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When is the best time to sail in the BVI?

By Nautilus Yachting last updated on Tue 12th Nov 2024

The best time to visit the British Virgin Islands for an idyllic yacht charter is between December and April.

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. The four largest islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada are accompanied by an array of smaller islands and islets making up over 60 islands to discover. Fantastic snorkeling, striking beaches, delicious food and a warm welcome await you on a sailing holiday in the British Virgin Islands.

We are here to help plan your perfect sailing holiday in the Caribbean and have put together this guide on the best time to sail in the BVI to answer one of the most commonly asked questions.

When is the best time of year to sail in the BVI?

Beautiful white sand beach and catamarans at Deadman’s Cay, Peter Island, the British Virgin Islands

The ideal time to sail in the BVI is from December to April. This coincides with the dry season and is when you will find the relaxed sailing conditions that the area is famous for. At this time of year hotels, restaurants and beach bars are a hive of activity (some close during the rainy season of June-November), average daily temperatures hover around 28°C and the seas are calm with steady sailing winds.

The Caribbean is the perfect winter escape, an ideal getaway from the cold, wet and dark days looming in other areas of the world. Swap the thick jumpers, scarves, hot chocolate and nightly fires for swimsuits, dazzling beaches, barefoot walks and rum cocktails!

Weather in the British Virgin Islands

Temperatures in the British Virgin Islands are pleasantly warm all year round with monthly averages ranging from 28-31°C/82-88°F and there are three notable seasons to bear in mind when planning your charter vacation in the BVI. The British Virgin Islands experience a dry season, rainy season and hurricane season throughout the year. We break these seasons down for you below.

Dry Season

The dry season in the BVI runs from December to April. This is peak season in the British Virgin Islands with average temperatures of 28°C/82°F, gentle winds and minimal rainfall. The dry season is the most popular time for tourists to visit the BVI and many of the area's festivals and celebrations take place during this period. The dry season kicks off with the Anegada Lobster Festival, a three day event that showcases this delicious local delicacy and towards the end of the season is the infamous BVI Spring Regatta.

Christmas in the BVI is a unique experience with an abundance of festive cheer to be found alongside the sizzling temperatures. Traditional Christmas carols are re-imagined, and played on steel drums on the beach and local establishments pull out all the stops with festive food, decorations and music. The Christmas celebrations roll into spectacular New Year’s celebrations with the atmosphere at Foxy’s being hard to beat. If you are planning a warm escape over the Christmas and New Year period, the British Virgin Islands really do make a fantastic choice.

Rainy Season

May to November is considered the rainy season in the BVI, with the majority of the rain falling between August and November. The wettest month is usually October with an average of 145mm of rainfall. Average temperatures are slightly higher at this time of year, around 31°C/88°F and the atmosphere is generally more humid.

Hurricane Season

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November and the British Virgin Islands could be affected at any point during the season, however, tropical storms and hurricanes are most likely to be experienced in the BVI from August to the end of October. Many of the local hotels and restaurants close during this time and reopen in November ready for peak season.

Fun at Foxy’s, popular beach bar and restaurant on Jost Van Dyke, the British Virgin Islands

Can I visit the BVI in the rainy season?

Whilst the dry season of December to April is the best time to visit and enjoy a yacht charter in the BVI, visiting outside of these times can have its advantages. Whilst it isn't advisable to plan your yacht charter in the Caribbean during the hurricane season of August to the end of October, traveling in the shoulder months of May and November can mean you experience fewer crowds and lower prices.

How to choose the best time of year to sail in the BVI

There are many factors to consider when planning the ideal time to sail in the BVI for you and your crew. Here are a few considerations to make when planning your sailing holiday in the British Virgin Islands:

Type of charter

Are you looking for a bareboat, skippered, cabin charter or crewed yacht charter in the BVI? A bareboat charter will have the most flexibility when it comes to choosing your preferred dates to sail with bareboat yachts available year-round with any day starts. Weekly cabin charters are also available year-round, running from Saturday to Saturday. When it comes to both skippered and crewed yachts in the BVI, you will have the most choice during the peak and shoulder seasons.

Best times to travel for your crew

Each crew is unique and are usually having to fit holidays in with particular work or school schedules. Aside from practical logistics, there may be other personal preferences such as cooler weather, as hot as possible, fewer crowds, visiting when all hotels, restaurants and beach bars are open etc.

Planning your itinerary

When opting for a bareboat charter it is always advisable to speak to your crew and plan your itinerary in advance. There may be particular events you want to go to, must-see tourist sites you want to visit, BVI hotspots to frequent – and you will want to make sure that the dates you choose make all of this possible.

Colourful buildings of Soper’s Hole, Tortola, the British Virgin Islands

Our sales team is more than happy to chat through your requirements and give their recommendations on the best time for you to visit the BVI. With first-hand experience of our sailing destinations and over 30 years of experience organising sailing holidays, we look forward to planning your next dream sailing holiday.

Fancy a yacht charter elsewhere in the Caribbean? We offer bareboat, skippered and crewed sailing holidays in many Caribbean destinations including Antigua, Grenada and St Martin. Discover all our Caribbean destinations here.

 

Useful Information

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.

Peak Season

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.

High Season

The high season is from February to March, with warm, dry weather and reliable trade winds the sailing conditions are perfect.

Slow Season

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

The hottest months are August and September when the waters are at their warmest.

Hurricanes

It should be noted it is hurricane season between June and October.

The wettest months

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 $50 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:

Boat Type

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.

Charter duration

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.

Time of Year

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.

Crew

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.

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