With 15 main islands located in a 30 mile radius, the British Virgin Islands offer a lot in close proximity. Gathered around a central sailing area, the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the British Virgin Islands offer the most protected yacht charter waters in the Caribbean. The islands are within sight of one another with many anchorages, offering either short hops between anchorages or a great sail down the Sir Francis Drake Channel, with sails billowing reminiscent of pirates of yore. And while on charter, follow in the wake of pirates from The Bight on Norman Island to Deadman’s Island just off of Peter Island to Soper’s Hole in Tortola, once home to the famous Blackbeard.
Stop in at the Pusser’s Rum Bar and Restaurant for a Painkiller, original to the BVI’s or relax for a day spa treatment at Peter Island Yacht Club. North Sound in Virgin Gorda, home of the Bitter End Yacht Club, is a great location for swimming and snorkeling. With many beaches and quiet anchorages to choose from, the British Virgin Islands is a great place to kick back and just be pampered by your yacht charter crew.
Sample Itinerary
Join your yacht in the British Virgin island of Tortola, and head straight for Dead man’s Bay, Peter Island, to anchor in this palm tree ringed bay for a refreshing swim and a snorkel. Then, it’s a short sail up to Cooper Island. Take the tender to dive or snorkel on the “Wreck of the RMS Rhone”, lost in a hurricane in 1867.
Anchor at “The Baths”, just along the southern tip of Virgin Gorda where huge boulders tumble together surrounded by great sandy beaches beckoning to be explored. Sail up to the North Sound at the northern end of the island, home to the Bitter End Yacht Club. Enjoy water sports in protected North Sound and perhaps dinner ashore at the BEYC for grilled lobster.
Cruise to Great Camanoe Island where the snorkeling is excellent including multi colored coral. Take the tender to Monkey Point on Guana Island for a beach picnic and enjoy the two fine white sandy beaches. As the sun begins to set, head for Cane Garden Bay to anchor overnight.
Sail to Green Cay, a tiny tropical island with a massive sandy beach, a great place to be marooned for lunch. Cruise to Jost Van Dyke and anchor in Great Harbor home to the infamous Foxy’s Bar, where you can feel free to sing and dance until the sun comes up.
Head to the home port of the famous Pussers Rum at West End, Tortola. Ashore is a cluster of typical Caribbean pastel West Indian buildings, known as Sopers Hole Wharf, The boutiques and craft shops include Pussers Landing Restaurant and Company Store. Cruise in the afternoon to the Bight at Norman Island. Take the tender to the caves for a snorkel and after dinner enjoy an evening cocktail at the “William Thornton” floating bar and restaurant and rub shoulders with other yachtsmen.
In the morning, take the tender and head over to “The Indians” for a snorkel or a dive returning to your yacht still anchored in The Bight for lunch. After lunch, it is back in the tender to “The Caves” around the corner from The Bight, said to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous book “Treasure Isle”. In the evening head to Roadtown to prepare to disembark in the morning and head home after a great charter.
