

How about Robins Bay - North Sound?

Close proximity to loads of moorings, space for all the go-fast boats to raft out. Far enough away from other businesses / people to not be a nuisance. Sheltered and flat in most weather. Shallow enough to be nice for swimming. Deep enough to be good for people hurling themselves off the top deck.

I was thinking Soper’s Hole would work and people could nurse their hangovers at Omar’s the next morning

I say run it up the beach in Apple Bay where Bomba's used to be!

As Ewan and Heather already own the ( remains) of Fish N Lime they could anchor it right there...fix the Fish N Lime kitchen up for cooking and folks could party on the boat..

Is it realistic to think it could maybe move around? i.e. start in Soper’s for now, which is in definite need of some attraction for boater and then move elsewhere?

Shame on them is right, Malcolm.....SO many charterers were excited to see this return.....But they just don’t seem to care about their bread and butter.....meanwhile....it is the CHARTER folks who are posting all the positive reviews and the “come on back” encouragement......while many “luxury resorts” still sit in ruins.....gee.....is Disney involved in this somehow?

As has been the case for this season and even last season, before the hurricane damage - the BVI government has not been friendly to sailors, whatsoever. High C/I fees, mooring fields everywhere that limit anchoring as well as unfriendliness of the government toward tourism in general, including yachting, paints a dismal picture for any quick recovery of the BVI 100% based tourist economy. Why deny one of the most popular attractions in the BVI's, the Willy T, a place to anchor at Norman Island where it brings in sailors and significant island revenue?

The BVI government continues to shoot themselves in their feet, so to speak.

Well I think location does matter for the financial benefit of the owners of Willy T. 1) Being close to West End is handy to get the USVI crowd that can check in there and return to the USVI in a short haul not burning much fuel. 2) Has to be a well protected Anchorage with a lot of moorings. Could not have anything like the north shore Tortola to be feasible.
3) Has to be acceptable to “new neighbors” who have any political clout. They are as welcome to businesses catering to tourists as the Clampetts were in Beverly Hills.

That really limits selection.

Sopers when back to normal would not likely welcome the Willy T ..busy harbor with already a full complement of moorings. Ferry traffic..lots of business and restaurants. Would be perfect for distance and ease of checking in for us I traffic. Doubt government would allow.

North Sound I think is never going to be okayed. Too many land based venues that would not welcome the competition.

Diamond Cay or Little Harbor Jost would be suitable. Again local business and if I owned property at Sandy Ground Estates I would not be happy.

Little Harbor Peter would likely be able to add balls and be suitable, but I don’t know what the resort or the local who runs the Ocean Sevens place in Great Harbor, has a huge grip on cruise ship day trips and is well connected, would say about that.

So the Willy T is likely pleading their case to have their mooring spot reconsidered. When is the next election?

I am in agreement with Will that the Bight is about the only place that can accomodate the Willy T without severly effecting existing establishments. It has to be in a reasonably isolated area to avoid noise complaints and traffic problems and in an anchorage protected from all but the worst weather and have sufficient moorings to serve the patrons.

As I mentioned in my earlier post I think the bight is the only viable option also. Let’s hope they get the government to reconsider. They are certainly sending a message that tourists and sailors are not wanted in the BVI. I am thinking my fall sailing trip will be in the Bahamas.

North Sound would eliminate the day trippers from the USVI which is big part of the Willy T business. West End was already at capacity before Irma. The North Shore anchorages don't work because of the swells. Little Harbor on JVD would work in Abe agreed to the noise.


The Willy T was successful in the Bight because of the location. Great first and last night anchorage. Close to the USVI. Location will be the key to success if they are forced to move.

Tortolian check this site. Norman was a National Park

https://bestmapsever.com/pages/british-virgin-islands-national-parks-list

One more nail.... Are in the process of replacing yacht lost in Irma and considering her 'home'. Hate to see this sort of thing and will look more towards other islands as home port.. Willy T was one of the reasons we spent a couple of nights per trip in the Bight. We might or might not have gone to WT's ' - all depended on our mood but loved to just watch the activity. We would usually split between WT and Pirates but without the draw will just likely avoid the bay. I think where ever they end up the added charter yacht traffic will boost local bar/restaurant traffic. Like it or not, Willy T's was famous ( or infamous !) and someone will want the draw.

Creque is an old prominent name in the VI and BVI but part of the island was designated as a national park.
A couple of years after Mr J purchased the island he hired a hunter to shoot all the wild goats and leave their carcasses where they fell so as to add nutrients to the soil.
This caused a bit of an uproar because some of the Belongers said that they should have trapped them and sold or gave them to the island goat herders

Probably not feasible for a number of reasons and maybe not the best business decision - but i think it would be a great compliment to Pizza Pi in Christmas Cove. It would certainly make for easy access for the St. John and St. Thomas crowds and maybe drum up a bit more charter business for the USVI.

Dig a canal from Smuggler's and put her right smack in the middle of Belmont Pond! lol

Christmas Cove would be out of the question because of the red tape,they’d have to be US Coast Guard inspected for the boat along with safety equipment.

In the VINO article, Ewan said "The businessman mentioned that he has had calls from 'the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) to come there and operate as it could be for me an easy move, as my new vessel meets all US standards, including the US Coast Guard'."

Forget Soper's Hole. All the reasons already mentioned. It has none of the attraction that Norman has. It would be like partying in a marina, just not the same vibe. It would be at the end of the "counter clockwise circuit" most charters take. I for one am ready to tone it down on the last night or two! No way I'm able to hit the Willy T at the end of charter and make it back for check in the next morning! This is so much more than just the loss of an icon. This is the nail in the coffin. We ALL know the government has been picking away at the average tourist for at least the past two years at an accelerated pace. Everything from fees, to fishing license, to rude customs. I work so hard and save every penny to make this trip every year. It's never become more obvious to me, the BVI government just doesn't want my kind. They want an island nation of exclusive resorts and private homes for the rich to hide their taxes. It's sad. The BVI were my favorite and I've made many great friends. After the storms I donated money and without hesitation, made plans to make it back this year no matter the conditions to do my part to help the tourist industry. I already have flights booked and deposits on a charter otherwise I'd cancel. This will be my 7th and last trip. I'm done. My BVI VIP card, the joke that it is, will just be a souvenir on my wall.

If they did move it to the USVI the atmosphere woul probably be mostly local instead of partying charter boaters.
It would probably get as crowded as the Bight during off season.

Looks like there is a movement to boycott Pirates. Have not had time to look at who owns what but hearing they are behind trying to run off the WillyT. I know the closing of Billy Bones had some political intrigue behind it also.
G

I believe Pirates and the "Club" next door are both owned by Dr J. I got "conned" into buying a $20 glass of red wine that retails for $6 a bottle there after I asked for a glass of their "house red". Easy to see why they want the Willy T out of there with their reasonable prices and great staff. I would definitely join that boycott club. Think about this..the "T" was tucked away in the corner of The Bight and not annoying anyone. Now imagine if some of those who like to party decide to raft up in front of " Pirates" , crank up music and party " Willy T " style..now that would be interesting..

How did Dr J make all his money?