Regulation of yacht traffic in White Bay needed — Skelton Cline
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has renewed calls for the government to regulate yacht traffic in White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, arguing that the lack of controls is creating safety concerns, disrupting the bay’s ecosystem and affecting the visitor experience.
Speaking on his Honestly Speaking radio programme, Skelton Cline said he recently witnessed a catamaran anchored close to shore in White Bay and questioned why authorities have not introduced measures to better manage marine traffic in one of the territory’s most popular tourism destinations.
“You have a situation over there. These people just anchor all across the bay. No specialised place, no demarked place, no moorings in which to speak of, no buoys,” Skelton Cline said.
According to Skelton Cline, the vessel appeared to have difficulty retrieving its anchor after coming close to the beach, disturbing sand in the process.
“That thing anchored right up on the beach. Came right up on the beach. And it looked like they were trying to search or pull the anchor. Couldn’t get it up. And while up there on the beach, stir up all the sand, messes with the whole ecosystem,” he stated.
The commentator said concerns about marine traffic management have been raised repeatedly by business owners and residents on Jost Van Dyke. He argued that establishing designated anchoring areas and other controls would improve safety while supporting businesses that depend on tourism activity in White Bay.
“I talk to the business people. I talk to the regular private citizens who have asked for this, who’ve been calling for this. It would facilitate business,” Skelton Cline said.
He also expressed concern about the growing number of vessels operating in the bay and the limited space available for swimmers.
“People came right up on the bay. People swimming. There are more boats on the bay, and minimal places for swimmers. You can’t even swim. All you can do is wade in the water,” he stated.
Addressing government officials and the Second District representative, Skelton Cline said the issue has been known for years and should no longer be ignored.
“I want to say to the government and the representative for the Second District, this is not new, but we keep normalising our pathologies,” he said. “There will be no loss of business.”
White Bay is among the BVI’s best-known tourism attractions and regularly attracts large numbers of charter yachts and day visitors. Concerns about congestion, anchoring practices and swimmer safety have surfaced periodically over the years as marine traffic in the bay has increased.
Skelton Cline argued that introducing and enforcing regulations would protect the territory’s tourism product while preserving the natural environment that attracts visitors to White Bay in the first place.
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I don’t always agree with this man but as a local captain he is spot on, the day charter boats comes right up to the beach and put a stern anchor on the beach which is very dangerous to the people walking on the beach it needs to stop. Most of this goes on in front of the two main restaurants.
At least post a picture of white bay
There is no beach with all the chairs laid out. The days of natural beaches and Natures Secrets has long been sold out to cheap tourism.
The only NATURES SECRETS left are the Airport reports.
Airport reports and (yet to be audited) Government accounts!
The place been operating just fine for 50 years, leave it alone.
Bvi news you should be ashamed of yourself for posting such mindless drivel as what this idiot spews. At least have the journalistic integrity to fact check what this moron is saying. You didn’t even have the sense to post a photo of white bay making the whole story even more third rate. Your readers deserve better. If we wanted to hear from this clown we could just read the yellow site. Gtfoh
Soggy Dollar and Hendo depends on these boats getting close to the beach and doing a sustainable business with them supporting several families directly and undirectly. Touch this place with stupid regulations and you will kill their living, and so all the other business that needs white bay being a nice busy place (ferry, taxis, car rentals, etc).
So, CSC went to the bay and felt a boat got too close to HIS beach.
Why would you want to take seriously the opinion of this guy who leaches from goverment money. He wants you to stay poor and ignorant while he takes your money (and enjoys it on an empty beach)
Waiting for a day boat to back down on a swimmer and grind them up with the prop. It’s going to happen. There had been a marked out swim area at white bay, but the day boats ignored it once it started falling g apart. Alcohol based tourism, BVIs tourism niche. Pathetic
It’s already happened. Check back issues of the Beacon
that would be a great revenue stream, if fines can be imposed for these clear infractions but if you try to govern this industry they “threaten” to take their boats elsewhere
Dont we have bigger fish to fry here? How about we clean up Tortola to start! its an embarrassment and a pig sty. You complain about White bay what about all the cruiseship people wandering around with nowhere to go! When are you going to make mainstreet a walking street with shops, restaurants and an old Tortola feeling…..Get to work!
I recently visited this beach with family. I have to say the boats so close to shore did take away from its beauty. There was no place to swim. Smaller boats were backing up right into people who were in the water. One boat threw its anchor and hit a lady on her arm. I understand dropping people off, but all of the boats, no matter the size, shouldn’t be coming up into the swimming area. I don’t need to go back there again. There are far better beaches to enjoy and not be run over by a boat.