Destinations – Sailing World https://www.sailingworld.com Sailing World is your go-to site and magazine for the best sailboat reviews, sail racing news, regatta schedules, sailing gear reviews and more. Sun, 07 May 2023 04:02:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://www.sailingworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/favicon-slw.png Destinations – Sailing World https://www.sailingworld.com 32 32 It’s all there in the BVI https://www.sailingworld.com/sailboats/its-all-there-in-bvi/ Tue, 21 Jun 2022 20:44:27 +0000 https://www.sailingworld.com/?p=74241 New charter skippers and old salts alike flock to the British Virgin Islands every year for sun, fun and stress-free sailing.

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British Virgin Islands
From the consistent sailing conditions to the abundance of gorgeous anchorages and beach bars, this place was made for cruisers. British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands are at the top of many sailors’ list of favorite charter destinations — and once you’ve been, you’ll understand why. From the consistent sailing conditions to the abundance of gorgeous anchorages and beach bars, this place was made for cruisers.

Tortola is the largest island in the group, and its main settlement, Road Town, is where you’ll find several charter bases surrounding the large harbor; others are just a short cab ride away. There are grocery stores, bakeries and liquor stores near town for provisioning. Or better yet, have your charter company take care of it.

Whether it’s your first charter in these islands or they are an annual destination, the BVI doesn’t disappoint, and you can tailor your experience to your preferences. Love snorkeling and diving? Make sure that underwater hot spots like the wreck of the RMS Rhone and reefs at the Indians and the Dogs are on your itinerary. Want to stay up until the wee hours? Check out a full moon party at Trellis Bay or Bomba’s Surfside Shack. Love sailing? Include a jaunt to Anegada during your trip.

Most BVI charters last a week, which is enough time to enjoy several of the islands, but if you can swing 10 days or more, go for it! Leaving from Road Town, a typical route heads counter­clockwise through the islands, with most of the sailing in the protected waters of Sir Francis Drake Channel.

The Bight at Norman Island is an easy first-night destination. There are moorings and plenty of room to anchor, although if you don’t enjoy late-night crowds, choose a spot away from the William Thornton (aka Willy T’s), a floating bar and restaurant anchored in the southwest corner of the Bight. Ready to jump in the water? Be sure to check out the caves nearby at Treasure Point and the reef at Pelican Island.

Farther up Drake Channel, the Baths at Virgin Gorda are a fun place to explore — be sure to arrive early to secure a mooring — and there are cool photo ops among the giant boulders. An ideal spot to relax midcharter, Virgin Gorda’s North Sound is home to the Bitter End Yacht Club, Saba Rock and the Leverick Bay Resort and Marina, all good choices for a drink or meal ashore. North Sound itself offers well-protected, flat water that is perfect for trying out any water toys you might have aboard. Next, if conditions are good and you’re up for a sail, you can head out to Anegada, known for killer sunsets and lobster dinners on the beach.

Whether you’re sailing back from Anegada or over from North Sound, stop for lunch and a snorkel at Monkey Point, Guana Island, and then pick up a mooring for the night at Cane Garden Bay. This postcard-­perfect bay is the place to go for live music, and for a real taste of the BVI, there are tours and tastings at the Callwood Rum Distillery.

If you love beach bars, Jost Van Dyke has some of the best, from Foxy’s at Great Harbour to the Soggy Dollar at White Bay. A ­quieter ­evening can be had anchored off picturesque Little Jost Van Dyke. Wrap up your week in the BVI with a night either at Peter Island or Cooper Island, and you’ll be well ­positioned for an easy sail back to Road Town.

Bitter End Yacht Club
The Bitter End Yacht Club, on Virgin Gorda, offers sailors plenty of ways to relax. Jen Brett

What to know if you go

Climate: The BVI has a tropical climate with temperatures that vary little throughout the year. On average, the rainiest months are September through November, and the ­driest are February and March.

Winds: During the winter months, the trade winds are northeasterly at about 15 to 20 knots, though from December to mid-­January, there may be periods of “Christmas winds,” which can blow 25 to 30 knots for days at a time. In the summer months, the trades are more southeasterly at 10 to 15 knots.

Sailing level: Steady breezes and easy navigation on mostly protected waters make the BVI an ideal spot for a first bareboat charter. Although moorings are plentiful, they fill up quickly in the high season, so skippers should be well adept at anchoring.

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Now’s the Right Time to Revisit the BVI https://www.sailingworld.com/racing/nows-the-right-time-to-revisit-the-bvi/ Tue, 01 Jun 2021 08:01:00 +0000 https://www.sailingworld.com/?p=69896 Known for perfect sailing conditions, show-stopping beaches and endless secret spots, the British Virgin Islands is just what the doctor ordered now that the world is returning to normal.

