BVI, USVI advise for newbie

[tjandoverguy]

thinking of spending time in bvi area, how about advise on costs, 35 ft live aboard,

[stevenit]

We found BVI really expensive. A lot of charters and almost every bay with buoy (for our boat 30 $/night). Everything is made z tourists...over all: make a big galley before. Market are like Cartier..

[LakeSuperior]

Be careful swimming in the morning!

[Dani-lu]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

Be careful swimming in the morning!

Why? Did I miss something?

[boatman61]

You'll want to miss many things.. Floaters..

[Dani-lu]

Originally Posted by boatman61

You'll want to miss many things.. Floaters..

That's what I thought you meant. Wow, that is really diappointing. People who I assume love boating and the turqoise water in the VI's, dump in an anchorage? Sad! I assume/hope it is illegal and comes with a big fine if caught? Do most of the marinas/fuel places provide a pump out service?

[LakeSuperior]

Simple math - it's a spectacular morning there are 60 charters on moorings in the Bight times four persons per yacht (or more) and...no holding tanks.

[Dani-lu]

Where I live, if I get boarded and my holding tank sea cock is open, I get fined. I would have to be 3 miles off the coast in the Atlantic ocean to legally dump my waste.

I don't understand. How don't these charter boats not have holding tanks?

And again I ask, is it legal to allow your waste to go directly overboard when the head is flushed in the VI's?

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by Dani-lu

And again I ask, is it legal to allow your waste to go directly overboard when the head is flushed in the VI's?

To quote Wikitravel Tortola travel guide - Wikitravel
Environmental Issues[edit]

Tortola is one of the premier destinations for bareboat sailing charters. However, in the BVI, sailboats are not required to have holding tanks for sewage storage, as they are in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Instead, each boat pumps its raw sewage into the surrounding water. There are rules against flushing the head (toilet) in a marina, but it appears to be unenforceable.
Road Town collects its sewage and pumps it without further treatment into the Sir Francis Drake Channel, several hundred yards offshore.
Toilet paper is not allowed to be flushed from boats. Instead, used toilet paper must be disposed of in the trash can next to the toilet.

[Dani-lu]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

To quote Wikitravel Tortola travel guide - Wikitravel
Environmental Issues[edit]

Tortola is one of the premier destinations for bareboat sailing charters. However, in the BVI, sailboats are not required to have holding tanks for sewage storage, as they are in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Instead, each boat pumps its raw sewage into the surrounding water. There are rules against flushing the head (toilet) in a marina, but it appears to be unenforceable.
Road Town collects its sewage and pumps it without further treatment into the Sir Francis Drake Channel, several hundred yards offshore.
Toilet paper is not allowed to be flushed from boats. Instead, used toilet paper must be disposed of in the trash can next to the toilet.

Thanks for the detailed response. Very disappointing! I guess the VI's are not so virgin. Sad.

[sck5]

You will have a hard time finding any pumpouts in the Eastern Caribbean once you get beyond the USVI's. However, few places have the density of boats in small harbors that the BVI's do. It really isnt an issue that I ever noticed. Just dont go for a swim in the marinas or places like Simpson Lagoon and you will be fine. If that bothers you then there is a simple solution: Stay in the USA!

[gts1544]

Newbie, Your cheapest and greatest variety grocery shopping in the BVI is near Wickham's Cay II (Moorings & Sunsail). I cannot remember the names of all of the grocery, liquor & wholesale stores other than the large RITE WAY directly across from Moorings. The DELTA gas station in front of RITE WAY sells propane fills. If you get over to Virgin Gorda and realize you forgot some items, there is a well equipped BUCKS MARKET in the VGYH marina. Also a good well equipped market in Soper's Hole, West End. George

[Stephen Fascian]

You need to figure about 30% more for food then what you spend at a US supermarket, a few things are around the same price but most is more. Everything is shipped in.
Fuel is not as bad. I use so little I can't remember what the price difference.
A slip in the BVIs for a 35' boat is around $50+ a night power and water are extra. Power is $10 and water is .25 cents a gallon. Not bad when a mooring is $30
There are less and less space to anchor, because of all the moorings.
Don't plan on catching a lot of fish unless you go outside into deep water.

Spend a bunch of time in the Spanish Virgins. Not to many charters, better fishing, better snorkeling, less crowded and the locals are very friendly. The way the BVIs used to be.

[LakeSuperior]

Sadly, the BVIs have no incentives to mandate holding tanks. There is currently an infinite supply of charterers. The locals don't charter and probably don't feel the need for a 8 AM swim in the ocean. Additionally, I can imagine the charter companies have a pretty big political pull and quash any moves in that direction.

One could say, hey wouldn't it be be relatively simple to pass legislation mandating a phasing in of holding tanks with no Y-valves for every charter yacht and based out of BVI along with pump-out stations? Wouldn't this would take care of 90% of the problem?

The problem is that the pump-out stations are directly connected to the near shore waters so the waste effluent ends up right back in the same place.

I suppose it would get the waste out of the small crowded bays which would be an improvement.

[boatman61]

Makes for good fishing in the USVI's..