Nautilus Yachting > Yacht Charter > Caribbean Yacht Charter > British Virgin Islands (bvi)
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Set sail on a Caribbean adventure in the British Virgin Islands. Soak in the stunning surroundings and let your worries float away on the gentle breeze.
The BVIs are one of the top sailing destinations in the world. The warm, steady trade winds and line of sight sailing are ideal conditions for novice and more experienced sailors alike.
Ideal Sailing Conditions: The British Virgin Islands are known for their consistent trade winds ranging from 10 to 20 knots and calm, crystal blue waters.
Variety of Islands: With over 60 islands and cays, the BVI offers something for everyone. From bustling harbours to sheltered anchorages, perfect for snorkelling.
Easy Navigation: The BVI is perfect for line-of-sight sailing, with short distances between islands and well-marked mooring fields.
Stunning Scenery & Beautiful Marine Life: The British Virgin Islands boast some of the most spectacular views in the world and have a diverse array of marine life just waiting to be discovered.
Year-Round Sailing: Thanks to its tropical climate, the BVI offers excellent sailing conditions throughout the year, with average temperatures of 26 - 28 °C (79 - 82 °F).
Yacht Charters from:
7 nights / 2 cabins
Light winds and line of sight sailing Find out more...
The Baths National Park Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Devil's Bay National Park Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Foxy's Jost van Dyke
Pirate's Bight Norman Island
Set sail on a 7-day yachting adventure exploring the stunning British Virgin Islands. Your days will be filled with white sand beaches, world-class snorkeling, and watching the sunset with a cocktail in hand.
First stop Norman Island, home of the Caves and inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island". The Bight provides a perfect anchorage with a restaurant and floating bar aboard "The Willie T".
At Salt Island grab your mask and snorkel and check out the wreck of the Royal Mail Steamship "Rhone" which sank during a hurricane in 1867. After lunch sail "right next door" to Cooper Island (8nm) where you can pick up a mooring in front of the beachfront restaurant.
The Baths at Virgin Gorda are one of the most famous natural formations in the Caribbean. Huge granite boulders form small grottos and pools on the water's edge for you to explore and snorkel. Then sail up to the North Sound, a protected bay with a wide choice of anchorages and excellent restaurants.
Snorkelling on the reef at Marina Cay gives you an appetite for lunch. Trellis Bay is a good place to spend the night, home to the famous restaurant and cabaret "The Last Resort".
Cruise up to Guana Island for spectacular snorkelling and a beach picnic at Monkey Point. An afternoon's sail west takes you to Jost van Dyke. Anchor in White Bay and swim ashore for cocktails at "Soggy Dollar Bar" or in Little Harbour where "Foxys'" is famous for its beach parties.
Lunch at Soper's Hole Wharf, home of Pusser's Landing, reputedly built on the hideout of the pirate Blackbeard. Afternoon sail across Sir Francis Drake Channel to Peter Island.
Watch the sunrise over Peter Island and take an early morning swim in the deliciously warm sea. Weigh anchor for the short sail back to the marina.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have direct flights from Gatwick to Antigua. Inter-Caribbean operates connecting direct flights from Antigua to Tortola (Beef Island).
Scrub Island is a 10-minute ferry ride away from Tortola's Trellis Bay Dock via the resort's private launch. Ferries run from 06:45-22:30 Trellis Bay to Scrub Island and from 06:30-22:15 Scrub Island to Trellis Bay. Trellis Bay is just a 5-minute walk from the airport.
There are very few marinas in the BVIs, so most nights you are on anchor in a bay with a classic Caribbean white sand and palm tree beach. In many places, there are laid buoys that cost US$40-55 per night, but provide a safe mooring within minutes of sailing into the bay.
Constant warm tradewinds at 10-20 knots provide excellent sailing. BVI is popular all year round with temperatures staying a balmy 30 °C. However, the best time to visit is from November to June. In summer, winds tend to be lighter with greater humidity, but there’s still plenty of sunshine. There is a risk of tropical storms mainly during August and September.
Join our Sales Manager, Hannah, as she heads back to the British Virgin Islands to mark a special occasion, 'Island Style'. She first sailed here five years ago and knew it was the perfect place for a big birthday trip. This time, she set sail with 11 friends and family aboard the luxurious Fountaine Pajot 47 catamaran, "Island Nomad".
Follow her island adventures as she discovers hidden coves, soaks up the tropical beauty, and toasts the trip with the BVI’s legendary Painkiller cocktail. With sunshine, smooth sailing, and good company, it was a week to remember.
Half the crew arrived by ferry into Road Town from the USVIs as they were travelling from Florida. The European contingent flew into Antigua the day before and caught an early connection to Tortola with Inter-Caribbean. The flight is only an hour but the propellor plane will always be a novelty.
With a large crew we made quick work of loading the pre-ordered provisioning from Riteway, securing the watersports Equipment provided by BVI SUP Co, and acquiring a quick take-out lunch from Omar’s Café in the marina. After a full briefing we departed Nanny Cay Marina promptly at 15:00 and headed to our first night’s stop.