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A single catamaran sailing across the ocean.
Big-time celebrations deserve a big-time venue and there’s no better place to get your celebration on than the British Virgin Islands. British Virgin Islands

The news is good. Travel is coming back. Borders are reopening, and there is a long list of denied celebrations that deserve to be reinstated. With the light finally shining brightly at the end of a dark tunnel, now is the perfect time to get away from the day-to-day so that we can truly honor those noteworthy events that have been put on hold for far too long. Big-time celebrations deserve a big-time venue and there’s no better place to get your celebration on than the British Virgin Islands. Known for perfect sailing conditions, show-stopping beaches and endless secret spots, the British Virgin Islands is just what the doctor ordered now that the world is returning to normal.

A couple sits on a rock formation at a beach.
Celebrate all of the noteworthy events that have been put on hold for far too long in one of the most beautiful, sought-after destinations: the BVI. British Virgin Islands

Let the wind take you to legendary beach bars at the water’s edge with just the right amount of music and lively atmosphere. Enjoy otherworldly views that show off the natural landscape while visiting seemingly infinite anchorages, harbors and marinas—all of which are prepared to greet you as if you were royalty. Celebrate all of the noteworthy events that have been put on hold for far too long in one of the most beautiful, sought-after destinations: the BVI.

To look at these islands on a map is to understand why beach lovers, sailors, underwater explorers and privacy seekers love this destination: The Sir Francis Drake Channel separates the main island of Tortola from a string of more than 60 islands—some with resorts and some inhabited only by birds and iguanas. This means more coastline, beaches and secluded coves for relaxing. It also means a massive water playground ideal for all kinds of watersports: sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving and more. There’s so much to do for you and yours to have fun and catch up on any missed celebrations—regardless of who you travel with or what you’re celebrating.

Where to Stay

This mix of islands offers a diversity of accommodations, from secluded to happening, with a focus on everything from wellness to active pursuits. Celebrating a romantic milestone? Rosewood Little Dix Bay on the island of Virgin Gorda offers pampering, yoga and upscale accommodations with outdoor showers, all amid a natural setting that highlights the tropical landscape and bluewater views – the perfect location for a couple looking to get away and just relax.

An aerial view of an island beach resort of Rosewood Little Dix Bay.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay on the island of Virgin Gorda offers pampering, yoga and upscale accommodations with outdoor showers. British Virgin Islands

Looking for a place to bring family together? Oil Nut Bay, reopened since December 2020, caters to families and multigeneration travelers with villas, chefs for hire, a marina and more than 400 acres of wild space. Every resort offers plenty to do to fill any vacation, but one of the highlights of the British Virgin Islands is how easy it is to island hop.

An aerial photo of an Oil Nut Bay island beach resort.
Oil Nut Bay caters to families and multigeneration travelers with villas, chefs for hire, a marina and more than 400 acres of wild space. British Virgin Islands

BVI by Boat

In fact, the islands are so close together that many travelers can’t choose just one, instead opting for a charter-boat vacation. Power or sail, bareboat or crewed, a charter-boat vacation is the perfect way to see it all—on your own schedule. Boating gives you the freedom to choose a completely personalized itinerary. Those who simply wish to relax as much as possible during their getaway can book a crewed yacht with a captain and chef.

A man and woman lounge on the seats of a catamaran at sea.
Boating gives you the freedom to choose a completely personalized itinerary. British Virgin Islands

It’s a great way to celebrate or simply relax and let a captain handle the boat and a chef cater to your party’s tastes—whether that be a full brunch spread in the morning or a barbecue off the stern at sunset. While those who desire a more independent vacation might choose a bareboat charter and move from destination to destination completely at their own pace.

What to Do

For land- and sea-based travelers, one of the don’t-miss scenic attractions is the Baths, a collection of basalt boulders nestled together to create grottoes and tunnels, as well as overlooks ideal for photos.

A couple running through rocky areas on a beach side.
The Baths is a collection of basalt boulders nestled together to create grottoes and tunnels, as well as overlooks ideal for photos. British Virgin Islands

Jost Van Dyke, off the backside of the main island of Tortola, is beloved as much for its gently sloping white-sand beach as it is for the lineup of open-air bars, including White Bay’s Soggy Dollar Bar and Hendo’s Hideout.

A couple walk past the Soggy Dollar bar on Jos Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.
The Soggy Dollar Bar is a favorite on Jos Van Dyke, off the backside of the main island of Tortola. British Virgin Islands

Take a short boat ride around the point into Great Harbour for a chance encounter with Foxy – the namesake of the beloved Foxy’s Beach Bar – or a pizza baked to perfection at Corsairs Beach Bar.

