In fact, adjectives don't exist fully describing the pleasures of visiting these jewels of the Caribbean where the sailing is sublime and the living in oh so easy; where time no longer matters and whether day or night, dilemmas over whether to have either the lobster or cracked crab for lunch is resolved by simply having both!
No matter whether you are an experience seafarer or first-time novice, the BVI embraces you; sailor or powerboater, there's room for all amidst the vast and varied community of yachtsmen – and yachtswomen – who gather there.
The BVI is easily reachable from the U.S. with daily flights into the U.S. side at St. Thomas with either connecting commuter flights or the popular ferries taking you across to either Tortola or Beef Island.
Friendly customs officials make clearing into the BVI quick and painless and a short hop by taxi – or by shuttle if you're provisioning through one of the several charter providers – and you're standing on the deck of your home for the next week within an hour of arrival.
The Moorings, for example, bases out of its modern marina on Tortola and represents probably one of the best bareboat chartering experiences in the BVI; featuring top-notch, late model monohulls and catamarans up to 50 feet in length and providing several levels of provisioning which can save you time and money.
Take the rest of your arrival day to check in, stow your gear and provisions, have a bon voyage dinner, do a little trip planning the night before with an early departure set as the sun rises.
Perhaps the first day calls for an easy cruise to Jost Van Dyke and visits to the memorable Foxy's or the renowned Soggy Dollar Bar before departing back across the channel for a quiet first evening in Tortola's Cane Garden Bay.
Picturesque Marina Cay to sample mango-ritas and conch fritters for lunch before pressing on to The Baths at Virgin Gorda with a night spent at the Virgin Gorda Yacht Club since overnighting at The Baths is not permitted.
With the advent of GPS and waypoint development within the BVI, going to the once-forbidden island of Anegada is these days an easy cruise, but follow your charts and GPS closely because what once put Anegada on the outfitters' verboten list – treacherous shoals – are still there; just ask the 300 wrecks that have foundered on Horseshoe Reef! From Anegada, run south to Salt Island's Lee Bay for a scuba diving or snorkeling experience on the wreck of the RMS Rhone which foundered during a hurricane in the 1800s.
Back track a bit to the moorings on Cooper Island for a great night's stay before perhaps moving on to The Bight on Norman Island; a must-see stop with close proximity to pristine snorkeling, casual diving and a sunset best viewed from the cockpit with rum punch in hand.
But, this has only begun to barely scratch the surface of what is the BVI.
White Bay, Great Harbour, Little Harbour, Diamond Cay, Sandy Cay, Green Cay, Little Jost Van Dyke, Brewer's Bay, Soper's Hole, Nanny Cay, Brandywine Bay, Maya Cove, Fat Hog's Bay, Trellis Bay, The Caves, Treasure Point, The Indians…these and so many more – some so remote as not to even have names – all await your exploration.
A week, two weeks, maybe even a month is not enough time to visit all of what the BVI offers.
That's why after you've visited the BVI once, don't doubt this; their siren's song will always lure you back.
- By Bob Howie
Copyright 2010
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