I am also a charter captain, and have skippered 55 foot sailing vessels with passengers from a couples to entire families. The bvi is known as one of the best sailing grounds, not just in the. Best sailing destinations in the british virgin islands. British virgin islands sailing trip october 2009 youtube. Sailing the british virgin islands she wears many hats. On a typical sevenday long sailing trip, you should look to traverse through iconic landmarks such as the norman islands through sir francis drake channel, cooper islands to the bitter end of virgin gorda, beef island, jost van dyke, peter island, and tortola, in that sequence. Sep 15, 2017 in this video i share with my horrific experience with hurricane irma that befell the beautiful british virgin islands on september wednesday 6th 2017. Guide to the best hotels and things to do in british virgin islands. The british virgin islands are among the worlds most popular sailing destinations and you only have to look around to understand why. Now lets look at a closeup view of the individual islands in the bvi, focusing on the four main islands. Sailing in the british virgin islands for 10 days day 1. Dec 08, 2019 we spent a week sailing throughout the british virgin islands during the summer of 2018. Laidback and lowkey, the bvis are flatout gorgeous to sail and explore.
Read the safety and security section on the country information page. Tips and packing list for bareboat sailing in the bvi. Travel and packing tips regarding passports, luggage, and money for a charter sailboat vacation in the british virgin islands. All i could think during my 9day sailing trip around the british virgin islands was wow. The british virgin islands is made up of more than 60 inhabited and uninhabited islands, the largest of which, tortola, is visible from the u. When coming about, the object is to pass the bows of the boat through the eye of wind and over to the other side. Top 15 best activities in the british virgin islands. Just a few tips to help you plan your sailing vacation how to get here in the first place all u.
A beginners guide to island hopping in the caribbean. Track to cruising course in the british virgin islands. Whether youre offshore hooking into a trophy marlin or wahoo, or combing the shallows fly fishing for worldclass bonefish or tarpon, you will not be disappointed when fishing in the bvi. A few years ago, before we sold all our possessions, purchased a sailboat and started sailing around the world, i would have said that my most favorite destination was sailing the british virgin islands bvi. British virgin islands international travel information. Nine packing tips for a caribbean sailing vacation. Find msc cruises cruises leaving from tortola, british virgin islands and compare the top prices and itineraries at.
Enroll in the smart traveler enrollment program step to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Exercise normal precautions in the british virgin islands. The british virgin islands lie at the top of the leeward islands, just east of puerto rico. It truly is a dream destination for a topnotch vacation. The best things to do in the british virgin islands. British virgin islands travel forum fodors travel talk. They have two daughters the same age as our two teen children, so it was a good time. Tortola, british virgin islands cruises from costa cruises 6. A new mobile application that allows visitors and residents to find places to stay, dine, shop or relax has been launched in the british virgin islands. Most travelers come to hoist a jib and dawdle among the 50plus isles. Virgin islands free pdf frank virgintino, free cruising guides, british virgin islands, us virgin islands. Pick up a copy of crusing guide to the british virgin islands from amazon or your local bookstore.
Hopefully my thoughts about our next bareboat sailing trip to the british virgin islands will be helpful to others planning a similar trip. The british virgin islands are brimming with picture perfect scenery and endless opportunities for on and offshore enjoyment. Bvi yacht charters sailing vacations with the personal. Experience the virgin islands virgin island sailing. Having spent two wonderful flotilla sailing holidays chartering a boat in the bvi both my husband i and were eager to take our floating home, britican, to an old haunt. The us and british virgin islands are considered by many experienced. What to pack for one week sailing the british virgin islands. The islands are close together meaning that visitors can explore all the islands easily, stopping off for lunch on cooper island perhaps or taking a pitstop to snorkel the wreck of the rhone. Our family vacation this summer was a sailing trip through the british virgin islands.
The beach is lined with oneofakind bars and memorable restaurants, many of which are not crowded and. Preference form british virgin islands preference form greece preference form all other destinations travel insurance festiva sailing vacations offers superior coverage through a partnership with csa travel protection. Professional sailing tips and tricks by olympic sailor ian walker. Tips and packing list for bareboat sailing in the bvi, british virgin islands below is our packing list for the bvis. Boat rental fountaine pajot saba 50 catamaran tortola. Check out our blog for top tips and interesting articles about sailing and. After a week on guana island where we will be married, we will be saling a yacht bareboat for 10 days.
