The Tribe in the BVIs

Pirates, Turtles, and Lobsters

Sailing in the British Virgin Islands with the family? Almost child’s play. Short distances, safe anchorages, and picture-perfect scenery: we took a small tribe of nine, including three children, aboard a Moorings 5000 (Leopard 50) for ten days in paradise.

Published 31/07/2026

By Maria Chanau

Issue: 209

Published: oct. / oct. 2026

Discover this issue

Who: Charlotte, Maria, Pierre-Yves, Mahé, Marceau, Laurie, Quentin, Aude, and Joffrey
Where: British Virgin Islands
Multihull: Moorings 5000 (Leopard 50)

After leaving Tortola, the holiday rhythm quickly settled in: one to three hours of sailing per day, just enough to enjoy the pleasure of being under sail before diving back into the turquoise waters. We set sail for Cooper Island, then Saba Rock and Virgin Gorda, before turning our bows towards Anegada, the only coral island in the archipelago. The horizon was perfectly flat, and the crossing, about three hours long, offers a true moment of sailing on almost open water. The island is renowned for its wild beaches, and especially for its lobsters. We dined at Potters Bar & Lobster House, where the Caribbean atmosphere quickly took hold: local music, toes in the sand, and… enormous lobsters caught that very morning on our plates. It doesn’t get more BVI than that!
On board, it was like living in a tribe. There were nine of us, including three children. While Charlotte already had her sea legs, it was a first for Mahé and Marceau, who were determined to turn the cruise into a pirate adventure. Good news: the BVI is an ideal playground for family cruising. The sailing trips are indeed short, and most anchorages have mooring buoys, which greatly simplifies maneuvers and makes sailing very peaceful.
The Leopard 50 proved to be the perfect companion for this lively group. Despite the large crew on board, everyone easily found their own space: comfortable cabins, a convivial cockpit, a panoramic flybridge - we shared wonderful times together, while still having the option to find a little privacy to recharge.
The rest of the time? In the water, of course! The children enjoyed swimming and snorkeling sessions. Beneath the surface, the spectacle was constant: turtles, schools of thousands of multicolored fish, cuttlefish, a nurse shark spotted around a reef, and even the exploration of a pirate cave to complete the picture.
After Scrub Island and Guana Island, we headed to Little Jost Van Dyke to discover the spectacular Bubbly Pool, a natural pool

where the waves bubble and churn between the rocks. Then a mandatory stop in White Bay for lunch with your feet in the water at the legendary Soggy Dollar Bar. In Great Harbor, we revictualed at Rudy’s Marketplace, and made a convivial stop at Foxy’s, before heading to Cane Garden Bay. The cruise ended at Norman Island, with a final snorkeling session at the famous Indians, and two nights anchored in The Bight.
A few days later, back to Tortola, hair salty, skin golden, and the conviction of having found one of the best destinations in the world for sailing with children: simple, safe, and incredibly fun!

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