What is BoatyBall in the BVI?

BoatyBall in the BVI is a mooring-ball reservation system that lets a yacht book a specific ball online instead of racing for one on arrival. It covers the anchorages that fill first: The Bight at Norman Island, Cooper Island and Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke among them. Bookings open at 7:00 am on the day of the stay, through the BoatyBall app or website, and in high season the busiest spots are gone within minutes. A reserved ball costs about $55 a night. A standard first-come ball runs roughly $35 to $40, and anchoring is free outside the National Parks Trust sites. Most balls are rated for yachts up to about 60 feet, so larger yachts anchor regardless. On a crewed charter in the British Virgin Islands, the captain holds the BoatyBall account, makes the 7 am booking from the saloon, or simply drops anchor somewhere quieter. Guests never touch it. Bareboat skippers do it themselves, every morning.