Boat rental lagoon 52 catamaran scrub island, virgin. September 14, 2015 by kevinwilkerson leave a comment. This british virgin islands sailing itinerary highlights is designed to ensure that you will discover secluded bights, the very best snorkelling spots, and impossibly gorgeous cays. We spent a week sailing throughout the british virgin islands during the summer of 2018. There are very few caribbean getaways that capture the essence of the islands better than an experience boating in the british virgin islands. My finace and i will be honeymooning in the bvi in novemberdecember. Here you will find updates to our guides, anchorages, navigation, route planning advice, including gps waypoints, planning tips and. Travel forum discuss and share your travel experiences, tips, and recommendations with other avid travelers worldwide on fodor s community forums. British virgin islands budget travel guide updated 2020. Exploring the beautiful bvis on vacation with my love. Tips for handling and adjusting sails how to trim sails upwind in this sailing basics video you learn how to properly trim sails when sailing upwind. There were 8 of us on the 53 foot yacht, and we had so much fun its difficult to capture.
Tourists are especially attracted to the white sand. Whether you are on a bvi yacht charter or a bareboat charter, here are some of the most spectacular spots to drop anchor. A third way to determine sailing wind shifts is by your relative position to other boats. Delightfully quiet and picturesque, the bvi take in some of the finest and safest charter boat sailing areas of the caribbean. Caribbean islands sailboat charter through the british virgin islands hi. Selecting and purchasing an ocean cruising sailboat. The dream of purchasing a boat and sailing to exotic islands and interesting. Sailing in the british virgin islands bvi means warm weather, steady trade winds and cobalt blue waters. Suppose you are sailing to the ten oclock position, but wish to change course and sail to the two oolook spot.
Designed to give you a flavour of the islands, with so much to do, we create tailored itineraries for all our guests. Here are my top five tips for sailing around the british virgin islands for free. In addition to excellent scuba diving, they offer some of the best sailing conditions in the caribbean. Has anyone got any tips for us in terms of sailing tipsplaces to.
The british virgin islands bvi are territories of her majestys land, but aside from scattered offerings of fish and chips, theres little thats overtly british. British virgin islands sailing schools amazing caribbean sailing vacation locations our locations on scrub island and our tortola sailing school at the moorings base are graduating lots of new cruising sailors these days. Yacht charter british virgin islands bvi sailing holidays. Next time, make it to the north side of tortola and jost van dyke island. Most sail and spar manufacturers have produced tuning guides to optimise their specific equipment, so do use the guide relevant to your equipment. British virgin islands sailing lessons sailing school. The island chain that forms the british virgin islands means the waters are protected making for very pleasant sailing. Guide to the british virgin islands start discovering the british virgin islands with. Once you experience the bvi, we bet youll come back. Thanks for choosing the british virgin islands for your vacation. Often called the sailing capital of the world, boating is a.
The british virgin islands are a collection of 60 unspoiled islands that pack the best of the caribbean into one convenient destination. Erica and i, sail a 36 foot monohul, sailing vessel, just the two of us. Where our personal experience will help guide you on your next trip. Charter this affordable yacht in one of the best sailing and cruising regions in the world, the british virgin islands. A few friends and i are looking to charter a private sailboat in either the british or us virgin islands for 5 days. Take our learn to sail course and learn the proper way to trim sails. For some, this takes the form of a multiweek sailing trip traveling counterclockwise from one beach, bar, and sunladen snorkeling site to the next. Detailed maps of the british virgin islands, tortola, road town, virgin gorda, anegada, jost van dyke, caribbean islands and map of ferry routes in the bvi and usvi. We provide a guide to the islands harbors and day anchorages along with tips for each that. Chartering blog sailing in the virgin islands bvi yacht. Provisioning your boat sailing virgins episode 21 youtube. There is a lot to consider when you are going to be living on a sailboat for 8 nights.
