BVI Bound

Chartering a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands

Virgin Anchorages

I love this book: Virgin Anchorages. I’d highly recommend it to anyone going sailing in the Virgin Islands. I used to take all my sailing books with me. Just in case I needed to check something. Or in case I needed to figure out how to explain something to one of my crew. And I [...]

Using your cell phone in the British Virgin Islands

If you want to use a cell phone while sailing in the BVI, you have a couple of options. Use your own phone. Your US phone will work in the BVI. You should call your carrier before hand to make sure you have international roaming turned on and to check on the rates. While this [...]

Top 10 things to do in the BVI

The trouble with listing the top 10 things to do in the BVI is to keep the list to just 10 … A Pain Killer at the Soggy Dollar Bar. Or just hanging out at any of the bars on Jost Van Dyke’s White Bay. Let the kids (big and small) jump on the trampoline. [...]

5 things you should take on your next yacht charter that you won’t find on anybody else’s packing list

When we charter a yacht in the BVI, we bring along these unusual, but very handy items. (They are also inexpensive and pack easily, so there’s no reason not to take them!) Water Bottles. We always carry a water bottle per person. Something unique. That way everyone has their bottle for the week that they [...]

To take your Kindle sailing or not?

The last time we went sailing I debated whether or not to take my Kindle. Reasons to take it: I could carry all my books (usually five or so) in one little gadget. I could carry it in a waterproof case. (The paperback books get pretty dog eared and wet. With a Kindle you can [...]

How to plan your BVI sailing itinerary

One of the most fun, but most intimidating, parts of your planning might be deciding your itinerary. I recommend planning one, with lots of room for change, run it by someone who’s been to the British Virgin Islands before. Be prepared to change it or deviate from it as things come up. You might be [...]

Why does everyone sail counter clockwise around Tortola?

If you look at most people’s BVI sailing itineraries, you’ll discover that they sail counter clockwise around the islands. It is possible to sail either way, clockwise or counter clockwise, around Tortola. However, there are often swells on the north side of Tortola. By sailing counter-clockwise, you make sure that you are sailing with the [...]

Which Charter Company to Use?

One of the hardest things for new charterers to figure out is which yacht charter company to go with. There are many reputable, good charter companies in the British Virgin Islands and choosing one is often hard. Especially when you can’t go in and visit their office and see their boats. First off, there is [...]

How to buy food for your sailing vacation

When you charter (i.e. rent) a sailboat, you will need to provision it. Provision \Pro*vi”sion\ To supply with food; to victual; as, to provision a garrison. [1913 Webster] There are three basic ways you can provision your boat for your sailing vacation: Charter company. Most charter companies will provision your sailboat for you. (At their [...]

The best way to get to the BVI

There are two ways to get to the British Virgin Islands. The first is to fly directly to Beef Island Airport on Tortola (airport code:EIS). The second is to fly to Cyril E. King airport in St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands (airport code: STT) and then take the ferry to Tortola, BVI. Flying [...]

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