(Well, it works for us anyway!)

In February 2025, we tested out a new approach to snagging a mooring ball at Cooper Island Beach Club (CIBC)—and it worked like a charm. Instead of stressing over the ultra-competitive BoatyBallp or FCFS balls at Cooper, we booked a backup ball at Marina Cay, which tends to be less in demand. ⚓️

As we sail toward Marina Cay, we keep one eye on the CIBC webcam—checking it as we tack close to Cooper. 📹 If we see any first-come, first-served balls open and no boats making a beeline for them, we call an audible and head straight for Cooper.

Once we’ve successfully grabbed a ball at Cooper, we hop on here and let folks know our Marina Cay reservation is up for grabs—first come, first served! 🛥️💨 We wait until we’re actually on the ball, just in case Speed Racer comes flying in on full tilt boogie and beats us to it.

This strategy gives us a solid backup plan without missing a shot at Cooper—and someone else usually benefits from the Marina Cay reservation. Win-win. 🙌🌴

Of course, this assumes you have a good internet connection to check the webcam and post updates. Without it, things get a little trickier—but not impossible.

And remember—this isn’t the only strategy out there. There are plenty of other possibilities that might work even better for you. It all depends on what you enjoy… and what you stress over. 😬

Happy sailing, and may the FCFS gods be ever in your favor! ⛵️🍹