Sailing in the british virgin islands sail caribbean. The island is the epicenter of the caribbean yachting community. Trade wind breezes, white sand beaches, quiet gentle anchorages with nothing to do but soak up the sun, or a bustling island village with plenty to do. Bareboat charter tips for sailing the virgin islands. A beautiful, informative bareboat website dedicated to the 2001 lagoon 380 tortola catamaran charter sailboat, angelina.
If you would like a pdf of this map, click here and we will send you one. With so many options, it can be difficult for travelers to pinpoint the best places that the islands have to offer. In this guide you will fi nd all the information you need to make the most of the cruising available in the british virgin islands. Guadeloupe, martinique, st martin and st barts are very french in their language, currency, cuisine and style.
Msc cruises cruises visiting tortola, british virgin islands. The dominican republic is also only a very short flight away, to the left of the island. Video jeremy roloff song raindrops hotel garuda remix by snbrn, kerli, hotel garuda. When you book a yacht charter in bvi with zizoo, you have the freedom to explore a range of popular island towns, stunning natural landscapes and small, uninhabited islands that are great for getting away from it all on your next sailing holiday. Detailed colorful maps, ferry routes and travel times between islands, and mustdo experiences in the u. The british virgin islands bvi natures little secrets is an apt marketing phrase for these gorgeous islands of varying character, but one could probably argue that. Most visitors arrive at the us virgin islands via st thomas, and the place knows how to strike a first impression. Jun, 2019 how to provision your boat are you looking for tips on how to buy food and supplies for your sailing boat or yacht. Sailing the british virgin islands tortola to tortola in.
Maps tortola, virgin gorda, anegada, ferry routes best of bvi. The app, which is called bvi now, allows users to access the information without the need of an internet connection. The british virgin islands are definitely expensive, but with a little foresight, you can really save some money. About 5 nautical miles from cooper island, on the west end of virgin gorda, is the baths, a fascinating jumble of. Yachting tortola has world renown sailing conditions. And its not the kind of place youll want to visit just once. Travel forum discuss and share your travel experiences, tips, and recommendations with other avid travelers worldwide on fodors community forums. British virgin islands sailing itinerary sailchecker. Caribbean vacation planning and yacht charter guide for a bvi fully crewed or bareboat luxury yacht sailing vacation and holiday charter guide.
Planning tips for a bvi sailing vacation, bvi day 1010. Heres what were planning to not do, do differently. By alexander britell its hard to think of a more remarkable trip in the caribbean than a sailing journey across the british virgin islands. How to sail the british virgin islands for free updated 2020. Please keep in mind that your preference form must be received 30 days prior to your departure date. Given that most hosts tend to work on boats, their. Planning your route this itinerary is intended as a guide to help you plan your trip around the british virgin islands. The british virgin islands fast check out chart briefing is now available on the apple app store now you can save valuable time at the base and have all the pertinent information at hand whilst on your charter. Sailing in bvi british virgin islands forum tripadvisor. One of the biggest benefits of sailing in the british virgin islands is the weather. Explore beyond the soggy dollar bar in white bay, jost van dyke. Sailing the british virgin islands tortola to tortola.
This episode features chef sara as she does her weekly provisioning shop at a. With four major islands and over 50 smaller mostly uninhabited islands, the british virgin islands are a treasure trove of places to sightsee, snorkel, and sail. The british virgin islands locally known as natures little secrets, are easily the best sailing destination in the caribbean, and arguably one of the best in the world. Our beautiful country is made up of over 60 islands and cays, mostly unspoiled, with fabulous white sand beaches. You wake up on a sailboat, bouyed in the harbor of a neardeserted caribbean island. Caribbean all cruising guides cornell sailing publications. When you visit virgin town, both men and on the left side of the watch for unmarked port to visit the british islands national park women should wear a road throughout the reefs, other boats, and virgin islands or other and st. Easy to use charts highlighting the must see places to visit, as well as a guide to the base to help your journey through the marina onto your yacht. Your source for virgin islands boating information. We like to think of them as natures little secrets. Bareboating tips for the virgin islands here are some virgin island bareboating tips for newcomers to the bareboat scene in the bvi. Everybody who steps foot onto the british virgin islands ends up at the worldfamous soggy dollar bar once or twice, or ten times, and with good reason. Turning into the wind, or coming about, is the most common sailing maneuver. It is located just east of puerto rico in the leeward island chain with the.
