TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Cane Garden Bay Dinghy Dock...

You'd be surprised how much pressure a dinghy can exert upwards when trapped under something... and I've been there when dinghy's tied too for down the dock close to shore would ride the crest of a wave and literally flex the wood on the dock as the painter tightened up and pulled it back. It's not so much the dinghy itself, it's the shockloads.

On another note... I just noticed the new thread on the BVI Music Fest... didn't want to step on someone else's thread, but maybe if someone went to the website and send a message with pictures of recently damaged dinghy's, someone might pay attention that it is a valid concern if they want visiting yachts to attend.

Had to go back and look, but it was January 3rd that the 2 rail sections on Quito's side came off completely and some damage to the opposite side too http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/s...true#Post935252

I could not possibly disagree with you more. The residents of the BVI have THE MOST to gain from providing a safe and comfortable place for me to charter. This is their home, their livlihood. There are presently plenty of other anchorages in the BVI that welcome charters with well maintained facilities without financial assistance from the charter companies. Frankly, I would bet the "big three", The Moorings, Sunsail, and Voyage, could care less if any of their boats ever sailed into CGB again. No skin off their nose.

Been to many Moorings briefings and 2 things they always tell everyone (but not everyone listens) is:
1. Moorings only monitors channel 12
2. Always used your dinghy anchor when you dock your dinghy to keep it off the dock.

I was thinking more generally, but I believe my point holds for CGB specifically. I'd be willing to bet that more charter boats spend more nights in CGB than any other anchorage in the BVI. They go there for a reason and taking it away may affect how people feel about chartering in the BVI.

Not all residents of the BVI are dependent on the charter industry for their livelihoods. The charter companies are the only businesses in the BVI that are exclusively dependent on charter business, which leads me to believe that they have the most to gain from making chartering safe, comfortable, and fun.

But back to my first point... The charter companies are in the best position to prevent negligent and incompetent charterers from continuing to damage the dinghy dock in CGB. They ought to take some responsibility.

Wow, y'all have me seriously questioning our itinerary. We added and subtracted numerous times to fit in a CGB stop for the express purpose of a visit to Callwood's, a taxi ride up to Bomba's and some fine music at Quito's. Previously we had excluded CGB because of the bad press regarding dinghy theft, etc.

I find it interesting and a bit disturbing that "unregistered" does not seem to get the impact of charter tourism. Sure, charter companies are exclusively dependant on charter business but they hire folks, no? The provisioners, taxis, restaurants, marinas, etc. would disagree with the poster I'm sure. Maybe we should send him GlennA's survey of the amount of $$ spent by tourists!

Not to get argumentative here but I'd be willing to bet that CGB is NOT the most used anchorage in the BVI if trip reports are any indication.

Just my .02.

Go to GGB ! Go to the distillery ! You'll be glad you did. Do all the things you want, and don't let the negative thoughts of one "Unreg" screw things up. It's kinda nice having someone knock CGB cause it saves it for us folks that appreciate the true charm of the BVI and CGB is a jewel. It defines Ilon Time.

Just for the record, when I stay on Tortola, it's almost always in CGB -- one of my favorite places on Earth!

Creating jobs isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be in a place like the BVI. One of the really big problems that the BVI is dealing with is explosive population growth over the past 15 years or so. Yes, the charter industry has hired lots of people, but mostly new residents for whom the BVI were not prepared with infrastructure, affordable housing, etc. Many decry the increasing crime rate in the BVI -- one of the biggest factors in this, in my opinion, is the too rapid population growth. People don't know each other like they used.

Don't get me wrong. I have made many good friends among new residents in the BVI for whom I am very happy that they've come to the BVI. The bad apples are a very very small proportion. I'm just saying that I think the BVI has grown too fast and that just creating jobs is not always a good thing.

All I said was that the charter companies have the most to gain from making chartering safe, comfortable, and fun. I do understand what the charter companies have done for the BVI in a positive way, but I also think that they should take more responsibility for certain things. Chief among these, making sure that their charterers know what they're doing and are safe, considerate, and non-destructive. There's another big one, too, but I know discussion of it is discouraged here.

What anchorages do you think get more charter traffic than CGB? Perhaps The Bight, but I can't think of anywhere else.

North Sound gets more traffic - in total - than CGB. But, I don't disagree. It is the diversity of anchorages that holds such appeal for the BVI.

I would say the Bight, Cooper, Marina Key, Leverick, Bitter End all get more overall charter activity then Cane Garden Bay. I have never had a issue getting a Ball in CGB.
I do see charterers doing dumb things however in terms of common sense and consideration the locals followed by crewed charterboats are usually worse then bareboats. Watch the locals blasting through a anchorage in the dark in a go fast boat drunk leaving the WillyT and you get a idea of really bad behavior. A fatel accident is simply a matter of time. The crewed boats I think feel enormous pressure to put their clients into specific locations even if they are full so sometimes anchor or do things they should not.
George

The North Sound as a whole would probably get the most of charter traffic in it's anchorages.

Yes, you are correct that it is the resposibility of the charter Companies to insure proper handling and safety while sailing the BVI. I feel that their excuse at this time is the economy and they're having to charter to less capible sailors just to stay afloat. This is not a healthy solution.

I have seen the population explosion, especially on Tortola, and do realize the need for jobs and affordable housing, however Imigration seems to be doing a good job of discouraging this with some of their policies, per some recent posts from people with desires of living the life in the Ilons, I see that this is now very difficult. Better to discourage new residents than to try to create more jobs. HMMMM....Maybe the US should look in to this policy.

As much as I love the Ilons and remark about staying there, I really wouldn't want to make my permenant home there. I lived and worked in Hawaii in the 70s and once I lived there the magic deminished. I think I'll just keep the Ilons as my little secret getaway !!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

[color:"blue"]There is currently a request into Government for the repair of the Dinghy Dock in Cane Garden Bay. If all goes as planned the dock should be repaired by the end of May. We in the BVI are aware of the pivotal role this dock plays, and many persons are pushing for this much needed repair. Fingers Crossed.. May <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />[/color]

Dare I ask who built the dock in the first place and when it was built?

And why the original builder is not maintaining the dock so it can continue to be used for the original reason it was built?

(edit)"I think you just answered my questions 411. Thanks."

I was under the impression the Gov. built it, and not too long ago. 3 - 4 years ago ? Most of the damage accured this winter with the unusually persistant swell.

So Rick, what happens if you do the repares before the Gov. gets around to it ??? Maybe then thsy would put a T on the end, or perhaps that would make too much sense.

The Government built it in - I'm guessing - around 1998? or so?? For years, we landed our dingy in the sand in proximity to Quito's, we were swamped many times going in. On a number occasions, our dink was underwater - due to high tides - when we emerged from Quito's. I was always amazed that the engine would start after dragging it out of the water and bailing out the dinigy. Those were the experiences that kept us coming back.

We have passed our limit and so we will close this one please feel free to start a CGB Dingy Dock II. I also am distressed that this would be the case...Safety is paramount and with the swim line and north shore location the dock is the only safe access...My home took the Eye Wall of a cat II Hurricane and had my dock repaired about the same size within 30 days....Its not that hard.

I don't know what the charter companies themselves have been saying, but others have excused them in the same way even when times were good -- "Taking responsibility for ___ will directly cost them business or cause them to have to raise their prices which will also cost them business -- either way, they can't afford to lose business." As you say, not a healthy solution. In my opinion, if they can't take responsibility for certain things and stay in business, then perhaps they shouldn't be in business.