Hi Reader,

This is Matt with the Yacht Warriors, and here's what I have for you today:

• BVI mooring ball fees are on the rise
• Top Caribbean beach bar lists are in
• Some bareboat charter yachts can now sail between USVI and BVI

Mooring ball fee increase in the BVIs

After 10+ years of flat BVI mooring ball fee prices, $25-30/night, it looks like prices are set to rise across the board in the BVIs.

The announcement first came from BoatyBall in an email to their users at the end of November. These are their changes:

• First come, first serve (FCFS) mooring balls are increasing from $30 to $40 per night
• Reservable mooring fees are increasing from $40 to $55 per night

They aren't the only ones increasing prices. Non-Boatyball moorings in Anegada are currently at the $40 mark, and perhaps others. The rest will soon follow, no doubt.

My thoughts? Perhaps it was time for an increase. Costs have no doubt increased over the last 10-15 years?

Don't like it? Here are your options:

• You can choose not to use Boatyball, but others will also soon be at the $40 level as well. And yes, I understand in certain mooring fields like Cooper Island, you don’t have a choice
• Drop the hook, however this is getting harder and harder to do in the BVIs as additional mooring balls are installed in already crowded bays. I talk about some anchorages I like in this post (just please don’t use them when I visit!)
• Go visit the US Virgin Islands. Mooring ball fees in the Virgin Islands National Park are currently $26
• Explore other charter destinations such as the Exumas​

Top Caribbean Beach Bar Lists

A couple annual Top Caribbean Beach Bar lists are in. Here are some highlights popular with charter crews:

​USA Today (Top 10)

#1: Yup, you guessed it, the Soggy Dollar Bar

#4: Hendo's Hideout, right next door!

#5: Chat 'N' Chill, Exuma Bahamas

#7: Esther's Bar, Grenada

​CaribJournal (Top 25)

#1 Maho Crossroads, St. John. We enjoyed this one on our recent trip to the USVIs.

#3 Loose Mongoose, BVI at Trellis Bay

#12 Tranquil Turtle Beach Bar, Abacos

Waypoints' bareboat yachts can sail to BVI

After jumping through plenty of hoops, ~65% of the Waypoints USVI fleet is now certified to travel to the BVI from USVI. This follows extensive restrictions announced by BVI during Covid in an effort to protect their yacht charter industry.

Here's the Waypoints announcement.

They are the first charter company I've heard that has cleared this difficult hurdle.

The catch? Make sure you check with them or your broker before booking. Yachts new to the fleet might not be certified yet, and I understand some older vessels that will be phased out have not gone through the process.

Anchorage of the month: Boca Grande in the Florida Keys

Sometimes, the best view of the sunset is behind you! We took this photo on a stopover to the Dry Tortugas several years ago.