If the Caribbean strung together is considered a sailors paradise, the British Virgin Islands deserve a special category of praise for their role in earning that reputation.
In a small area relative to much of the Caribbean lie a group of islands with nearly flawless sailing conditions for any mariner cruising in the archipelago. Sailing here is a lifestyle; the winds blow from the east all winter and rarely change in direction, so the navigation is dynamic yet simple with easy passageways that do not cause a fuss when sailing. You can’t tack without missing a rum bar perched along a beach. With inviting anchorages scattered throughout the islands, it’s accessible to new sailors and a favorite of experienced old-timers alike. Book your crewed charter today!
Fully crewed professional yacht charters aboard premier monohulls & catamarans ranging from 40' to 62' accommodating from 2 to 10 guests. Contact us today to receive your custom quote!
Location
Tortola
British Virgin Islands
Season
November 1st through July 31st | Peak season take place during the months of February & March
The abundance of islands clustered with such close proximity allows for sailors to sail with the wind conditions in the spirit of the moment. Some skippers will take their crew through a circumnavigate of Tortola while others will zig zag jumping from island to island-Norman Island and then to Marina Cay, North Sound, Virgin Gorda and then sail south to Cooper Island. The ability to choose your own adventure is one of the pleasures of the BVI. Most of the prominent marinas are located on the south coast of Tortola, which is a common location to start your charter. Roadtown is the main harbor and the capital of Tortola home to most of the provisioning and supplies for sailors cruising the region.
One of the famed islands here is Norman Island-home to the infamous floating bar Willy T’s, which is situated in its largest cove called ‘The Bight’ until the permanently anchored ship sank in 2017 during the unprecedented devastation of Hurricane Irma. Now re-born on a new vessel, the bar is known for its abundance of sailors who can be seen arriving by dinghy and tying up alongside.
One of the lesser ventured activities is hiking around Salt Island, which remains completely uninhabited other than a few families of goats that roam freely around the lush green fields. This island once had a productive salt pond facility that shipped salt as an export until the mid 1970s. Even today during certain periods when the salt pond is dry, you can scrape up the island’s salt which is still harvested in small batches.
The northernmost island in the archipelago requires more sailing time, usually on a pleasant beam reach, depending on which island you set out from. With the trade winds blowing normally leaving from Gorda Sound offers the nicest tack. Anegada is unlike the others. In a chain of mountainous volcanic islands, Anegada was formed by a coral reef and is just a few meters above sea level at its highest point.
Sailing southwest from Anegada roughly 25 nautical miles, and just a short hop from Tortola’s west end, is Jost Van Dyke, one of the most emblematic of all the islands in the region. Culture seems to flow from here to the other islands and you’ll see this island’s signature style emulated elsewhere in the form of signed t-shirts and flags hanging from driftwood rafters of the local establishments or signature cocktails but the authenticity of it all here is unmistakable.
A Day in the Life: Wake up on a mooring in a large bay at Norman Island, one of the many uninhabited islands with only one restaurant and dive shop ashore. The bay is calm because it’s protected from the prevailing east winds. Captain decides to move the boat to an anchorage just 10 minutes away on the outside of Norman Island in a place called The Caves where the chef will prepare breakfast followed by a morning snorkeling opportunity along The Caves. Mid-morning after snorkeling, we get underway sailing towards Guana Island. Along the way, we anchor at Salt Island to snorkeling at the Wreck of the Rhone, a 300’ british mail ship that sank in the early 1800s. After a remarkable lunch and a swim, we continue sailing for 1.5 to White Bay on Guana Island. Captain offers to take anyone who interested on a snorkel at Monkey Bay or an opportunity to walk along the white sand beach of White Bay while the sun sets. Dinner aboard followed by games and an early sleep.
The next morning, captain departs early for a 1.5 hour passage to the famous Baths on Virgin Gorda. Breakfast takes place once we arrive at the mooring field. Captain brings everyshore to spend 2 hours exploring the giant granite smooth boulders and the white sand beach. It’s one of the most famous places in the British Virgin Islands and the entire Caribbean. Once aboard, we have lunch followed by a 2 hour sail to North Sound, Virgin Gorda. We arrive late afternoon with enough time to relax aboard and explore. A dinner reservation has been made at the Bitter End Yacht Club with an outside table at the relaxed but lively restaurant.
Itinerary options:
Norman Island
Peter Island
Cooper Island
Virgin Gorda
Marina Cay
Anegada
Jost Van Dyke
An average of 3-6 hours of sail time per day split in two sessions. There are 3 dining opportunities during itinerary and crew will offer recommendations and reservations ahead of time.
The Sailing Collective crewed private sailing charter is the ideal hassle-free experience for you and your family or friends. With exclusive partnerships with the key reputable agencies on Tortola, we have extensive knowledge on each vessel and carefully navigate the obstacles on your behalf.
Confirming your booking with us ensures trust and safety with the most personalized and reliable crew in the industry. Book your Sailing Collective crewed private sailing charter with confidence!
Professional captain
Private professional chef
Gourmet & local provisioning for onboard meals [beverages package by request]
Personalized travel concierge
Boat incidentals including fuel, dockage, local tax
Bespoke itinerary planning and quality customer service attention
We work for YOU!
How it works - The Sailing Collective Travel Co. is the leading bespoke concierge yacht charter broker in the British Virgin Islands with access to over 400 quality vessels throughout the Virgin Islands. We have close working relationships with our partners to ensure your sailing charter is successful without any delay or hiccups along the way.
The Sailing Collective crew leads the industry in professionalism and creativity. Your captain will have a wealth of knowledge of the British Virgin Islands including the most unique and excellent shore activities and dining experiences.
Step 1: Select Dates
Step 2: Choose Vessel(s)
Step 3: Submit Form
Step 4: Receive a link to a custom quote with pricing & availability within one day
Each vessel option can be held for up to 5-days at a time at which point we can release, re-option, or confirm the charter.
A culinary program with a focus on locally sourced sustainable foods
The Sailing Collective Travel Co. takes food to a new level. We believe by sourcing local ingredients from local friends we have made throughout our travels pushes us to experience where we are by being engulfed by the regional flavors.
Private chef creating customized menus to your taste and requirements
Each voyage, both group & private, has a private culinary artist aboard preparing some of the most unique, interesting, and thoughtful food you may ever enjoy in your life! From breakfast to dinner each day of the journey, we are blessed by beautiful meals by one of the most talented culinary teams in travel anywhere in the world.
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