BVI Bound

Chartering a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands

Ever worried you were going to flip your catamaran?

Ever worried you were going to flip your catamaran? This guy comes close! Ever wondered what it would be like to surf in a 50′ catamaran? This guy finds out!

How to use your VHF radio

The VHF radio is an important piece of equipment on your charter boat but hopefully the most important thing you’ll have to use it for is calling for restaurant reservations. Here’s how it works. You keep your VHF radio on channel 16 most of the time.  However, most restaurants will be listening on a different [...]

Storing stuff between trips or during your trip

If you’d like to store stuff like snorkeling gear between trips to the BVI, you can use a storage place like Store-it BVI. For a price they’ll store your gear for a month or a year and even bring it to your charter boat. Except for the fishing poles (which are stored at a reasonable [...]

Really basic sailing vocabulary

Although I’m the one that knows how to sail in our household, I’m not a stickler for nautical vocabulary. I’ve been known to say “grab that thingamajib” more than once. However, things go smoother if everyone has some basic words for the things around them when chartering. Here’s the list I’d start with: Boat parts. [...]

When to reef a catamaran

Many people learn to sail on a monohull and then charter a catamaran because of the additional room and stability they offer for a cruising vacation. As catamarans do not heel over (until you are in big trouble!), a common question is when to reef? On my 16 foot hobie cat, I used to watch [...]

BVI Trip Reports, November 26 – December 2nd, 2010

Trip Reports: First Timer’s Trip Report.  They start out with the full moon party at Trellis Bay! Trip Report – Sand Castle. A land based stay at Sand Castle on Jost van Dyke. Trip Report – Long. Great report from a BVI veteran. Lots of good tips to be gleaned. Thanksgiving Trip Report – Catatonic.  [...]

Where can I get a massage while I’m on my charter?

If you or someone else in your group really wants to stop for a massage or a facial during your sail around the British Virgin Islands, you have a number of choices. The Spa at Leverick Bay. There’s also a great restaurant here as well as a pool. You could also send some of your [...]