The British Virgin Islands are some of the most beautiful and easily accessible islands in the Caribbean. These islands are volcanic in origin with the highest peak rising over 1,700 feet. The islands are within easy sailing distance of each other so each day will be full of learning experiences and adventure. The sailing lessons will culminate in an American Sailing Association (ASA) sailing certificate enabling you to captain or crew a large sailing yacht. The course is for beginners who have little or no sailing experience as well as for sailors who wish to formalize their sailing abilities. The cost includes round trip flight, instruction, sailing yacht, and text.

Executive Summary

We will depart Newark airport on Friday mid-afternoon and fly to Tortola where we will take a taxi to a marina in Road Town. Early Saturday morning we will complete our provisioning, prepare the yacht for sail, and attend a chart briefing. At noon, we will set sail for Cooper Island a 2 hour sail. On Sunday, we will practice tacking and jibing while making way towards the Baths on Virgin Gorda. We will spend a couple hours snorkeling and have lunch on the beach. After lunch we will sail to Gorda Sound and visit the Bitter End Yacht Club. On Monday morning, we will enjoy an early mountain hike and spend the day practicing maneuvers on our way to Trellis Bay on Beef Island just east of Tortola. Tuesday we will sail to Cane Garden Bay on the northwest part of Tortola. Wednesday will bring us to Jost Van Dyke. We will be sure to spend a few hours on my favorite island where the beaches are most beautiful and the water sparkles like sapphires. On Thursday we will sail to Norman Island stopping at Pelican Island for more awesome and incredible snorkeling. Friday night we will spend at Norman Island where we will enjoy a most excellent dinner at Peter Island Resort and hike to some awesome and incredible beaches. We will return home on the weekend.

Highlights

The weather is sunny and warm all year in the tropics. The prevailing wind is from the northeast at 10 to 25 knots and it usually rains for a few minutes every day. Temperatures are 78F to 85F year around.

Activities include sailing, beach combing, snorkeling, hiking, swimming, wind surfing, and shopping - all with many photo opportunities.

National Marine Parks have installed mooring buoys at strategic locations to protect and preserve the fragile coral reefs and underwater marine life. These splendid natural areas are some of the best snorkeling in all the islands.

The Sailing Course

You will sail with eight other students and an instructor captain on your 50 foot sailing yacht. There are several double cabins and a few single berths. Upon arriving at the yacht, each crew will go through the equipment checklist to become familiar with the location and operation of all the equipment. The operating manual for the boat will be reviewed by each of crew member prior to setting sail.

We will review our charted course and set sail at noon. Our first destination will be Cooper Island about two hours away. Each day we will plan to anchor by mid afternoon so we have good light and time to snorkel and explore the area. Although each sail is a few hours, we will spend much of the day practicing maneuvers and learning about the boat. We will study in the evenings. We will have many opportunities to swim, snorkel, and explore the islands. We will take turns cooking. Each sailor will bring their own breakfasts and lunches and every two people will bring one dinner for their boat.

The sailing course uses two primary texts, Sailing Fundamentals, by Gary Jobson and, Chartering Fundamentals, by Brian Fagan - both are published by the ASA. Prior to the sailing course you will receive these manuals to study. These books describe parts of the boat, crew responsibilities, hoisting sails, points of sail, tacking, jibing, right-of-way, anchoring, docking, navigation, knots, and more. There will be ground instruction prior to our departure that will prepare you for the written ASA tests and build a foundation of nautical knowledge.

See also Sailing Lessons for more details.

Crew Responsibility

Every student on board will be a contributing member in the operation and management of the boat. You will master skills such as food preparation, stowage of equipment, maintaining hygienic and safe living quarters, and barking orders at your other crew members when it is your turn (just kidding).

Destinations

Road Town is the capital of the British Virgin Islands and is the location of our charter base. There are two excellent grocery stores for provisioning - one within walking distance and the other, larger store, is a short taxi ride away. Although there are numerous restaurants, pubs, shops, and attractions, we will spend only enough time to prepare for our journey to some of the more remote islands and anchorages.

Cooper Island is a short sail from Road Town and we will anchor in Machioneel Bay on the northwestern coast. Here, you will find beautiful palm groves, a beach, and good swimming in crystal-clear, turquoise water. The home owners are protective of their small estates so take care when you hike to avoid private property. The Cooper Island Beach Club has a quaint bar and restaurant that is most excellent for a late afternoon cocktail.

Virgin Gorda is the second largest of the British Virgin Islands with a population of 1,500 people mostly in Spanish Town located in the flat southern part of the island. The northern part of the island is mountainous where excellent early morning hikes provide majestic panoramic views. The single most popular cruising destination in the Virgin Islands is the Baths, at the southern tip of the island. Granite boulders as huge as houses are piled together to create grottoes at the water's edge; shafts of sunlight find their way down to illuminate delightful crystalline pools for bathing. There's good snorkeling all around the area. Our anchorage in Gorda Sound allows us to explore many attractions such as the Bitter End Yacht Club, Drake's Anchorage, Pusser's Leverick Bay Beach Resort., and Biras Creek. This has been a favorite spot of mine for many years.

Trellis Bay is north of Beef Island on eastern Tortola. If Marina Cay is not crowded we will use a mooring just north of Trellis. This is a quiet but crowded anchorage with good holding and a few local grills for snacks and cocktails.

Jost Van Dyke is to the northwest of Tortola and has about 130 residents. There are almost no vehicles. Electricity was established only in the past few years. Drinking is the national sport which is embellished by good food, dancing, and general carousing. The beach bars are long-time favorites of chartering as well as local yachtsmen and famous for long happy hours and competitive brews of "painkiller" rum punches. There is excellent hiking a trail leads from White Bay to Great Harbor to Little Harbor to East End, with many beautiful views from on high and a chance to check out all the beach bars to decide your evening itinerary. There are some lovely beaches on the south shore with good snorkeling. At the western end of Great Harbor is Rudy's Mariner's Rendezvous, where there are frequent pig roasts, weekly live music, and good home-cooked food. Foxy's Tamarind Bar is a legendary yachtsman's hangout for more than 20 years. Little Harbor is the home of Abe's with moorings and a tasty menu of local fish, chicken, and lobster, with cheap drinks.

Norman Island is said to be where Treasure Island was based. The "Caves" are rumored to have been a treasure site for pirates and is fun to explore (excellent snorkeling). Nearby at Pelican Island some of the best snorkeling in the Virgin Islands can be found. The anchorage at the Bight and Benures Bay are most excellent and quite popular. There are magnificent beaches and a floating bar and restaurant.

Peter Island is quite beautiful with an elegant resort and numerous narrow, paved roads that provide excellent hiking between beaches inaccessible to yachts. The restaurant at the resort is excellent but quite expensive. The snorkeling is quite good near the hotel and at several of the nearby beaches.

This Bare Boat Charter Trip Includes

Credit Card Calls Not Included