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The British Virgin Islands
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Where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic, there’s a chain of 60 islands called the British Virgin Islands. With hundreds of secret bays and hidden coves, they’ve been a haven for seafarers for centuries. Columbus visited and named the islands. After Columbus came the adventurers, the pirates and the buccaneers who preyed on the Spanish galleons bound for Europe with Incan gold.
Today, the British Virgin Islands attract a more sophisticated type of seafarer. They pull their boats into one of the marinas to eat lobster at the beachside restaurants. Or they sail through the islands to spend days as castaways on forgotten cays. The British Virgin Islands’ reputation as the watersports capital of the Caribbean is not at all surprising.
Grouped around the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the BVI are less developed than their U.S. counterparts. They are all of volcanic origin except one, Anegada, which is of coral and limestone. The two major islands, Tortola and Virgin Gorda, along with the groups of Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, are home to most of the total population of about 20,000.
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More useful information
on the British Virgin Islands
Currency
The currency of the British Virgin Islands is the U.S. dollar.
Major credit cards are accepted in most establishments.
Boat provisions
The British Virgin Islands are home to several high quality
grocery stores and food markets. You can choose to shop for
groceries upon arriving or even preorder your food supplies
through us and we’ll take care of the rest.
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You’ll find just about everything you need to prepare delicious meals.
Due to shipping charges, most food items cost 10% to 20% more than in Canada.
As for alcoholic beverages and beer, they’re not taxed, making them extremely affordable. Weather
Near postcard-perfect weather year round. Waters are sheltered and wind conditions are stable, from 10 to 20 knots. Sailing passages range from 3 to 25 km and navigation is generally line-of-sight as the islands are visible at all times over their 60 km. Wind direction: southeasterly 10-15 knots in Summer, northeasterly 15-25 knots in Winter.
Average temperatures in Tortola
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| A Typical Itinerary |
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The British Virgin Islands dazzle you with their beauty and offer vacationers an unlimited range of holiday options. Over crystal clear waters and under deep blue skies, the winds carry you from island to island always within view of land, guided by an itinerary tailored to what you want to do and see. Here is but one example of what you could experience.
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Day 1: Depart dock on the Bleu Turquoise. Destination: Norman Island for some swimming or
snorkeling in the secret caves of Treasure Point, rumoured to be the site that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, Treasure Island. We then sail a short distance and drop anchor in The Bight, a magnificent bay, where we spend the first night. Dinner and island-style partying at The William Thornton floating restaurant and bar.
Day 2: After breakfast, on to Salt Island and a scuba diving exploration of the wreck of the RMS
Rhone, a Royal Mail Ship that sank in 1867. After lunch, we head for Cooper Island, which is
where we dock for the night. Night swimming in the quiet bay’s warm, clear waters is simply sublime.
Day 3: We set sail for The Baths at Virgin Gorda, nature’s Stonehenge by the sea. In the afternoon,
we set a course for Gorda Sound and drop anchor in a protected bay. Sunset and cocktails on
the bridge, followed by dinner on a seaside terrace bordered by palm trees under a starry night sky.
Day 4: Depart for Cane Garden Bay, one day’s sailing. Perfect day for books, music and sunbathing.
Once there, walks on superb white sand beaches and a stopover at a small straw hut for a
refreshing rum punch. Then move to the rhythm of the island music all night.
Day 5: We head for Jost Van Dyke, a small island with barely 180 inhabitants. Day at the White Bay
beach followed by a night under the stars in Little Harbour for some freshly caught lobster.
Day 6: Departure for Soper’s Hole, a colourfuly picturesque marina lined with restaurants and
shops. We then head for Peter Island, where we spend the final night relaxing on the boat
and savouring a delicious barbecue.
Day 7: Sunrise above the mountains of Peter Island. A morning swim, and set sail for the short trip
back to our original point of departure.
Longer itineraries are also available.
Meal selection and setting (i.e. aboard the yacht or on land)
entirely at your discretion.
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Never sailed the Caribbean or sailing for the first time? Perfect! Land is always within sight, the yacht and cruises are safe, and you'll be in the company of a captain and hostess who are experienced yachters and intimately familiar with the area. Just kick back and admire, savour and enjoy. It's the good life!
Total relaxation
The Bleu Turquoise has a large sunbathing area on the foredeck with fitted cushions for your comfort. We provide towels for this area, too. The aft cockpit area has a large bimini that shelters you from the warm Caribbean sunshine. There is a table for outdoor dining and a barbecue attached onto the back of the boat. The CD player has speakers both inside and outside and holds up to 12 CDs at a time. We have a varied music selection on board, but guests are welcome to bring their own CDs. There are also books, board and card games for the entire family.
Transportation ashore – safe and fun
The Bleu Turquoise is equipped with a good-sized dinghy to ensure your safe and fun journeys ashore.
The dinghy also doubles for “donut rides”. If you like to add a kayak to the mix, we would be pleased to lease one locally on your behalf.
Lazing in the Caribbean Sea
Both keen and novice swimmers will love relaxing in the calm, clear, warm waters of the Caribbean. For those who are less proficient or those who wish to simply relax and drift around, we carry a number of fun flotation aids.
Snorkeling / Diving
The Bleu Turquoise travels with a selection of good quality snorkeling equipment. Your captain will be delighted to conduct escorted snorkeling excursions.
We can also arrange that a dive school meet the Bleu Turquoise at an anchorage near a dive site. The diving school would provide all the necessary equipment and return guests to the yacht on completion of the dive. Rendezvous dive arrangements are a great way to benefit from the knowledge of some of the best local professional divers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Is seasickness common?
The British Virgin Islands are a sailing paradise, and therefore the perfect spot for first time yachters in the Caribbean. The BVI are a group of green, mountainous islets that spread over some 40 nautical miles. Together, they form a unique waterway in which to sail in short stages. Navigation is virtually always line-of-sight. Generally, a warm gentle breeze fills the sails as the boat glides over barely wavy waters. The risk of seasickness is limited. Just in case, we recommend you pack some Gravol tablets (ginger flavoured if you wish to offset any side effects) or some Transderm V (scopolamine applied behind the ear). It is imperative that you consult your doctor or pharmacist for any side effects you may suffer.
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Do we ever come across any pirates?
It is very safe to sail in the British Virgin Islands. Christopher Columbus visited and named the islands in 1493. Adventurers and pirates came centuries later, in the 17th and 18th to be exact, preying on the Spanish galleons that sailed from Europe in search of Incan gold. Today, the BVI attract seafarers who are infinitely more sophisticated!!! Nevertheless, some islands have retained their dubious names. One of them is rumoured to be the site of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic children’s book, Treasure Island. Can we travel alone?
Yes, single occupancy can be arranged, but this requires adding 50% more to the charter rate. It is also possible for two people to travel alone. But a minimum total of 6 guests is required to honour the charter rates.
Are we entitled to some beach time?
Our main priority is making sure you spend a dream vacation. Once aboard, we determine what you want to do and draft an itinerary tailored to your preferences, including time on some spectacular beaches if you wish.
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