Yacht charter in the British Virgin Islands (BVI)
A veritable sailor’s paradise, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) offers one of the world’s foremost sailing destinations with over 50 islands that are best explored when you rent a boat in BVI. BVI is a British overseas territory to the east of Puerto Rico and is also home to some of the most famous luxury spots to yacht charter in the Caribbean, such as Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island, and it's one of the best places to hire a luxury yacht.
Perks of yacht charter vacation in the BVI:
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Steady trade winds for sailors
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Endless sunshine and tropical trees
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Calm currents and crystal-clear water
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White sand beaches and beautiful protected bays
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Great fresh seafood and fun bars
Where to hire a boat in BVI?
You can hire a catamaran, yacht, sailboat or speedboat in any of the BVI’s three main islands, where we have over 300 options for you to choose from. The best places to rent a boat in the British Virgin Islands are Tortola (arguably the most famous sailing destination in the world), Scrub Island, and Road Town.
When to yacht charter in BVI?
The BVI offers great conditions for boat holidays most of the year but we would avoid the months of hurricane season: June - October. Many sailors chartering through the Caribbean choose the BVI’s Jost Van Dyke island for New Year's Eve.
Hot tip! Rent a Luxury Yacht or rent a catamaran in BVI.
The British Virgin Islands is an ideal location to splurge in a full luxury experience when you hire a boat. We recommend booking a luxury yacht charter or to rent a catamaran in the BVI.
Top 10 spots to anchor while sailing the BVI
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are considered the “sailing capital of the world.” It should come as no surprise since the BVI’s its sheltered waters, varied landscapes and closely knit islands are a pleasure to explore while sailing. To visit every anchorage in the infinitely varied BVI would entail a year-long holiday hence why so many sailors return every year. To make it easy for those on shorter boat holidays, Zizoo recommends these 10 famous ports of call:
⚓ Road Harbour - The BVI’s capital, it is Tortola’s largest harbor. Here one will find immigration facilities, a selection of good supermarkets and shops; marinas, restaurants, and a boatyard – all within walking distance of the harbor.
⚓ Cooper Island - A good stop-off for those sailing upwind to Virgin Gorda, Manchioneel Bay is located on Cooper Island’s northwest shore. There is a dock for dinghies, a beach for swimming and the Cooper Island Beach Club serves lunch, dinner, and drinks. There are moorings for overnighters.
⚓ The Virgin Gorda Baths - One of the BVI’s most famous attractions lies on the southwestern shore of Virgin Gorda. The Bath’s beach is a fascinating site to explore and snorkel due to its randomly spread massive granite boulders that form small grottoes and pools on the beach’s edge. As with all these north shore anchorages, a swell can prevent overnight anchoring.
⚓ North Sound, Virgin Gorda - Sailors can find a wide array of overnight anchorages and a variety of good dining spots here. The Sound is located along the eastern tip of the island and is well protected by surrounding islands, such as Mosquito, Prickly Pear, and Eustatia.
⚓ The Dogs - This popular diving and snorkeling spot has a great reef and is also a popular stopping off point for sailors on their way from North Sound to Jost Van Dyke. The best anchorages are the bay to the west of Kitchen Point on George Dog; as well as on the south side of Great Dog.
⚓ Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke - The picturesque harbor is fringed by a small settlement bordering a white sand beach and a fairly well protected anchorage with good holding. Here you can find the famed Foxy’s Tamarind Bar and several other good West Indian restaurants, including the popular Corsairs.
⚓ White Bay, Jost Van Dyke - This lovely bay lies west of Great Harbour and features a white sand beach and a small hotel and several bars and restaurants. Bordered by a reef, White Bay can be tricky to get into, but a channel through the center of the reef allows safe entrance to the anchorage. The bay is subject to winter swells.
⚓ Norman Island - This uninhabited island inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. The main anchorage is the Bight and from there hikers can go ashore and take a rough cattle track to the top of the island. Don't miss the famous Treasure Point caves that can be reached by dinghy.
⚓ Deadman’s Bay - Found on the eastern tip of Peter Island this bay is a short sail of an hour or two out of Road Harbour. Once there, yachtsmen will find a long white sand beach belonging to the upscale Peter Island Yacht Club.
⚓ Salt Island - Heading upwind from Deadman’s Bay is Salt Island, once a regular stopping off point for ships requiring salt for food preservation on the trade routes. This is also the location of the BVI’s famed Wreck of the Rhone which sank off the island during a hurricane in 1867 and one of the top 10 wreck dives in the world.
Sailing Information for renting a yacht in the BVI
- Area: 59 sq miles (153 sq km)
- Population: 18,000
- Capital city: Road Town on Tortola
- Language: English
- Government: British Dependent Territory
- Major industries: tourism, offshore banking and fishing
- Tipping: 15-20% is generally acceptable if it has not been added already
- Currency: The Local currency is the United States Dollar (USD)
- Electricity: The voltage used is 110-120 Volts (Same as U.S./Canada)
- Time: UTC/GMT -4 hours.
Contact the Zizoo Team and hire the best boat for your sailing holiday in BVI!
