The BVIs are the perfect destination for your first charter experience. A flotilla gives you the support group that makes that first charter experience even easier. And the weather in late February in the BVIs is some of the best.
John Summers has been sailing for over forty years. While most of his time on the tiller has been on fresh-water lakes, he’s chartered numerous times in the Caribbean and sailed on most major harbors in the US. He holds a USCG Captains license and is certified to teach ASA 101, ASA 103, ASA 104, ASA 110, and ASA 118. He owns and operates the ASA sailing school SailNashville in Nashville, TN. John is also a licensed attorney and pilot who now spends all his time sailing.
We’ll meet for breakfast at the Hotel on Nanny Cay to review our plans and preparations to get on our sailboats. Our first sail will be a short 5.8 miles across the Sir Francis Drake Channel from Nanny Cay to the Bight on the western side of Norman Island. Our dinner choice is the restaurant at Pirate’s Bight. After dinner, those who want to extend their evening can head over to Willy T’s, a popular floating bar.
After breakfast in the morning, those who want to snorkel can dinghy over to Treasure Point and the Caves. After lunch, we’ll head northeast towards Trellis Bay on Tortola. It’s approximately a 16-mile sail up Sir Francis Drake Channel. There are several restaurants and bars to enjoy in Trellis Bay.
After breakfast in the morning, we will sail across Sir Francis Drake Channel to The Baths on Virgin Gorda. The sail will be a short 7-mile reach over to The Baths, a must-see destination in the BVIs. After our time at The Baths, we’ll weigh anchor and sail the short distance to Spanish Town.
After breakfast, we’ll weigh anchor and head for Leverick Bay on the north side of Virgin Gorda. It’s a short sail of 9 miles around the north side of the the island into the North Sound. Leverick Bay is one of our favorite destinations in the BVIs. Leverick Bay Resort and Marina has everything you want or need, but not too much.
After breakfast, we’ll weigh anchor and head across the North Sound to the Bitter End Yacht Club. This will be our shortest trip of only 2 miles across the Sound. For over fifty years, the Bitter End Yacht Club has been a favorite destination for sailors. But in 2017, Hurricane Irma changed all of that making a direct hit on the islands. The entire resort was destroyed. Four years later the new and expanded Bitter End Yacht Club reopened for business in 2021.
After breakfast, we’ll weigh anchor and head to Cane Garden Bay on the north side of Tortola. This will be the longest sail of the trip, with a distance of almost 27 miles, so we’ll want to get out early. Cane Garden Bay is considered by many as the most beautiful anchorage in the BVIs. Its picture-perfect white sand beach- es lined with palm trees is a perfect backdrop for photographers.
After breakfast, we’ll weigh anchor and head for Great Harbor on Jost Van Dyke. It’s a short sail of 6 miles. Along the way we may stop at Sandy Cay for lunch and some great snorkeling. Great Harbour: Here you will find world famous Foxy’s. Over the years, Foxy’s has built one of the largest followings in the BVIs. It’s New Year’s Eve party has attracted the likes of Mick Jagger.
All good things usually come to an end, so must our idyllic sail through the BVIs. After breakfast, we’ll weigh anchor and head back to Nanny Cay on the south side of Tortola for our Noon deadline to return the sailboats to the charter company. The trip back to Nanny Cay is approximately 11 miles.
Please Note. This itinerary is meant to serve as an example of what a 8-day sailing journey, exploring the stunning Bristish Virgin Islands, may entail. However, it is important to note that the actual itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
We’ll have both monohull and catamaran options available. And you can earn your ASA 103, ASA 104, and ASA 114 certifications along the way.