It was a rather wet and windy short stint heading into the wind to reach the soft sandy shores of Cooper Island Beach Club. It is the perfect combination of relaxed beach-side atmosphere and comfortable dining, the highlight being their rum bar with a collection of over 280 rums.
There is a combination of bookable and ‘first-come, first-serve’ available at Cooper Island but it is a popular first or last-nights stop you do need to be a little organised and pre-book a ball (USD$55) early if you know you will be arriving later in the day.
We set off early (upwind again!) to make the most of the day and get to Virgin Gorda early so we could explore the famous 'Baths' before the cruise ship crowds from Tortola arrived. A protected area of natural beauty with globally distinctive rock formations, only found elsewhere in the world in the Seychelles, this is a true highlight of the BVI. You can pick up a national park mooring buoy for free during the day (subject to availability) and it is possible to dinghy your crew ashore but you cannot leave vessels on the beach so some more adventurous crew do need to swim for it!
Finally on a relaxing point of sail, we enjoyed a relaxing lunch and afternoon sunbathing under the sails on a broad reach heading towards our pre-booked mooring ball for the night. After a long day exploring everyone was content to have a low-key BBQ dinner from B-Line Beach Grill, the only resident of Little Jost van Dyke. The food was fantastic and the homemade rum dangerously delicious.
Dodging some early morning showers with beach Jenga at Foxy’s Taboo restaurant, we took a window of sunshine to scramble over to ‘Bubbly Pool’; nature’s answer to a jacuzzi. It turns out big kids enjoy giant beach games and a wave pool just as much as children.
After a short sail back over to Tortola we spent the afternoon by the beach using our Kayak, SUPs and bobbing around the yacht in our Sunchill (the ultimate water hammock for your group to enjoy).
Almost mid-week and in need of water we decided to tuck into Soper’s Hole for a calm night of re- provisioning. Our pre-booked dock space at the wharf cost US $130 including power and water for the night. Stocking up on any provisions we were lacking (namely beer) was possible at the Riteway supermarket located conveniently opposite our yacht. We made the mandatory stop for sundowner cocktails at 'Pusser's landing' pub and were delighted to find another 'Omar's Fusion Cafe' for dinner which had great selection for everyone’s diverse tastes.
As the Tradewinds blow 24/7 in the Caribbean we were able to have a fantastic sail back over to Jost Van Dyke, even early in the morning, so that we could get a prime spot anchored off White Bay beach at breakfast. The wind was due to pick up a lot today so we decided to take it easy tucked away in this sheltered anchorage. This is one of our favourite spots and we spent the day swimming and snorkelling from the famous 'Soggy Dollar' beach bar with great cocktails and the best beach hut food.
There is a lot of space for a secure overnight buoy in the next bay, but to give ourselves maximum time at White Bay and still secure a shore-side location for minimal dinghy taxiing we pre-booked a mooring ball again. Dinner was a casual but tasty affair at Foxy's but we did skip Karaoke for a night’s well-earned rest after a full day of partying.
After a few hours of sailing upwind, the crew had all earned a relaxing lunch swinging on anchor in another beautiful bay. This island is privately owned by a resort but all beaches are public so as long as you stay at the shoreline you can enjoy this perfectly pristine and usually completely empty beach all to yourselves. There is a fantastic snorkelling spot at Monkey Point that you can reach by dinghy if you are feeling more adventurous.
The services on Marina Cay have just recently reopened for business in 2023 and it has reestablished itself as a lovely little stop. Well-connected to Tortola by a ferry service it is a great option for mid- charter crew changes if you have anyone needing the airport. There are more snorkelling buoys nearby for your dinghy and we took the opportunity to enjoy a group sunset snorkel before dinner. The coral here is really something to see, as well as the turtles. The restaurant food was also top quality, resulting in several crew members developing a new fondness for lobster rolls.
When looking for somewhere special to celebrate the ‘Big Birthday’, Bitter End Yacht Club was the strong choice, and they were so helpful planning a special evening for our group. Starting with a group rum tasting and exclusive use of their top deck Quarterdeck bar, with views over the North Sound. We followed up with dinner under our own private dining gazebo, and the staff really knew how to look after you.
The resort has several all-day dining & bar options, an extensive offering of water-sports equipment, regular activities like beach Olympics and SUP yoga. It also comes equipped with a local delicatessen grocery store and gift shop. The dockage here is around US $300 including power and water for a large catamaran but you can also take one of their mooring buoys for the standard rate.
To reinvigorate ourselves the following morning, the brave members of the crew set of on an early hike to take in the views of North Sound. The newly marked trail was only about an hour but included enough incline to earn the views, and our breakfast.
On our last full day, we enjoyed a long down-wind sail, cruising along the waves with the catamaran is just how Caribbean sailing is supposed to be. Before arriving at Norman Island, we come to ‘The Indians’ and pick up a National Park mooring buoy for some of the best snorkelling we have experienced anywhere.
