British Virgin Islands Yacht Charter

Sailing in the BVI

Sunsail’s new base at Wickham’s Cay II, Tortola, is the best located and best equipped on the island, situated on the outskirts of Road Town, it is the perfect starting point for an amazing British Virgin Islands bareboat sailing holiday. In fact, the sailing here is so fantastic that we have more yachts here than anywhere else in the world.

The British Virgin Islands offers an ideal blend of easy deep-water island hops, consistent trade winds, line-of-sight navigation and plentiful sheltered anchorages, making this an excellent family-friendly location and perfect for sailing holidays.

Crystal clear waters – ideal for snorkelling and diving, picture perfect beaches, extraordinary rock formations, plentiful onshore attractions and a great selection of laid-back bars and restaurants ensure that a British Virgin Islands (BVI) sailing holiday will be one to remember.

The British Virgin Islands are classed as a level 1 sailing area (Levels explained).

A British Virgin Islands yacht charter from Tortola, with its easy, deep-water sailing between the sixty stunning islands of the archipelago, is suitable for sailors with only a small amount of previous experience, which novices can gain at our on-site RYA sailing school.

The liveliest sailing is generally around Christmas and the most gentle during the summer months. Winds in the winter are generally north-east trade winds, in summer they come from the south-east. Temperatures average 26º - 30ºC (78 - 86ºF) year round.

Itinerary / Highlights

Cruising notes

Norman Island
Legendary pirates and buried treasure… Norman Island is a highlight in the BVI. Said to have inspired the story of Treasure Island, it's here you'll find the famous Caves & a top snorkelling spot at the mouth of the Bight. North of Norman also lie The Pelicans and The Indians, tall skinny rocks sticking up out of the water, that are a main attraction for a huge variety of undersea life. The Bight to the West of Norman Island is a safe, sheltered anchorage. Dine and dance and get into the party games on board the 1915 converted Willy T topsail schooner.

Virgin Gorda
This island hit the headlines in the 1960s when Rockefeller built Little Dix Bay Hotel here, but it was long before and since well known and loved for its beautiful lagoons and beaches. Swim or snorkel at The Baths, a unique rock formation with a myriad of secret pools and caves where you can take the cool walk through the tunnels to Devil's Bay where surf is sometimes ideal for body boarding or surfing. Visit the famous Bitter End Yacht Club in North Sound or head for Spanish Town - a popular stop-over and the centre of shopping and sailing activity on the southwest side of the island.

Jost Van Dyke
Lying three miles NW of Tortola, Jost Van Dyke has less than 200 inhabitants and is an unmissable must on any BVI sailing holiday. Named after a Dutch pirate, this is a hilly island of perfect anchorages and sandy beaches. White Bay is a yachting favourite. The Painkiller cocktail originated here at The Soggy Dollar Bar which got its name through people diving off their boats, swimming ashore and hanging up their wet dollars to dry and pay for their drinks. There are hammocks and places to relax for the day. In the evening, head to infamous Foxy's for great food and live music and entertainment.

Just offshore from Jost Van Dyke you can have fun on the desert island of Sandy Spit or opt for superb snorkelling over Green Cay reef.

Peter Island
The largest in the group between Virgin Gorda and St John, Peter Island has three very good anchorages a marina. Sprat Bay has 20 berths and some mooring buoys available. Deadman Bay can be a rolly anchorage in any swell but has good walks up for a great view when you can get ashore.

Anegada
Known as The Drowned Island this wildlife sanctuary is a refuge for colonies of flamingos, herons and ospreys. It's also home to the endangered rock iguana, which can grow to five feet long. It's well worth the careful navigation through the reef and age-old shipwrecks to reach the endless fine white sand beaches for a cast-away experience.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Moorings
There are mooring buoys in the most popular anchorages and protected areas to save the seabed. National Park systems as well as private companies operate throughout the Virgin islands. Night time mooring buoys in the BVI are now US$25 per night.
Fishing Licenses

It is a legal requirement that anyone putting a line in the BVI waters must have a fishing license.

EACH PERSON FISHING MUST HAVE A RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE, except persons age 18 and under.

Last Stop Sports (LSS) can process your application before your arrival in Tortola for a $10 fee.