Here are some ways that i save money in the british virgin islands. Cover of caribbean islands travel guide lonely planet shop. After sampling the pleasures of cooper island, your british virgin islands sailing holiday will take you northeast to the beautiful island of virgin gorda. With favourable trade winds and near perfect weather, tortola has become one of the more popular sailing destinations in the world. This is the start to a 10day blog series sailing on a lagoon 450 with the yacht charter company bvi yacht charters based in road town, british virgin islands. Heres a video and image compilation from my sailing trip to the british virgin islands in october 2009.
Couchsurf there are a handful of hosts in the bvis. You can get pretty much anywhere in the caribbean from san juan thanks to regional carriers such as cape air and seaborne, and a number of islands are even closer by ferry and plane, such as culebra, vieques, british virgin islands and the us virgin islands. Fishing in the bvi british virgin islands and caribbean. Top tips for sailing the bvis, chartering a sailboat to postcard destinations and tossing out the anchor at legendary beach bars. Find costa cruises cruises leaving from tortola, british virgin islands and compare the top prices and itineraries at. The british virgin islands offer everything from natural sightseeing and snorkeling to relaxing at a bar or lying on a beach. British virgin islands chart briefing online sailing courses.
The baths on virgin gorda, also part of the british virgin islands. Sailboat charter through the british virgin islands. An fun family vacation spent sailing the british virgin islands. Whether your bvi yacht charter is bareboat, flotilla or skippered, youre sure to agree it is truly a sailors paradise. With crystal clear waters and balmy trade winds yearround, the british virgin islands are a pristine playground brimming with adventure. This sailboat racing tactic is used most often on singlehanded small boats, that either dont carry compasses or are bouncing around too much for them to be dependable. The british virgin islands are a selfgoverning british overseas territory in the caribbean just to the northeast of the us virgin islands the bvis, as they are called, are a popular travel destination for sailors, fishermen, sun worshippers, and other independent travellers, albeit not for the cost conscious. Warm weather year round, consistent trade winds and line of sight sailing make the bvi a sailors paradise.
To get to day 2 of this trip, scroll down and click the newer or next post button. When to purchase time, money, health and energy are the four factors that need to be present. If you decide to travel to the british virgin islands. The best route is from london gatwick nonstop to antigua, then four days a week, intercaribbean airways operates a nonstop. Tortola is arguably the yachting capital of the west indies. Every good fisherman knows you have to go where the fish are and the british virgin islands youll be surrounded by them. The next 11 blog posts cover our family bareboat sailing trip to the british virgin islands in june 2011, its just taken a little while to getting around to posting this.
Our 10day sailing charter around the british virgin islands. Distinct ports of call can be found among the more than 25 pristine islands that make up the bvi. Explore british virgin islands holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. The app, which is called bvi now, allows users to access the. There is a reason the british virgin islands are known as, natures little secrets. Targeted to the cruising sailor, our site is a voyage of discovery through the islands of the caribbean, offering the reader an intimate perspective of the islands, people and the culture of the west indies. Tips and tricks for people wanting to get to the british virgin islands bvi. The worldfamous british virgin islands are one of the most popular sailing destinations on the planet, to the extent that sailing and tourism accounts for about 45% of the caribbean territorys income. My husbands oldest brother, mike and his family invited us to share a boat charter and set sail with them.
Information for this section was gathered from the u. Bvi cruising guide offers boaters cruising or chartering in the bvi an online guide to ensure a safe and fun trip. Stretching throughout the caribbean, the british virgin islands are a kaleidoscope of aquamarine waters, sunsoaked harbors, and whitesand beaches. British virgin islands travel caribbean lonely planet. British virgin islands family sailing day 110 unsinkable 2. Surrounded by coral reefs and limpid turquoise water, the british virgin islands form an astonishingly beautiful tropical archipelago. At both locations we teach us sailing certification courses aboard moorings 39. Hop aboard our stateoftheart catamaran and discover secluded coves, impossibly beautiful snorkelling spots, and breathtaking islands virtually untouched by humans.
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