Picking up a buoy in ‘The Bight’ bay on Norman Island, our original plan was to enjoy a few cocktails at the famous 'Willy T' boat bar before moving onto ‘Pirate’s Bight’ restaurant for dinner. However, the atmosphere was too much fun watching the live show of ‘jumpers’ from the top deck that we couldn’t help but join in and before we knew it, we were devouring our last Caribbean cuisine still in our swimwear onboard, not having left the Willy T!
Truly maximising our trip we did not need to return to the marina until the morning of our final day. A short racing reach back to Tortola had us in the harbour by 10.00 with plenty of time for re- fuelling, check-out and disembarkation by noon. We had time for one last quick lunch before the crew sadly had to disband, returning to the airport for an afternoon flight back to Antigua or onwards to other islands to continue the celebrations for Christmas.
The British Virgin Islands are a fantastic place to experience a sail and stay holiday. With daily flights, you can really make the most of your time in the Caribbean and combine a yacht charter with a hotel stay in the BVI or even Antigua.
The best time to experience everything the BVI has to offer is November through to May, with temperatures between 28°C and 30°C and constant warm tradewinds at 10-20 knots providing excellent sailing. Hotels, restaurants and bars that are closed throughout the hurricane season (June to October) reopen at the end of October/beginning of November so if visiting between November and May you can be sure that you will be able to visit the top spots in the British Virgin Islands whilst on your yacht charter.
The peak season is December through to April with warm weather and steady winds. It is a lively atmosphere, especially during the festive period with lots of parties and celebrations.
The high season is from February to March, with warm, dry weather and reliable trade winds the sailing conditions are perfect.
The season begins to slow in May - June though the waters are still warm but the winds much milder
Fall (September - November)
This is the tail end of hurricane season, it is fairly quiet during this time but the weather is wetter and there is still a chance a hurricane could affect your charter.
The most cost-effective time
The most cost-effective time to visit is between March and May as they precede the hurricane season. Good travel insurance covering adverse weather conditions such as hurricanes is advised.
The British Virgin Islands see warm temperatures year-round averaging 28-31ºC throughout the year.
The hottest months are August and September when the waters are at their warmest.
It should be noted it is hurricane season between June and October.
The wettest and most humid months are September and October.
Virgin Gorda because you have the iconic Baths, North Sound and some fantastic beaches.
The official currency of the British Virgin Islands is the US Dollar (USD).
As a British Overseas Territory, British Pounds (GBP) were used in the British Virgin Islands once upon a time but the switch was made to US Dollars in 1959.
ATMs are available in the major towns and tourist centres and most larger establishments accept credit or debit cards. Some establishments may not accept American Express. It is recommended to keep cash on you to use at smaller establishments and shops and for taxi rides and tips etc.
A mooring buoy is currently about US$40-55 per night, to dock in a harbour or at a hotel pontoon, prices range from US$100-300 per night, depending on the size of your yacht and the destination.
Although useful to have one, a sailing license, certificate or qualification is not required for a BVI yacht charter, however, our partners will need to see a complete sailing resume.
The sailing resume for a BVI Yacht Charter must demonstrate experience as a skipper of a similar type and size (within five feet) of the yacht as the one you are looking to charter. The experience should also be recent and the company will look for experience within the last five years.
The cost of your yacht charter depends on several factors:
The type and size of the yacht you book will dictate the price. 1 week for a bareboat BVI yacht charter on a 2-cabin monohull starts around £300/$370 per day in low season whereas 1 week on a luxury crewed catamaran in high season could be upwards of £5500/$7350 per day. These are the 2 extremes of the scale for a 1 week charter and we offer plenty of choices in between.
1 week is a popular choice for the length of sailing vacation amongst our American sailors and makes the perfect getaway. However, a longer charter of around 10-14 days, which is more popular with our British and European clients and will give you more time to explore all the BVI has to offer and presents you the chance to be slightly more adventurous in your itinerary. We have a range of offers that can be tailored to your timescale.
Lower-priced yacht charters are available in the low season of July to October and mid-season May to June, November to January (excluding Christmas and New Year) with prices peaking in the high season from February to April and Christmas and New Year.
Don't have any sailing experience? No problem! We offer several skippered and crewed options so you can enjoy the yachting lifestyle without the stress. From a simple skippered yacht to fully crewed options, we can arrange a charter to suit your needs.
Whether you are looking for a relaxing holiday for just the two of you or planning your dream honeymoon, we have an array of romantic sailing destinations for you to choose from. A sailing holiday can offer the ultimate romantic escape and give you and your loved one the privacy and seclusion we so often crave in our busy lives.
There are so many things to love about the beautiful British Virgin Islands. If you are planning a trip to this sailing paradise then read our article where we round up all you need to know to ensure you see and experience the best the BVI has to offer.
The ultimate Caribbean sailing destination is blessed with year round sunshine, idyllic sailing conditions and a laid back charm that has you falling under its spell from the moment you step off the plane.
Call our knowledgeable sailing specialists for the latest advice and recommendations on the sailing areas most suited to you.
Arrange a call back from one of our specialists (Mon-Fri: 0900-1730).
