Sailing the BVI: A Yacht Charter Guide

The British Virgin Islands are the sailing capital of the Caribbean, dozens of islands close together, protected water, and a legendary beach bar in nearly every anchorage. I have island-hopped the BVI by charter yacht with my own family, and it is still one of the best trips I have ever taken. Here is how a charter actually works, the route I know, and how I plan it for clients.

Bareboat or skippered: the first decision

A charter yacht comes two main ways. Bareboat means you captain it yourself, which requires real sailing experience and a resume the charter company will review. Skippered means a professional captain runs the boat (you can add a chef too), so anyone can go, no experience needed, and you just relax and enjoy. If your group does not have a confident, experienced sailor, a skipper is the way to go, and honestly, it is how most first-timers should do the BVI.

What is included

A charter yacht comes fully outfitted, so you are not hauling gear from home: a complete galley kitchen, linens and towels, snorkel gear, a dinghy with an outboard, full safety equipment, and a care package with ice, soap, and paper goods. You get a chart briefing and boat orientation before you leave the base, and the yacht is delivered with full water, ice, and fuel. You bring clothes, provisions, and sunscreen, and the boat is your floating hotel for the week.

The classic island-hopping route

Most charters run seven nights out of Tortola, looping the islands. The stops worth building a trip around:

• The Baths, Virgin Gorda, the BVI’s icon, giant granite boulders forming grottoes and tide pools you climb through to Devil’s Bay. A must.
• The Soggy Dollar Bar, White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, home of the original Painkiller and often called the best beach bar in the world. Nearby, Foxy’s in Great Harbour is a sailing institution.
• Norman Island, snorkel The Caves, then drinks at the William Thornton (“the Willy T”) floating bar and Pirate’s Bight.
• The Wreck of the RMS Rhone off Salt Island, one of the Caribbean’s great snorkel and dive sites.
• Cooper Island Beach Club, a laid-back eco stop with one of the best restaurants in the BVI.
• North Sound, Virgin Gorda, the Bitter End Yacht Club and Saba Rock for live music, and a base for Prickly Pear and the islands around Necker.
• Sandy Cay and the Bubbly Pool near Jost Van Dyke, a picture-perfect cay and a natural jacuzzi in the rocks.

Good to know before you go

• Passport required, valid at least six months beyond your return. No visa or vaccinations for U.S. and Canadian travelers.
• Best time to sail: roughly December through April for the calmest, driest weather. Summer into fall is hurricane season and lower season.
• Pack in a soft duffel, never hard or wheeled luggage, storage aboard is tight. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, and some cash.
• Budget for extras beyond the yacht: provisioning, cruising permits and mooring fees, customs, a refundable damage deposit, and gratuity for your skipper or crew.

Why plan a BVI charter with me

A charter has a lot of moving parts, choosing a catamaran or monohull, deciding bareboat versus skippered, provisioning the boat, and the required paperwork and deposits. I match you to the right yacht and crew for your group, plan a route around your pace and your must-see anchorages, and handle the logistics with any VIP recognition available. It is a dream trip for families, groups of friends, and even honeymooners, and it pairs beautifully with a few days in nearby Puerto Rico.