TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands White Bay Mooring Balls

I have a friend who has chartered a MarineMax (power Cat) and they have told him White Bay is out of bounds. This is his second time down, first time as the 'Main Person'. My wife spent a fair bit of time with him trying to plan the itinerary and White Bay was on the list for two nights. She did tell him to be cautious of a North/West swell. We are assuming there are mooring balls - Moor Secure and/or Boatyball, can anyone confirm? And does anyone know why MM may have this provision in their contract - I know of companies stating they don't want their boats going to Anegada, but never heard of the same for Whit Bay. And for those who are down there, Do you see winds/swells that would preclude you from going into White tomorrow night?

Thanks all! We have always felt White was a must if conditions allowed. Slug

Some other charter companies don't allow White Bay either. Boats are owned by private individuals. The charter companies are trying to protect their owner's property. White Bay has a history of back winding which has put more boats on the beach and/or loose banging into other boats than probably any other bay in the islands. On top of that the bay can be crowded with a lot of people that are over their limit on booze. As an owner I'm happy to have a charter company managing my boat that red lines White Bay (JVD). I don't want my boat in there.

3 balls from Coco Loco on West Side and probably 8-10 over on East side in front of Pink House. No boaty ball there. I rolled around to Great Harbour one night last month and in October went to Cane Garden Bay

This time of year, these mooring balls will all be occupied very early. If your friend takes the boat into area red-lined by the charter company, he should be prepared to personally cover any and all damages. I also do not wish to have my boat in White Bay (JVD) with a charter skipper. As pointed out above, the bay is red-lined for a reason.

Put the boat in Great Harbour..pay the $5 cab ride and enjoy a relaxing, worry free, time in White Bay.

What he said.

Thanks all for your input. Having moored in White Bay many times over the past decade or so, I have always moored to one side or the other w/o any issues ... I gather I've been fortunate. Your comments are well taken and clearly there have been issues. Our friend is going to head into Little Harbor today and pick up a mooring there .. a little quieter with less traffic than Great Harbor. To Manpot's point they can pay the 5, or 10 bucks from Little, to get to White by cab.

They can dinghy over to Abe's. He will take them to White Bay and pick them up if they arrange a time.

You can also dinghy over. As long as it's not rough, it's a pretty easy dinghy ride.

It is a nice hike from Great Harbour too, as long as you don't mind a little uphill walking

We really liked White Bay.... this was in May, no chirstmas winds.

However, we had the jeanneau 36i, monohull, and would moor in front of Ivans. Always snorkeled the depth since we drew 6.5 feet. This was pre irma, and not sure about the shoaling after Irma. Keel Clearance looked about a foot and a half,
rough estimate pre irma. No grounding on the sand bottom at that time.

I would think most of the catamarans would be OK in white in settled weather, hopefully that will work for them.,,From other posts, we will pass on mooring at white bay this trip, that will give the cats an additional mooring.

This may, we will be mooring at Foxys Taboo or the Bee Line..

And, also in Little Harbor. As recommended we can taxi over to great harbor and then get a leg stretch and hike over to white bay and back, , and thanks for the scoops on Abe's .