Picking Up a Mooring

Bareboaters... Here's a tip:  The term "picking up a mooring" does not apply when you are leaving.

Gallows Bay Moorings, Christiansted, St Croix, US Virgin Islands
(Click photo to enlarge)

I heard someone's anchor windlass going and I thought "oh, the catamaran must be leaving... but wait, they're tied to a mooring".

I looked outside and yes, they were still tied to their mooring but there was a person in the water diving between the cat and the mooring ball... The chain is going tick-a-tick-a-tick-a.

Why did they drop an anchor on top of the mooring they were tied to? What is the state of that mooring now? It's probably not that they don't care about the probable damage done, but they more than likely don't have a clue that they might have pulled out one of the two mooring screws and have made yet another one of these moorings unsafe.

This is why you should always dive and inspect the mooring you have just tied to... especially before leaving your boat unattended. 

So it goes...

Christmas Cove, USVI - New Moorings

They now have the article concerning the new moorings in Christmas Cove online.

Click here to go to the article: DPNR puts moorings in Christmas Cove to protect coral (April 25, 2010)

Don't believe the weatherman & new moorings in Christmas Cove

I haven't listened to the radio today to hear the weather, but it really doesn't matter because it is raining.  Didn't they say it would be dry Saturday, Sunday, AND Monday???

I just looked at WeatherUnderground and they say scattered showers and 40% chance of rain through Monday... So It Goes...

We went over to Gallows Bay and filled up some jerry cans of water. We also went to Schooner Bay Market for a couple of things (splurged on a couple of ice cream sandwiches... mmmm!). Noticed in the Virgin Islands Daily News that they had an article concerning new moorings having been installed in the north part of the Christmas Cove anchorage. Should have bought the paper but I thought it would have been online and I could have referred my dear readers to the link, sorry.  Anyway, as I recall there are 12 moorings for boats under 65 feet with a maximum stay of 10 days. No anchoring is allowed within this mooring field and there is supposed to be good clearance so the boats won't bang into each other regardless of wind direction, they say.  There's supposed to be a pamphlet, plus they gave phone numbers for Fish & Wildlife and probably DPNR (340-774-3320). No fees were mentioned.

Here's a website for the National Parks Service for the US Virgin Islands:
http://www.nps.gov/viis/index.htm

Anyway, it doesn't look like we'll be doing any epoxy work this afternoon, but I have plenty of other things to do though... maybe take a pre-lunch nap :)

NEVIS - New Yacht Mooring System

When we were attending the Charter Yacht Show in Antigua a few weeks ago, we were visiting a charteryacht and when we came back out into the cockpit to inspect the exterior of the vessel, there was this horrible little man monopolizing three of the yacht's (female) crew members showing them a promotional DVD about Nevis and spouting off about something... It was so loud we couldn't talk to the captain and the captain requested the man to leave as he was disruptive and annoying.

I managed to snag a Nevis Air & Sea Ports Authority (NASPA) Yacht Mooring System pamphlet from him. As you can tell, we did not hit it off. He was very rude and had a superior attitude... like I was "just a woman"...

Anyway, that's enough of that rant... now let's look at their new mooring policy...

NASPA Moorings are found along the West Cost of Nevis from Windy Hill to Charlestown.

Conditions of Mooring Use and Regulations:

1. All vessels must comply with the Immigration Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA) and Customs laws of St. Kitts and Nevis.
2. All vessels approaching Nevis are required to contact the Nevis Air and Sea Ports authority (NASPA) on VHF Channel 16 in order to be assigned a mooring within the first 24 hours upon arrival.
3. Vessels qualifying for mooring use must proceed to specifically-designated mooring after clearance.
4. Coastal mooring permits must be obtained prior to proceeding coastwise.
5. No vessel may use the moorings at any time unless authorized by the NASPA.
6. No anchoring of any vessel is permited without the authorization of NASPA.
7. The discharging of any bilge or sewage or the dumping of any form of litter or pollutant into the water is strictly prohibited.
8. All moorings may be used for short or long-term use.
9. Spear fishing is strictly prohibited. Harvesting of immature conch or lobster or an endangered marine species is strictly prohibited.
10. No flora, fauna or artefact may be damaged or removed during mooring, snorkeling or any other activity.
11. Water skiing may not originate from any moored vessel without permission from NASPA.
12. Jet-skis or other water sports vehicles must be registered with NASPA before use.

Mooring rates for 2008-2010:

- Class 1 : 0-35 feet
Up to 2 days: EC$ 27 / US$ 10
2 days to 1 week: EC$ 40 / US$ 15

- Class 2 : 36-60 feet
Up to 2 days: EC$ 40 / US$ 15
2 days to 1 week: EC$ 54 / US$ 20

- Class 3 : 61-90 feet
Up to 2 days: EC$ 54 / US$ 20
2 days to 1 week: EC$ 67 / US$ 25

Here's some other info from this pamphlet:

It's the Law

• Animals are not permitted to come ashore unless cleared by the Veterinary Officer.
• Do not bring ashore any fruits, plants or plant parts without the permission of the Department of Agriculture.
• Do not dump refuse in our waters or along our coastline.
• Do not take any coral, sponge, marine algae or starfish from the waters or beaches.
• Do not damage coral reefs by anchoring. Use the moorings provided by Nevis Air & Sea Ports Authority.
• Do not remove, damage, empty or cast adrift any fishing net, fish pot/trap, gear, tackle or other fishing equipment while in the waters of Nevis.
• Do not use spear guns for fishing in the waters of Nevis.
• Do not dive without a locally-licensed Dive Operator.
• Special permission is needed to pass through Fishing Priority areas or Marine Preserves when entering or leaving port.
• Do not anchor in any designated "safe swimming zone."
• Do not exceed a speed of 2 knots when operating tenders or other water crafts in the swimming zon right-of-way to the beach. All operators are requested to keep a sharp look out at all times when making way through this passage.

Another place off our list!

So it goes...