
Day
1 – Unpack, settle in and cast off from
Road Town, Tortola around noon on your Caribbean sailing
charter. It’s an easy reach to Deadman’s
Bay on Peter Island. Jump in and swim or dinghy ashore
to the beautiful sandy beach before lunch. Then motor
around the point to Little Harbor or isolated Great
Harbor for the night.
Day 2 –
On day two, set sail towards Beef Island up the Sir
Francis Drake Channel. Anchor at Marina Cay and go ashore
to visit the famous Pusser’s restaurant and store.
Relax with a drink and dinner on the island. Or anchor
in Trellis Bay – protected by a reef guaranteeing
fantastic snorkeling. You’ll find rustic English-style
dining and entertainment on tiny Bellamy Cay.
Day 3 –
Sail east to Virgin Gorda and make a lunch stop at The
Baths. Dive into crystal waters washing colorful reefs
beside boulder-formed caves. Pick up a mooring ball
for the day and dinghy, swim or snorkel ashore for a
breathtaking tour as you wade through sandy pools and
caves. Don’t forget your camera!
A north swell prevents you
from overnight anchoring here, so you’ll want
to motor around to Spanish Town. Anchor outside the
marina entrance, or go in and tie up for the night.
You’ll find fuel, ice, water, groceries and West
Indian entertainment at nearby bars and restaurants.
Day 4 –
A balmy downwind sail takes you to Monkey Point on Guana
Island where you’ll find spectacular snorkeling
on the southern end of the island. It’s a great
day anchorage.
After lunch, continue west to Cane Garden Bay on northern
Tortola, famous for picture-postcard beauty and full
moon parties. Dinghy ashore from your for ice, supplies,
mini-markets and fun beach bars with steel-drum bands.
This is a secure overnight anchorage in all but a strong
northerly. Sample genuine cane rum from the Callwood
Distillery.
Day 5
– Day five of your Caribbean sailing charter takes
you to beautiful Sandy Cay whose name speaks for itself.
You can swim, snorkel, kayak, or hike around the tiny
sugar-white sandy island.
Then head into Great
Harbor on Jost Van Dyke for the night. Discover great
little local shops, restaurants and bars including the
famous Foxy’s Tamarind Bar and Grill serving excellent
dinners on Thursday evenings. Make reservations! Ice
and some groceries are available. BVI Customs &
Immigration offices are here also.
Day 6
–It’s a long, leisurely sail to Norman Island.
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote “Treasure Island”
after visiting here. Steeped in history and legends
of pirates and buried treasure, some found as recently
as 1969! “The Bight” is a great overnight
anchorage. Enjoy some lively entertainment aboard the
Willy T (a tall ship restaurant named after
William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capital
Building.)
Day 7
– Dinghy or kayak ashore to snorkel the Caves,
populated with breathtaking arrays of colorful tropical
fish. Snorkel or dive at the Indians, a group of sharp
peaks rising from the sea about a mile offshore before
returning to Tortola.
Other Suggested Caribbean
Sailing Charter Anchorages:
Hawksnest
Bay, St. John – Pick up a National
Park mooring ball and swim or dinghy ashore to a
beautiful white sand beach. You can hail a taxi
to Cruz Bay for some shopping or nightlife. The
mooring is free for the day, but there is a charge
to stay overnight.
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Leinster
Bay, St. John – Towards the east
end of St. John on the north coast, snorkeling
around Waterlemon Cay is about the best you will
find anywhere in the islands. You’ll find
colorful parrotfish and schools of other reef
fish. Ashore you’ll find a trail to the
ruins of a centuries-old Sugar Mill. This well
protected anchorage is a great spot for kayaking
and an evening BBQ aboard.
|
Coral
Bay, St. John – A great hurricane
hole to explore by dinghy before making your way
ashore to Skinny Legs or one of the other bars
and restaurants for some island culture.

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| Lameshur Bay, St. John
– Like to hike? Guided park excursions provide
opportunities to explore trails ranging from easy
walks on well-maintained paths to difficult climbs
along brushy tracks. Excellent for bird-watchers. |
Water Island, St. Thomas
– Water, ice and restaurants found here. Cruise
along the south coasts of St. John and St. Thomas,
then head into protected waters of Honeymoon Bay
to the west of Water Island. Swim from a beautiful
white sand beach, explore ashore or dinghy to Frenchtown
for duty free shopping. |
Christmas Cove, Great
St. James – Great lunchtime or overnight
stop for snorkeling at this beautiful well-protected
anchorage.
 |
Benner Bay, St. Thomas
– Home of VIP Yacht Charters. Restock ice,
fuel, water and provisioning.
|
Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay,
Francis Bay, St. John – Absolutely
breathtakingly beautiful anchorages, all part of
the USVI National Park, and within easy reach from
St. Thomas. Mooring balls are free for the day but
have a charge for overnight. Hail a taxi along the
road behind the beaches for a shopping excursion
to Cruz Bay. |
Soper’s Hole, Tortola
– Find water, ice, supplies, restaurants,
shopping, and a full service marina offering slips
with water, electricity and a well-stocked market.
If coming from the USVI, clear customs & immigration
before your visit ashore. Take a slip at the marina
or pick up a mooring ball. It’s too deep to
anchor. |
Little Harbor, Jost Van
Dyke – Great overnight anchorage.
|
White Bay, Jost Van Dyke
– A beautiful white sand beach, ideal for
a lunch stop. Very small, shallow anchorage surrounded
by reefs that can be tricky in a sailboat. Home
of the famous Soggy Dollar Bar where the legendary
rum-based “Painkillers” originated. |
The Dogs –
Great Dog, George Dog, West Dog & Seal Dog.
All protected National Trust islands, the snorkeling
and diving here is fantastic.
|
| North Sound, Virgin Gorda
– Take a walk around the luxury resorts of
the Bitter End Yacht Club or Biras Creek Hotel.
Loaded with amenities, including restaurants and
shopping, plus fuel, ice, water and groceries. |
Anegada –
Start early and sail from Virgin Gorda to Anegada
for the famed lobster of the Anegada Reef Hotel.
A limestone island, Anegada has claimed over 300
wrecks so snorkeling is superior. Go only in perfect
conditions. Fishermen can try bonefishing on the
flats. |
Cooper Island
– Water, ice, bar & restaurant. Barbecue
aboard or dine ashore for lunch or dinner at the
Cooper Island Beach Club. |
| Salt Island–
In earlier days, salt was harvested here from three
evaporating ponds. On the west coast is the final
resting place of the HMS Rhone, taken in 1912 by
a hurricane, and now reputedly the best wreck dive
in the western hemisphere. Great lunch stop. |
Peter Island –Peter
Island Resort & Yacht Harbor offers 20 slips,
if you wish to tie up for a fee.
|
Lameshur Bay, St. John
– An idyllic anchorage on the southeast coast
of St. John. Wonderfully secluded with great snorkeling.
|
| Caneel Bay, St. John
– Beautiful Caneel Bay has a luxury resort
that includes fine dining. This is a good daytime
anchorage for your Caribbean sailing charter, but
overnight at Hawksnest Bay, which offers better
protection. |
Cruz Bay, St. John
– Head ashore to clear customs, shop and visit
the village. Best to anchor at Hawksnest or Caneel
Bay and dinghy in, as Cruz Bay’s anchorage
is quite crowded and has a constant flow of ferry
traffic. |
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Sample Itineraries:
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