Rental and charter of catamaran and sailing guide British Virgin Islands
British Virgin IslandsSome sixty islands and islets make up this paradise for quiet sailing in the British Virgin Islands. With a calm sea, constant tradewinds, many anchorages a short distance from each other, the BVI are a dream destination for the least experienced sailors, or families travelling with young children…
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Practical infos
Formalities : valid passport, no visa necessary for European Union and North American nationals -
Weather : like the rest of the Caribbean zone, the BVI enjoys fine weather year round. The temperature of the air ranges from 28-33°C (82-91°F), and the water from 25-30°C (77-86°F)
Sailing conditions : no problem with sailing by day in the BVI. The distances between two anchorages rarely exceed two hours of sailing, which makes the British Virgin Islands very safe. It is not advisable to sail at night, however, since lighting is virtually non-existent.
Caution : deep-sea fishing is forbidden throughout the BVI. Enforcement is strict and the fines are dissuasive!
Protection of the seafloor : there are many protected Natural Reserves and National Parks… There, it is forbidden to anchor, and mooring on a buoy (for a fee) is becoming widespread. That is the price to pay to enjoy the underwater treasures of the BVI. Regular winds, protected waters, weak currents within the Virgin Islands (but they can be violent between two groups of islands) and the very low tidal range (less than 30 cm/1 ft) are reassuring for the least bold.
Marking : Zone «B» (when entering a harbor, green buoys to port)
Currency : US dollar
Logbook
Their legendary beauty is well known throughout the world (Christopher Columbus was so dazzled he could find no better name for them than the «Virgins»). Sailing to the Virgin Islands is a delight, and the number of rental companies that have settled there clearly showed the strong interest they arouse in those who love beautiful sailing. Home to buccaneers, who used them to lie in wait for richly laden Spanish vessels, the Virgin Islands are divided in two: on one side, the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) with its three main islands - Saint John and Saint Thomas and, some 35 miles further south, Sainte Croix - and on the other, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), with three main islands, too - Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Anegada. The British Virgin Islands are truly a yachtsmen’s paradise: numerous well protected places to anchor, close to each other, and most of all the feeling of sailing on a lake or inland sea. The environment being a major concern for the British Virgin Islands, the ban on deep-sea fishing is strictly enforced with high fines. Similarly, the increasing use of mooring buoys to protect the seafloor or in very crowded area may sometimes seem restrictive. But this is the price to pay to discover an extraordinary playground for occasional renters. The British Virgin Islands offer a particularly attractive sailing area: this maze of islands 50 km long and 25 km wide, has beaches of white sand lined with palm trees and the clear waters are ideal for admiring the seafloor (corals, brightly colored fishes and 18th century shipwrecks). Indeed, in the British Virgin Islands, the past is never very far away and you will discover in particular Norman Island, the real «Treasure island» that inspired Robert Lewis Stevenson’s famous work… In the BVI, you will also enjoy exploring the splendid anchorages on the northern coast of Tortola, the beach of White Bay on Peter Island and, of course, you won’t want to miss under any circumstances the opportunity of swimming in the famous Bath of Virgin Gorda, which will surely remain one of the best memories of your cruise.
Itinerary for one week’s rental starting from Tortola
This is only an exemple : just enjoy the BVI the way you want…
Day 1 : Tortola - Cooper Island
Day 2 : North Sounds
Day 3 : Marina Cay
Day 4 : Cane Garden Bay
Day 5 : Great Harbour
Day 6 : Norman Island
Day 7: Peter Island, then return
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