BVI becomes even less cruiser friendly.

[s/v Faith]

 This is hard to believe, they can think these kind of fees are not gonna make most cruisers look elsewhere.

"B. HARBOUR CHARGES [Regulation 96 and 97]
Rates for vessels entering and remaining in the territorial waters or using an authority facility:
(a) for the initial period of 24 hours or part of that period, during which a vessel remains in the Territorial waters after it is provided legal
entry into the Territory................................. $1.00 per foot of vessel
length.(b) for the next period of 24 hours or part of that period,
during which a vessel remains in the Territorial
waters after the expiration of the initial
period.....................................................$0.75
per foot
of vessel
length.
(c) for each subsequent period of 24 hours or part of
that period, during which a vessel remains in the
Territorial waters after the expiration of the initial
period......................................................$0.50
per foot
of vessel
length.
(d) for each period of 24 hours or part of that period,
during which a vessel uses an Authority facility
after the expiration of the initial period.......... ....$1.00
per foot
of vessel
length.

Link to article in the BVI gazette... PDF warning.


The BVI's were not on my list anyway, since they are not dog friendly.  Looks like there is an exception for sub 15' boats... but for commerce so maybe it would not help....

[Godot]

Ooh, a broken link.  I don't suppose you could try again?

[Captain Smollett]

they can think these kind of fees are not gonna make most cruisers look elsewhere.

Hmmm.  I have no clue if this in on the spot or not, but I wonder if the purpose of doing this is precisely to PUSH some cruisers out?  The BVI is a very popular place - perhaps too popular.  Maybe they realize the environs can handle only so much tourist pressure and remain a sustainable "resource."

I'm wondering if they did not look at "impact to profit ratio" or some such metric and determine cruisers visiting on their own boats had the highest value for impact vs gain.  If so, it kinda would make sense to do what they are doing.

Of course, it could be just pure, unadulterated greed.

Grenada is quite a bit further south, but it's a beautiful country with great people and FAR less on the US and European 'tourist radar' than the BVI.  I've been to Grenada and loved it; will go back someday, I hope.  So far as I could tell, Grenada was very cruiser friendly (I was not there on my own boat - flew in).

My only point with that last paragraph being there are Carib Islands with a LOT to offer that are out of the way of the typical "tourist."  That appeals to the sailfar-er in me, I guess.

[Norm]

My experience there is that the environmental pressure from cruising sailboats, in part, is getting to be too much.  Just as the Captain said.  I will sniff around and see what I can learn about increases in fees to the charter industry...

Similar fee increases are occurring on other islands, too.  Many islands have to make big upgrades to infrastructure to support yachts and hotels.  Mostly the upgrades are related to fresh water and sewerage.  Someone has to pay for the plumbing and the locals have no money.  So....

The big, and I mean, BIG, problem for the BVI is raw sewerage being pumped into the waters.  Not only is the island dumping, so are a thousand yachts.  The water in many harbors is not swimmable and some popular snorkeling reefs and swimming beaches have high fecal levels.  A yacht cannot find a marina and pump out a holding tank.  The rule is dump 1/2 mile off a coastline.  Nuts!

In the USVI we have pumpout and discharge enforcement not to mention the low entry fees.  Our beaches are better and reefs healthier than in the BVI.  The restrictions do limit the number of yachts in harbors.  The quality of cruising is higher, though.

The cruising between Antigua and Tobago is still stunning and inexpensive.  Many anchorages feature small cruisers and the absence of charter boats.  The locals in those islands are small boat people living close to the land and sea.  They respect small boat cruisers.

Let's encourage big yachts and luxury people to use the BVI and St Martin.  Mumm's the word for the Eastern islands.  OK?

Best regards, Norman

[jotruk]

I've just read that the Prime Minester has put the new cost per foot on hold indefinitely said the he did not want the rep of being the most expensive destination for yachts

[Auspicious]

I've just read that the Prime Minester has put the new cost per foot on hold indefinitely said the he did not want the rep of being the most expensive destination for yachts

Yes - on July 15 Prime Minister O'Neil deferred the implementation of the harbour fees indefinitely and established a committee (that includes representatives from the Tourist Board and the local marine industry) to consider the impact of harbour fees on the BVI economy and to develop recommendations. The original charter of the committee was to report out late this calendar year, but I won't be surprised if it drags out longer than that. The cruising and charter communities are watching this with some care. You can expect reporting in the local papers (BVI Beacon for one), Caribbean Compass, on Noonsite, and Caribbean-focused bulletin boards.

sail fast, dave
S/V Auspicious

[Gerald A. Gotts]

I know that I'm a novice sailor and now everyone will be aware of it when I ask this question.  Oh well...  I am  planning a trip to the  Virgin Islands next year sometime.  I guess I wasn't aware that  I may have to pay to anchor there.  How far from most of the islands do you have to be to "not pay" ?  I was always under the impression that you could  anchor in any harbor and take the dinghy into town.  I had heard of charging at the dinghy dock but wasn't aware of any other charges. 

     I may have to re-think my cruising plans.