Two people play Jenga at a beach resort bar.
Play a giant game of Jenga or leave your autograph at Foxy’s Beach Bar on Great Harbour. British Virgin Islands

Come for the day to enjoy the famous Painkiller—a mix of coconut, pineapple and orange juices with rum and nutmeg—while lounging beachside. This island is also home to Ocean Spa BVI, the Caribbean’s only floating spa, where you can get a massage right on the ocean.

A tropical cocktail on a table by the beach.
Visit Great Harbour for the day to enjoy the famous Painkiller—a mix of coconut, pineapple and orange juices with rum and nutmeg—while lounging beachside. British Virgin Islands

In between it all are endless hidden spots as well as off-the-beaten-path attractions and tours. The island of Anegada—the farthest island from Tortola—is not one that every BVI traveler visits. Those who do can take part in the unique experience of choosing your own lobster and having it grilled to order.

Two people sit in hammocks at a beach resort of the island of Anegada.
The island of Anegada—the farthest island from Tortola—is not one that every BVI traveler visits. British Virgin Islands

The Anegada Beach Club delivers island-style glamping with its luxury thatched-roof cottages complete with hammocks and outdoor tubs, allowing guests to commune with nature in the utmost comfort. This outpost isle is also a perfect choice for bonefishing, horseback riding and kitesurfing.

A hammock and lounge area overlooking a beach view at the Anegada Beach Club.
The Anegada Beach Club delivers island-style glamping with its luxury thatched-roof cottages complete with hammocks and outdoor tubs. British Virgin Islands

For those in your group who like to reach secret spots on foot, tour operator Hike BVI offers guided walks through the best of the islands’ wild spaces, from bat caves to jungle hilltop overlooks. It’s a fun and active way to make memories that can happen only here.

Those who scuba dive will certainly experience many of the hidden gems this destination is famous for—and perhaps discover a few of their own. The RMS Rhone is often considered the Caribbean’s most famous wreck dive. The steamer sunk in an 1867 hurricane and is now split into two halves off Salt Island. Dive it to encounter green turtles, moray eels and nurse sharks, and, inside the hull, glittering schools of glassfish.

A couple puts on scuba gear on the back of a yacht.
Those who scuba dive will certainly experience many of the hidden gems this destination is famous for—and perhaps discover a few of their own. British Virgin Islands

Beyond the Rhone, the BVI offers an ever-growing list of dive sites, including “Sharkplaneo” – you read that right! After the devastating hurricanes in 2017, the group behind the sinking of the famous “Kodiak Queen” art reef took on the task of transforming out-of-commission airplanes into half-airplane/half-shark dive sites. Why, you ask? The hope is that these new dive sites will turn some heads, but also raise awareness of the importance and necessity of sharks in our waters.

A person scuba-diving through a school of fish in a shipwreck.
The RMS Rhone is often considered the Caribbean’s most famous wreck dive. Lois Hatcher

When to Race

The biggest racing event in the BVI is the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival. This five-day event includes several races, as well as welcome parties, barbecues and more. Those who wish to race have the option of chartering a 38- to 52-foot monohull or a 39- to 58-foot catamaran from the Moorings to compete.

An aerial view of sailboats sailing past an island.
The BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival is a five-day event that includes several races, as well as welcome parties, barbecues and more. British Virgin Islands

Then, in late October, Tortola welcomes qualifiers from each stop of the Helly Hansen National Offshore One Design Regatta to the Championship Final. Each qualifier will be assigned the exact same size and model Sunsail monohull sailboat for a weeklong series of one-design races that will crown the year’s overall champion. Nonqualifiers are invited to join the flotilla of race teams and their supporters by chartering their own Sunsail monohull or catamaran during that same week to cheer on their favorite team and enjoy the camaraderie of the touring race teams and their entourage.

A couple relax poolside at a beach resort.
There’s so much to discover and fall in love with that the British Virgin Islands quickly feel like a second home. British Virgin Islands

There’s so much to discover and fall in love with that the British Virgin Islands quickly feel like a second home. Go and take it all in—from a cocktail on the white-sand beach to the Zen of sailing such calm waters—and you’ll know what locals mean when they say “BVI Love”: that feeling of perfect, blissed-out relaxation. After a year of uncertainty and postponements, we can’t think of a better place to celebrate getting back on track. So, whatever you’re celebrating, add the British Virgin Islands to your must-visit short list.

A couple sit at a bar sipping drinks.
Whatever you’re celebrating, add the British Virgin Islands to your must-visit short list. British Virgin Islands

For those making immediate plans to visit, know that those who are not vaccinated can quarantine comfortably at their resort or aboard their yacht, while vaccinated travelers only need to present proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test taken within 5-days of arrival in the BVI.

For more information on the reopening of the BVI and to start planning your next getaway, visit their website.

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