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.