BVI vs Exumas – One thing to Consider

🌅 We woke up ready to slip the lines from our mooring ball and set sail for Compass Cay to swim with their friendly nurse sharks 🦈. We also planned to stop at Pig Beach to visit the famous swimming pigs on Big Majors 🐷. But when I started the port engines, the starboard engine gave us nothing—no power to the starting panel. I tried the battery link, thinking the 13.4 volts in the starter battery might be off, but still no luck. Unable to recall where the engine breakers were, I reached out to the Moorings for help. 🌍 People from all over the world, including Cape Town, South Africa, offered wisdom and helped me locate the breakers and suggested other troubleshooting tips. 🙌

I tried calling Moorings Tech Support in Nassau, but no answer. So, I did the next best thing—I called Moorings tech support in the BVI, who answered right away. We chased down every fuse, breaker, and switch that could be causing the issue. We reset the breakers and the ECU, even switched the port and starboard starting panels. Still no luck. 😕 Finally, I received a call from the Nassau base. After consulting with his tech team, Cedric determined we had a defective ECU, and the best remedy was to get us on another boat. ✨ They considered flying in parts and a technician, but with the risk of a misdiagnosis, another boat was the better option. A replacement boat is now on its way and should be here later this evening when we’ll do a boat-to-boat transfer—a much better option than ending our 2-week trip early! 🚤

We’re so spoiled by sailing in the BVI 🌴—whenever there’s a problem, the Moorings chase boat is never too far away, and repairs can be made while we’re ashore enjoying paradise. Here in the Exumas, it’s a little different. Our technical issues occurred at Staniel Cay, nearly 70nm from the base. The Moorings has a relationship with a local technician, but it’s low season, so he’s not on the island. 😅

I have to commend the sailing community, the Moorings owners community, and all the Moorings employees around the world. 🌟 Everyone, and I mean everyone, wanted to help. The technicians, including the electrical specialists, were eager to assist. No one said, “You’re in the Exumas, and we’re in Tortola, so it’s not our problem.” 👏

These technical problems are a pain in the backside, but I remind myself—it’s a boat in seawater, things break, and some issues are yet to be discovered. ⚓

The Exumas are stunning—the beaches and water are the best I’ve seen anywhere 🌊. However, it’s a bit more remote, so you have to be more self-reliant. Once you leave the base in Nassau, the closest island is almost 40nm away, and with each stop, you get further away until you start heading back.

We’ve decided that despite the beauty of the Exumas and the wonderful people here, it’s probably not going to be an annual visit for us. We’ll continue visiting the BVI multiple times a year instead. 💙 But we will definitely be back to the Exumas again—it’s too beautiful not to! 🏝️ Everyone should visit the Exumas at least once, but the BVI is a very special place. 🌟

On the bright side, there are worse places to be stuck. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club definitely does not suck! 🍹🏝️

Relaxing in paradise at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Exumas, Bahamas—clear skies, turquoise waters, and island bliss.

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