AN EXAMPLE SAILING ITINERARY AROUND THE BVI
There is only one way to explore the British Virgin Islands and that’s by boat. With breath taking scenery, stunning hidden coves, friendly and vibrant bars and restaurants and history bursting at the seams, there is something to keep the whole family entertained. Try snorkelling in secret caves, dive down to shipwrecks teeming with marine life, eat local food on a secluded island or simple lay back on the deck and enjoy the view.
The below is just a taster, let our experts tailor make the perfect family sailing holiday just for you. Read on to find out more.
VISIT: Cooper Island - Day 1
Located a short 6 nautical miles from the Yachts base at Road Town is the beautiful Cooper Island, with a protected anchorage at Manchioneel Bay, and plenty of activities to offer. Ashore, Cooper Island Beach Club is the main attraction – it’s a small resort with restaurant, rum bar, coffee shop, boutique, and lovely outdoor lounge area.
The beach bar and lounge are the perfect place for enjoying a cocktail while watching a stunning Caribbean sunset. The beach and calm waters make the bay well-suited for water sports, and nearby Cistern Point is perfect for snorkelling and turtle watching.
Things to do
Not only is Cooper Island great for swimming and watersports but scuba buffs will want to check out Sail Caribbean Divers, which offers dive excursions for divers of all skill levels. In particular dives on the HMS Rhone, a mail steamer sunk off the west end of nearby Salt Island during a hurricane in 1867. You’ll also find that a motorboat makes early evening rounds in the mooring fields, with its cheerful crew offering a variety of provisions for sale, including freshly baked bread and pastries. And if you wanting to set your feet on dry land, then enjoy a meal at the Cooper Island Beach Club or shop at the Seagrape Boutique.
EXPLORE: Virgin Gorda Island - Day 2
Virgin Gorda is the home of the world-famous Baths. The Baths are as pristine as ever, including the famous pathway leading through the giant boulders to Devil’s Bay. Then head for the North Sound of Virgin Gorda, an excellent overnight anchorage. Leverick Bay has moorings and a restaurant which is open for lunch and dinner. There is also a market here, where you can purchase ice and other provisions.
Things to do
Explore the rock formation’s tunnels, pools, and caves at the Baths, then head to the restaurant with its delightful panoramic views. The nearby marina at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour offers Wi-Fi and fuel and is ideal for restocking provisions. Radio ahead for a slip on the dock, or take a mooring ball outside the harbour and dinghy in.
Here you’ll find a grocery store as well as some restaurants open nearby that can be accessed by dinghy or taxi, including the all new Snapper’s Bar & Grill, and Coco Maya which is a 10-minute walk from Spanish Town, a perfect spot to relax with a cocktail and meal.
DISCOVER: Anegada Island - Days 3 & 4
Get underway early and enjoy a scenic cruise to sparsely populated and rural, Anegada. It is 11 miles long, low, and flat, quite unlike any of the other islands in the BVI. In the heart of the island is a series of salt ponds, beautiful and teeming with birds. A flock of pink Caribbean flamingos live on the ponds not far from the anchorages on the western end. A sail to the island wouldn’t be complete without savouring the locally caught lobster.
Potter’s by the Sea, Anegada Reef Hotel, and Wonky Dog are just a few of your dining options. Not all of the businesses on Anegada accept credit cards, so plan on paying with cash, and be sure to make dinner reservations in advance.
Things to do
It’s well worth renting a car from one of several companies to fully explore Anegada, or opt for a taxi, bicycle or scooter rental instead. Loblolly Bay on the north shore is known for its spectacular snorkelling and scuba diving in crystal clear water. Bones Bight and Cow Wreck beaches are also world class, try the beach bar for lunch where the locals are always welcoming and friendly. Fishing on the flats extending eastward from Setting Point is another popular pastime where guides are available for private charters.
ENJOY: Trellis Bay - Day 5
You’ll be welcomed to quaint Trellis Bay with a distinctly local vibe. The market is open for basic provisions, ice and water as well as offering breakfast and BBQ lunch daily. Across the channel from Trellis Bay, Marina Cay offers moorings and an outdoor patio lunch. Nearby, White Bay on Guana Island is another excellent overnight anchorage option. By day, snorkel at Monkey Point and enjoy an on board luncheon then relocate to White Bay and pick up a mooring to enjoy the solitude and a spectacular sunset. Guana Island is private, but you are free to walk the pristine white sand beach up to the high-water mark.
Things to do
Spend the day at Monkey Point, Guana Island. The snorkelling is excellent, and nearby beaches make a lovely backdrop for paddleboarding. And you may also want to visit Scrub Island Resort for a selection of restaurants and resort amenities. If you are visiting the BVI during a full moon, the Trellis Bay Full Moon parties are a special highlight featuring fire balls on the water and live entertainment.
VISIT: Great Harbour - Day 6
Just to the north and west of Tortola with a population of a little more than 200, Jost Van Dyke’s character is distinctly rural. No British Virgin Islands vacation is complete without a visit to the island which harbours some of our favourite seaside establishments. Great Harbour is an excellent overnight anchorage and home to the famous Foxy’s Tamarind Bar & Restaurant and Foxy’s boutique is open and stocked with souvenirs. White Bay, just a short cruise from Great Harbour, is a popular day anchorage offering a beautiful beach and snorkelling along the reef.
Things to do
This one is all about being on dry land and no BVI charter wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Foxy’s, one of the more famous restaurants in the Caribbean. It’s located at the eastern end of the beach and has built a reputation over the last 40 years as a hugely popular party Mecca for world sailors. It’s casual ambience and friendly staff certainly contribute to its appeal. A short hop to the west brings you to White Bay, with its beautiful beach and snorkelling along the reef.
Here you’ll find the Soggy Dollar Bar, so named for the yachties who swim to it from their boats, soaking their dollar notes in the process!
Discover: The Bight - Day 7
Hilly, scenic, and popular for its superior snorkelling locations, Norman Island is a highly-recommended stop on any BVI charter, with its popular anchorage “The Bight”, lying on the east side of Flanagan Passage and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands just across from it to the west. Here you can enjoy drinks and dining at Pirate’s Bight Restaurant local food and cocktails including Pirate’s “Irma Punch”. There are plenty of mooring balls available here, and you can enjoy snorkelling at both The Indians and The Caves.
Things to do
The caves at Treasure Point are a very special snorkelling location. You can swim inside the flooded indentations in the island with an underwater flashlight and observe teeming sea life in the shallow water. Just above the surface, the interior walls of the caves shimmer in purple and rust coloured orange. Nearby Pelican Island and The Indians is another major BVI snorkelling and scuba diving location.