What To Know About Sailing In The Bvi?

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are a popular sailing destination with around 60 islands, known as “nature’s little secret.” The islands offer warm waters, untouched isles, consistent wind, and lively beach bars. Andy Morrell, owner of HIHO, a BVI-based casual apparel line, grew up on Tortola and knows every island and bay reef in the BVI like the back of his hand.

The best time to sail around the BVI is during the peak season, which runs between December-April. With its breathtaking natural beauty, crystal-clear waters, steady trade winds, and exquisite cuisine, the BVI is renowned as the yacht charter – Wikipedia capital of the Caribbean.

However, there are some challenges to consider when sailing to the BVI. Some of the main issues include being very busy, anchoring not being an option, authenticity being hard to find, food being expensive, and defensive sailing. To increase your odds of success, it is important to avoid asking for rides on the main islands and profile people.

Sailing conditions in the BVI are calm trade winds that make it a popular choice. Although the BVI can be busy and some anchorages crowded in season, there are still quiet spots if you get off the beaten path. Experienced sailors may opt for a fully-crewed experience or a bareboat rental where they are in charge.

In summary, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are a paradise for sailors due to their stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and crystal-clear waters. To maximize your chances of success, consider exploring the islands aboard a yacht or catamaran.

Do I need cash in the BVI?

The currency is US dollars. Incidentally, you will find most of the bars and restaurants will accept Mastercard and Visa. However, American Express is NOT widely accepted in the islands. As a rule, you should always have some cash with you. For example, you’ll need cash to pay for moorings, or to use in some of the smaller bars and restaurants.

What do you need to know about sailing?

You need to know the two basic sailing maneuvers — jibing and tacking — whether you’re sailing the open seas or an enclosed lake. (Jibing and tacking take you away from or into the wind.) The following instructions and illustrations give you step-by-step procedures to accomplish both.

When you’re sailing, you use specific terms to describe the position of the sail — along with calling the left side of the boatportand the right sidestarboard.Check the following figure for the terms that indicate different sail positions.

Traffic rules prevent accidents on land — and on water. Just because you’re sailing on open water doesn’t mean you can disobey simple traffic rules. The rules of the water actually call for more consideration than rules of the asphalt, so bear the following conventions in mind as you sail:

Can you sail in the BVI?

Thanks to the steady tradewinds and easy navigation, the BVI is classed as a level 1 sailing destination which makes it ideal for first-time sailors.

If this is your first time exploring the wonders of the BVI, follow one of our itineraries and experience the best that each island has to offer. From watersports at Manchioneel Bay on Cooper Island to sipping rum cocktails at White Bay Beach on Jost Van Dyke, you’ll have the time of your life.

Take a look at some of the best things to do in the BVI, from soaking up the sun on the golden beaches of Virgin Gorda to immersing yourself in local culture.

The BVI is a true Caribbean paradise where you can sit back, switch off, and sip cocktails on the beach. The only question you’ll need to think about is, will you relax on the powder-white sands of Smuggler’s Cove, swim in the crystal-clear waters surrounding Cane Garden Bay, or go snorkelling at Loblolly Bay?

What are the 5 essentials of sailing?

Five Essentials of SailingBalance – side to side balance. Keeping the boat, starboard and port, level i.e. not letting it tip. … Boat Trim – fore and aft boat pitch. … Sail Setting – setting of sails relative to the wind. … Centreboard – the position of the centreboard. … Course made good – choosing the most appropriate course.

The RYA break the controls used to sail a dinghy effectively into five basic headings. While you are sailing you should be continuously checking that all five are correctly adjusted for your current sailing direction relative to that of the wind.

• Balance – side to side balanceKeeping the boat, starboard and port, level i.e. not letting it tip. This means leaning out (hiking) in a gust and keeping in when the wind dies (and while on a run). If you are leaning out as far as possible and the boat keeps tipping up, this is the time to let out a bit of mainsheet to ‘spill’ wind. If you want to go as fast as possible when the wind increases in strength you should throw your weight out as far as possible (using the toestraps) and then use the mainsheet to trim the boat to keep it level.
• Boat Trim – fore and aft boat pitchKeeping the boat, fore and aft, level. With some smaller dinghies (and this definitely includes the topper) you have to sit in different positions depending on the point of sail (sit forward on a beat, in the middle on a reach and at the stern on a run). The point of doing this is to prevent the boat dragging in the water. If the stern of the boat is low in the water and the bow is high then there is a lot of drag. If the bow is low and the stern is high there is less drag but it is very unstable at high speed. When the wind blows from behind it tends to push the front of the boat down and so it is necessary to sit well back (especially in strong winds) to stop the bow from submerging in the waves.
• Sail Setting – setting of sails relative to the windUse the mainsheet to keep the sail in the most efficient position. It should not be flapping (too loose) and it should not be ‘over sheeted’ (too tight). If you let the mainsheet out slowly, the first part of the sail to start flapping is the luff. If the luff is flapping then pull the mainsheet back in until it just stops flapping (and no further). This gives you the best position for the sail and a trim sail. Whilst you are sailing you should be continuously adjusting the mainsheet to be sure that it is not ‘over sheeted’ i.e. let it out a bit until the luff just begins to flap and then pull it back until it stops. If you are sailing on a beat then continuously adjust but in a different way – you keep the mainsheet tightly in and adjust by turning the boat closer to the wind until the luff begins to flap and then turning back until it stops.
• Centreboard – the position of the centreboardThe centreboard is needed to correct sideways drift. When the wind is blowing on the back of the boat there is no sideways drift so the centreboard can be all the way up as it just causing drag in the water and slowing you down. When you are beating, there is a lot of sideways force on the boat causing a lot of sideways drift. Because of this the centreboard should be all the way down on a beat to stop the sideways drift as much as possible. When the wind blows on the side of the boat there is also a lot of sideways drift, but, if the sails are correctly trimmed this is also the fastest direction. A small amount of centreboard will provide a lot of sideways ‘grip’ in the water if it is travelling fast. Also the less centreboard there is in the water the less drag it causes and the faster the boat goes. For these reasons the best position for the centreboard on a reach is about half way up.
• Course made good – choosing the most appropriate courseIf you are sailing between 2 points A and B, you might not want to sail to point C first. Aim to sail boat smoothly in a steady direction to take the shortest route between two points. You may also need to compensate for other factors that could affect your course e.g. tide and leeway. If the tide is sweeping you sideways as you try to sail between points A and B and you simply point you boat directly at B whilst you sail, you will end up sailing in a curve. If however, you point a little up into the direction of the tide you will actually sail straight for point B. One way to check on your actual direction is to take transits. If there is a buoy at point B you may be able to line it up with something beyond (a tree on the shore or something). If this is so then as long as the buoy stays in line with the tree as you sail towards it, your course is correct. If it does not then either tide or leeway is affecting you course and you should make corrections to it.

