Sailing Through Paradise: A British Virgin Islands Adventure

Sailing through paradise in the the British Virgin Islands is a dream vacation. The British Virgin Islands are truly paradise found, with crystal clear turquoise waters, steady trade winds, and numerous secluded coves, reefs, and national parks to explore. This makes the British Virgin Islands, or BVIs, the perfect destination for sailors of all levels. Whether you are an experienced sailor or a brand new one, you can enjoy this adventure of a lifetime!

This is a bucket list adventure that was on many of our group’s lists. Yet, it always seemed like a daunting trip to organize. Our good friend Sassan is an avid sailor and took on the role of our fearless leader. He worked closely with the Catamaran company and helped plan an amazing, detailed trip. While there is some advance planning and preparation involved, you too can enjoy the same experience. In addition, there are many different boats with different budgets and goals to please everyone.

You can begin planning your adventures on the turquoise seas with this brief guide below. Grab your besties, find a date and research what boat works best for your needs. This is a perfect trip for empty nesters, since they have even more flexibility with their schedules and not locked into school vacations. You will have similar goals — to kick back and have some island hopping fun! So compare calendars and lock in a date! This is one fabulous trip you will always remember!

Planning Your Sailing Trip to the British Virgin Islands

The first step in planning your sailing trip to the BVIs is to pick a timeframe. The best time to sail the British Virgin Islands is from November to May, when the weather is dry and trade winds are consistent. It is also considered high season, so prices will be higher than the summer months. While sailing during the summer is possible, hurricane season and tropical storms can be variable, unpredictable and impact your trip. So plan with caution.

The next step is to charter a boat. There are many reputable charter companies that operate in the area, such as The Catamaran Company, The Moorings and Festiva Sailing Vacations. They offer a wide range of sailboats, catamarans, and powerboats to choose from. You can book a bareboat charter and captain the boat yourself, or hire a crewed charter and let someone else take care of the sailing. We chartered a 2023 5.4 Bali Catamaran from the Catamaran Company. It was new, spacious and had 6 bedrooms plus a cabin for crew.

Modern Empty Nester Tip: It is definitely worth the extra cost of hiring a captain, regardless of your skill level. Captains are experienced with the waters, know where to anchor and sense when it’s too risky to make a scheduled stop based on winds. They know the top spots to visit and are a critical addition to a safe and smooth trip! Hiring a chef on board makes the trip less work and stressful, so you can kick back and enjoy yourself instead of cooking in the kitchen! Groceries can be delivered directly to your boat for an extra fee by providing a provisions list.

How To Get To The British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean Sea and are made up of over 60 islands and cays. Your initial starting point, or the base, when sailing through paradise is often Tortola. You can fly into Beef Island (EIS), Tortola from San Juan or other cities that connect into Beef Island. Or you can fly into St. Thomas on the US side and take the ferry to Roadtown, Tortola or book a private water taxi that can take you directly to the base in Tortola where your sailboat is waiting at the marina. Note that when flying in and out of St. Thomas, you will have to clear customs on both the BVI side and US side. Private water taxis do stop on the way and have you clear customs, so allot sufficient time prior to your airline’s departure.

Modern Empty Nester Tip: When booking your flights, transfers and ferries/water taxis, you should book all of them at the same time so your departure and arrival times all coordinate smoothly. This could make the difference on which flights you select and whether you book a ferry, for example, versus a private water taxi with more flexible scheduling.

Pack Your Gear and Supplies for Sailing in the British Virgin Islands

As with any sailing trip, it’s important to be prepared. Make sure you have the necessary and helpful sailing gear and supplies with you to enhance your trip and ensure safety. This includes waterproof items, equipment on board, water shoes, goggles, snorkeling gear, water proof bags, hats, towels, swimsuits, dry fit clothing, a first aid kit, etc. Weather conditions can change quickly, so it’s good to have a variety of clothing to suit different weather patterns.

Plan Your BVI Itinerary and Sail Through Paradise

Next, it’s time to plan your itinerary and proposed route. Most sailors start in Tortola, since it’s the largest island in the chain, and work their way around the islands clockwise or counterclockwise. There’s lots to cover, so you can review the route with the base or captain to ensure you have sufficient time for your proposed stops.

Each island is its own natural wonder. Choosing a nice mix of popular stops and secluded beaches creates a varied and memorable experience. The waters around the BVI are teeming with marine life, so be sure to bring your snorkel gear, underwater camera, waterproof GoPro, or scuba diving equipment.

Popular Top Stops When Sailing Through Paradise in the British Virgin Islands

Here are some popular stops to enjoy nature, snorkeling, good food and good drinks when sailing throughout the British Virgin Islands! Once anchored, you can swim to shore, take a short dinghy ride or swim directly to the snorkeling areas:

• The Indians: Beautiful snorkeling stop consisting of uninhabited islands with no vegetation. Swim around the islets, but be careful not to touch the coral. The Indians is considered the 2nd most popular BVI dive site, in addition to the RMS Rhone wreck.

• Peter Island: Secluded beach where you can enjoy the beautiful waters, deserted beach and go for a swim! Bring some snacks and drinks — use a waterproof dry bag and waterproof fanny pack pouch for your phone if swimming to shore! Note: The luxe Peter Island Resort is closed due to hurricane damage and is currently in the reconstruction phase.
• Jost Van Dyke: Jost Van Dyke is a must stop and very popular. It is home to the Soggy Dollar Bar and Foxy’s Restaurant. Swim in front of Soggy Dollar Bar, sit on their beach chairs and sip away on their famous Pain Killers and other local drinks. Head to Foxy’s at night for dinner and dancing! Enjoy beautiful beaches by day and a great place to anchor for the night!

• Virgin Gorda: Visible from the shore is The Baths, a natural wonder of giant granite boulders that create hidden pools and grottoes. These rock formations contain caves you can swim in and around on the island. This is a must stop, beautiful and picturesque. Afterwards, you can head to the Top of the Baths for lunch which is a short walk up the hill. Later that evening, for more upscale dining, you can dock and head to Saba Rock for creative cocktails and dinner. Another great location is Bitter End Yacht Club, found just across the waters from Saba Rock. Bitter End is back and has reemerged as a beautiful dining and lodging spot. After four years of post hurricane construction, this newly constructed yacht club in the north sound of Virgin Gorda is better than ever. Advance reservations are recommended for the restaurant.

• Norman Island: This small island’s caves and well protected swales make it a top swimming and snorkeling stop.
• Necker Island: Owned by Sir Richard Branson and operated under Virgin Limited Edition, this famous private island has welcomed exclusive guests such as Princess Diana and Barack Obama seeking to experience Branson’s 74 acre retreat. You can stay at this exclusive island for a mere $128,000 per night for up to 48 guests in 24 rooms. It is no doubt the ultimate hideaway for those seeking privacy, nature and turquoise waters.

• Anegada: This top island stop contains the 3rd largest reef in the world — with Belize #2 and Australia #1. Be sure to check out the coral gardens. Here you can enjoy excellent snorkeling and grilled lobster on the beach!

Enjoy beautiful Coral Reefs while Snorkeling at Top Stop Anegada when Sailing Through Paradise in the

British Virgin Islands

Sail Through Paradise in the BVIs for Unforgettable Memories

Sailing through paradise in the British Virgin Islands is an unforgettable adventure that’s sure to leave you with memories that last a lifetime. With its beautiful scenery, ideal sailing conditions, and friendly locals, the BVIs are the perfect destination for anyone looking for adventure and relaxation on the high seas. So hoist the sails and get ready to explore this beautiful corner of the Caribbean.