Since 2019, sailors are only allowed to take moorings in Bora Bora, or anchor for less than 24hrs (anywhere but “red zones”).
This means that you have to move around every day and anchor, or pay a daily rate for moorings. People say that anchoring is not allowed, but based on my interpretation of the Official Regulations, anchoring is allowed for less than 24hrs. (*see copy of Official Regulations below)
Normally, moorings are helpful because they prevent damage to reefs with the anchor chains. In the aerial photo, the dark spots are coral bommies or little reef outcroppings. In the case of Bora Bora, there are substantial sand bars without coral. Coral damage is a justification for moorings in some locations, but not as an island-wide policy.
The main reason appears to be aethetic and financial– keeping sailors from posting up for weeks on end for free, where ever they like. Which is totally understandable.
However — sailors dislike using moorings because they can fail. There are dire consequences when their boats run aground into reefs, hotels, or docks, as has already happened (Example, this 50ft Outremer‘s mooring failed and they crashed into a hotel).
Question: Why don’t officials institute an anchoring permit, to the avoid the hassle and liability of installing and maintaining moorings? Just keep moorings for areas where reef damage needs to be avoided, and offer an affordable anchoring permit everywhere else.
An anchoring permit would ensure sailors check in when arriving at an island, and be savvy to the latest regulations and boat -related information about that island. The permit could be registered & paid for online or at a tourism office. The permit could even be free of charge up to a certain number of days, then have a fee. This would resolve the problem of derelict boats being left in the lagoons, which end up causing damage to reefs and buildings when they wash up during storms.
In terms of setting up a model for the rest of French Polynesia, the all-or-nothing mooring approach of Bora-Bora seems to have shortcomings. I prefer the dual approach of anchoring permits (with temporary free stays) AND mooring fields.
What do you think?
*OFFICIAL REGULATIONS (entire text available here).
ARRETE No. 2442 CM of November 22, 2018 regulating the mooring of ships in the inland waters of the island of Bora Bora.
Art. 2.— Object
Unless otherwise stated, in the inland waters of the island of Bora Bora, the mooring of vessels of a length greater than or equal to ten (10) metres or whose stay is greater or equal to a duration of twenty-four (24) hours is strictly prohibited outside dedicated to authorized mooring areas.