TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Boatyball

Just back from a 10 day charter. As has been reported numerous times-Cooper was a problem. We did eventually luck out and snag a FCFS ball when somebody left. Leverick was another problem. It seemed as FCFS balls were open, but pulling up on them 3 were missing a proper painter. We ended up tying to a ball with no painter. They did knock off $10 bucks both nights for that LOL. Great Harbor on Jost seemed like it was all BB. One of the crew did snag the last remaining BB when we got there mid-day. Crew was also told one more than once that a certain big charter company was reserving BB for clients. FWIW

We had our first experiences with boatyball last weekend. Wo do not expect to ever use them. We anchored at Leverick. No boatyballs at Norman, we used one of the new orange moorings in the Bight. I dove the mooring and it looked new. We are headed to Diamond Cay and Great Harbor this weekend.

Kirk, we just wanted to address your last comment. We check the logs on a regular basis and there is not a "large" charter company making reservations for all their clients. We limit each user account to one reservation per day. This prevents one user from making multiple reservations.

We have been averaging 350 users per day on the application. We know this can make it difficult to get a reservable mooring. We are hopeful as places like Saba, BEYC, Marina Cay, Peter Island Resort, etc.. start opening back up that this will help elevate the current demand for mooring balls in the BVI.

The number of boats on the water are at pre Irma levels but the number of maintained moorings and dock slips are significantly less. Boats have fewer places to go and this is increasing demand. We are excited for new bays to open up!

That's why I said FWIW. Simply stated what people told us while we were there.

One more than once is 2. So, they were told twice? Doesn't seem so credible. Most likely people upset they didn't get a BB first.

I guess it's follow me around and disagree with my posts day. Did I kick your dog or something?

If you did, you'd not hear from me online.

Lost the boatyball lottery today for Cooper. Logged on and ready to hit enter at 7 am. No luck. Went to Cooper early to make sure I could get a ball. Arrrived at 12:30. For the first time in 30 years could not get a ball arriving at that time. At least 12 empty boatyballs. 5 boats waiting. No happy people. Found out people are creating multiple boatyball accounts and everyone on the boat tries at 7 AM. The entire thing is a sad mess.
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I can not confirm this, but I also heard that people are having their family/friends, in the states with fast internet, book the ball for them. Much better chance of getting one with a fast internet connection.

I can confirm it. I have done it myself for friends in the BVI. With a fast fiber optic connection I had good success.
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That would really suck if you were the friend and lived West Coast. 3am during high season....

BB gets their money either way.

Wow this is great, maybe they should have toll booths put in all harbors just so you can enter. That would add to the BVI experience.
From Nature’s Little Secrets to Headaches.

I'm guessing they wouldn't be a friend for long....LOL

We met some folks who ponied up the $400 to BB for advance reservations. Split between the 4 couples on their boat it was $100 per couple. They said that reservations at every spot were wide open the day before and they thought it was worth it, especially at Cooper and Great Harbour.

Ok John Wayne....

Sheesh, lighten up Francis

At the end of January we had no problem getting a ball anywhere except Cooper and Jost Great Harbour. That's only 2 nights out of a week that we could have used the advanced reservation feature. $100/couple is very steep for just 2 nights. Plus you'll probably wind up using BoatyBall at other islands when there would have been available FCFS balls, so you spend an extra $10/night unnecessarily. Yes, I get it, you get some peace of mind from having a reservation, but for me this would be more than offset by the haunting knowledge that BoatyBall swindled me out of yet another $10.

Great advise. Thanks for your input.

All righty then, addressed to no one in particular, this one is done.