USVI-On-Line

My husband has always wanted to stay a couple of days at Cooper Island. He would really like to stay at a super low key place "chill out spot", right on the beach and with snorkeling off the beach. I exchanged some PMs with people who have been there for the day and thought it was great. The pics look wonderful and I read a trip report some time ago that said the snorkeling was good.

The logistics are a little bit of a nuisance, but my main concern is staying at a place with so many sailboats moored there. In fact, they added more moorings this past year. My concern is two-fold:
- Are they dumping their toilet into my swimming area?
- The dinghies buzzing around. I didn't like swimming in the area around the Baths for this reason. There were so many dinghies driving around really fast, and some driven by kids. Didn't seem safe to be swimming/snorkeling around them. (My husband teases me about "dinghy phobia".)

So...I was wondering if any of you have spent some days there and what are your thoughts about spending a couple of days there?

We stayed in the Pink House on Cooper a few years ago. It is really the place to go if you are looking at getting away from it all. We stayed a week and while my DH would have stayed longer after a week I was ready to head for STJ. (Which we did) There were boats moored out front during the day but we did not have to worry about the dinghies as we were away from the "resort". It is a wonderful island.
AH

We stayed on Cooper Island at the Beach Club for a week back in 2007. That was before the new owners and the renovation it has seen lately. We loved it. Yes there were lots of sailboats moored but that was part of the entertainment as well. To sit on the beach with a drink in hand and watch the rookies try to grab a mooring was quite hysterical. The only time there seemed to be a fair amount of dinghies zipping around was at night for dinner. For the most part people came in around 2 and left the next morning for their next stop. Some stayed a couple of nights but mostly they did not. We loved the atmosphere, the "no-decisions" to make part, the snorkeling was great right off shore and the food was absolutely fantastic. I hope that has continued under the new owners. Let me know if you have any more questions!!

“Are they dumping their toilet into my swimming area?”
Most likely. It is my understanding, based on the threads that erupt on the TTOL board every so often on this topic, that holding tanks are not required in the BVI and that very few BVI based sailboats have holding tanks due to the lack of land based infrastructure to deal with it etc. etc.

To add to jmq's statement, boat are suppose to be a certain distance off shore before they discharge the tanks, 3 miles maybe?) but I suspect few charter sailors make it that far so yes, waste is very likely being discharged overboard.

My grandparents had sailboats while I was growing up and the general attitude in the sailing circle was organic waste was not a concern as tides and currents would move things along. The guys always peed off the side.

We spent an afternoon on Cooper three years ago (prior to the new owners) and it was lovely.

Yes that clarifies it (no pun intended!). Small daysail kind of sailboats might not have a holding tank, but the larger charter ones do, and they are supposed to discharge while underway out at sea.

Not to gross anyone out, and I may be wrong, so feel free to correct me....but I heard the fish eat it.

California Girl wrote:Not to gross anyone out, and I may be wrong, so feel free to correct me....but I heard the fish eat it.

tilapia do but I don't know that they are in VI waters.

I'm never eating tilapia again.
Smiles-
MJ

Sorry, shouldn't have said anything. I wish I wouldn't have watched the Discovery Channel that night.