• Windward – The side of the boat that the wind is blowing onto
• Leeward – The opposite side to the windward side
• Going upwind – This means to sail the boat towards the direction of the wind. As mentioned elsewhere sailing boats cannot travel directly upwind. To move upwind you must take a zig zag course called beating. This is also called tacking, because you have to tack at the end of each leg of the zig zag.

Where are most yachts flagged?

British Commonwealth or “Red Ensign” nations are among the most popular flags for yacht registration. These nations are Bermuda, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, Turks and Caicos, Isle of Man, British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. These jurisdictions are favored for their tax rates, ease of administration, favorable local corporate tax laws, and adherence to the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MoU). They also allow the yacht to operate under the Temporary Import Regime (which allows a non-European owned vessel to operate for 18 months without the vessel being subject to custom duties or the EU’s Value Added Tax (VAT)).

Some of the other most popular yacht flag designations are listed below.

Yachts with these flags have advantages similar to the Dutch registry, but these flags are better for pleasure yachting and charters based in the South Pacific. The flags are part of the Paris MOU White List, there are no taxes on operating profits, and they offer strong maritime support from maritime offices around the world.

Is the BVI the sailing capital of the world?

The British Virgin Islands are well known as the “Sailing Capital of the Caribbean”. Sailors delight in the ability to easily navigate from one island to the next often by sight alone.

THE MAIN ISLANDS. Tortola. In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue… on his second voyage for the Spanish Crown, he discovered the British and US Virgin Islands. Tortola, the largest island in the BVI was first coined “Santa Ana” by Columbus himself. Locals might disagree about this historic lore, but the name Tortola (Spanish for turtle dove) did not come to be until the British took over in 1672. The first recorded settlement of the Territory was by Arawak Indians who came from South America, in around 100 BC. Vernon Pickering places the date later, at around 200 AD, and suggests that the Arawak may have been preceded by the Ciboney Indians. They are thought to have settled in nearby St. Thomas as early as 300 BC.

There is some evidence of the Amerindian presence on the islands. Perhaps in seasonal fishing camps, as far back as 1500 BC. Mountains rising from volcanic activity and white sand beaches surround the highest populace in the BVI. Almost 24,000 people live and work in and around the principal settlement of Road Town. Tortola is well known for its historic sites, beaches such as Smuggler’s Cove and Cane Garden Bay, and marine activities like sailing, surfing, scuba diving & kiteboarding.

Not to Miss on Tortola:Sage Mountain State Park, Smuggler’s Cove,Nanny Cay, and Trellis Bay.

Why do people register boats in BVI?

As a member of the Red Ensign Group, VISR registered ships that fly the Red Ensign flag are entitled to British Diplomatic/ Consular support and Royal Navy protection; • the BVI is a stable jurisdiction; and • the BVI is tax neutral and a major financial centre with experts in shipping finance.

What is the BVI cruising tax?

Guests who sail in BVI will pay a cruising tax of $4 per person and per day. The cruising tax must be paid before departure and to expedite the cruising permits before check-in, we collect it together with your final charter balance. Should you wish to make adjustments, please contact your charter specialist.

Fleet Size / Boats Offered. The Navigare fleet in the BVI consists of over 50 sailing yachts, predominantly catamarans:

• Sailing catamarans 40 to 52 ft from Bali, Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon.

What is the best month to sail in BVI?

The best time to sail around the BVI is during the peak season, which runs between December-April.

With its breathtaking natural beauty, crystal clear waters, steady trade winds and exquisite cuisine, it’s no surprise that the BVI is renowned as the yacht charter capital of the Caribbean.

The British Virgin Islands is a unique sailing destination as you can visit throughout the entire year, unlike Mediterranean destinations such as Greece and Croatia which are better suited to the Summer months.

However, there are still certain times of the year that are better than others, depending on who you are and what you want to get from your relaxing yacht charter holiday.

How much is the port fee in the BVI?

Tax – Arrival and DepartureArrival – Environmental and Tourism levy of $10/pp will be collected on arrival in the BVI at all ports of entry.

Departure – $20/person (residents $15/person). If departing on a scheduled flight the departure tax is generally included on the ticket. If departing on private charter, departure tax will need to be paid before proceeding to the Departure Lounge.

Tax – AccommodationIn the British Virgin Islands there is a 10% Hotel Accommodation Tax payable by guests who stay for six months or less in hotels, apartments, houses, cottages, villas and similar accommodations.

Tax – SalesThere is no sales tax in the British Virgin Islands.