First time vacation cruise this summer - maybe BVI?

higgs · Feb 18, 2009

Sailing the BVI is probably easier than your home area. You can see every island you are heading for. The challenge is making the trip from place to place long enough. All the local knowledge you need will be given to you at the briefing session before you depart. Anchorages are really mooring fields with only a few places actually requiring an anchor. Each anchorage has at least one restaaurant/bar on shore.

If you go with the Moorings, there is a grocery across the street that will serve your needs. If you go with another company there are cabs aplenty and these places will arrange one for you.

I have gone with Conch and TMM and they both are fine. Conch boats were less expensive, but also not as nice as TMM. Moorings is proported to be the class act of the business, but you pay for it.

Most charter places will, for less than a hotel, let you sleep aboard the night before the charter. I prefer this method to a hotel as you only move once.

The whole process down there is pretty well standardized and things go pretty smoothly.

seadaddler · Feb 18, 2009

Charter

Hi I haven't done the BVI but did do Grenadines with Mooring and they were very good.
Friends that did the BVI were with us on The Grenadines and from what they said they did like the BVI trip better because they were into doing more shore things like shopping and eating out,we did much more sailing and anchoring out
with not much in town things it was june and none prime time for land things to see and do,we had a captain and cook on a 46 catamaran.
We had a very good time sailing from Island to Island swimming,great snorkling diving and sailing and swimming,and all meals were cooked on the boat and no complaints at all with the food or beverages which was plenty even caught a mahi mahi and tasted great on the grill.
The island where we stopped did not have any thing great to see when we did go ashore that we did not see before,but the sailing,swimming,snorkling was to die for,BVI we were told less sailing and more to do on shore,all the sailing is short trips.
I am sure you will hear more better info here from others who had a great trip in the BVI's.
Nick

Tim R. · Feb 18, 2009

We are doing the BVIs(for the first time) in 3 weeks.

Consider calling Ed Hamilton. They have great folks and will get you a great deal. They saved me 15% on my 9 day charter that I never would have seen. They also did a great job finding the best airfares and we have 3 couples leaving from 2 different areas.

I tried using them for my Abacos charter a few years back but they told me I would get a better deal using my west advantage to get a 10% discount.

http://www.ed-hamilton.com/

Warren Milberg · Feb 18, 2009

You'll love the BVI. Mostly constant 10-20kt winds and good weather. Lots of places to go. But the BVI is somewhat different that coastal or inland cruising here. Squalls can come up quickly and with little warning. While scary at first, they usually pass quickly, too. Pay attention to the boat briefing you'll get from the charter company, especially how to reduce sail/reef and getting the engine going quickly. You don't want to be figuring out how to reduce sail area or drop a sail with a storm on your bow.... Also, you'll have to learn how to "read" the water for coral heads. Again, the charter company will have advice on this. With water that is very clear, some coral heads look like they are right below the surface, but may not be. Not a good a idea of sail or swim at night. Get to know all the systems on your charter boat quickly and have a great time! The BVI are a great place to sail....wish I were there now.

Stu Jackson · Feb 18, 2009

The BVIs don't have to be short trips

Perhaps compared to the island to island sailing in the more southern islands which can take a full day, you can do that in the BVIs, too, or do short hops. For instance, Cane Garden Bay to Cooper Island is a nice long sail up the north side of Tortola close hualed or close reach, around the end or the long way around and then southeast close reach or beam reach to Cooper. A trip from Norman Island to Virgin Sound is also a long day slog upwind. Virgin Sound to west end of Tortola to Soper's Hole is downwind all the way. So, you can choose your routes and destinations for long sails, or you can do short hops. Your bareboat, your choice.

Sailm8 · Feb 18, 2009

Love the BVI's been there 6 times on everything from a 32 to 49 mono and cat. Great time to try out a bigger or different boat. All sailing is line of sight. In addition to what has been said above, bring some light sticks (kind you break and they glow) to hang on the stern so you can find your boat at night. 50 white Moorings boats i in a mooring field are hard to tell apart in the dark or after a few pain killers. Don't ask me how I know.

We like to fly into Beef Island and not deal with the hastle of the ferry from US to BVI's. Your charter company will arrange to meet you (fee) so transfers are no problem.

Softsided luggage and bring as little as possible. I like to bring my own snorkel gear. Just something about sucking on an unknown snorkel that creeps me out.

We usually split up when we arrive and part of our group buys food and the other booze. At the Moorings they only allow one bag of ice per boat so we go in shifts and ask different attendents so we usually leave with a fridge full of ice.

We eat out every night and fix light lunches and breakfasts.

Some boats sail and moor nude so be advised if that might offend you. No nudity on the beaches since it is illegal

Ron20324 · Feb 18, 2009

I don't believe any of the charter companies allow you to sail at night, and no rafting together. Also, unless things have changed, none of the boats have holding tanks-there's a constant current down the Drake Channel. The skipper briefing will show you a few areas you are to avoid. To see or do it all, my last charter figured ten days, Anagada included. I strongly suggest a day and two nights on a mooring (or the hook) in Cane Garden Bay. Beauty of a spot to kick back!

captaincurt · Feb 18, 2009

Try the Soggy Dollar at Jost Van Dyke. Give it a Google, and you'll understand!

Tim R. · Feb 18, 2009

Banooma said:
Thank you for all your responses so far! I'm processing every word, and growing more and more excited about this little new adventure, but I just reached a little blip: NONE OF THE BOATS HAVE HOLDING TANKS - huh? Would someone mind elaborating a little bit on that?

That's easy. Don't flush when anyone is swimming near the boat or they will get a surprise!

Stu Jackson · Feb 18, 2009

When in Rome?

Not the time to get into a long discussion about holding tanks and local sewage treatment plants right here in the Good Ole USA.

Stu Jackson · Feb 18, 2009

Tell her that

there's a lot more water swiftly running through the anchorages than there are boats. If you're a lake sailor, it's really a different experience.

The ONLY exception I can think of is Soper's Hole, but there are hundreds of boats in there and the community survives. In fact, that's one place I woudln't go back to. The restaurant there is copied by the one at Leverick Bay in Virgin Sound. So many people go to the Bitter End, but we've found Leverick Bay at the other west end of the sound is nice, and quieter. You can always dinghy over to the Bitter End. Wish we'd gone when they let you go to Anegada - guess I was too early.

atom · Feb 18, 2009

As a place for a first cruise, the BVI is great. Only Anegada requires much more than line of sight navigation.

As stated the chart briefings will help a lot with details. I don't recall who includes cruising guides on their boats, we bought our own, which aided in planning.

We always include a night on shore, preferably both nights.

As far as flights. If you chose to fly direct to Tortola (Beef Island), you will have to change planes in Puerto Rico. Depending on your US departure point, you may also change planes in Miami. After this long day of flying you might be too tired to go onto the boat.

We have also flown direct to St. Thomas, spent the night there, and caught the ferry to either Sopers Hole or Roadtown.

We have cut it close on both sides before and were OK, but we prefer the more relaxed style and spend at least one night at each end.

Also no one mentioned that you typically spend the night on the boat before your charter. Plan on doing that, because you might use up a large portion of the first charter day with chart briefing and boat checkout/orientation.

Because we may spend the night before, we will do a lot of provisioning ourselves. But, we always have them send us a provisioning list. If we see something that we don't want to carry around in the taxi with us, we buy it off the list. The provisioning list also helps us with our own shopping list

Have a Great Trip

Benny · Feb 18, 2009

Make sure you take with you some kind of sailing proffiency certificate issued by a known entity. They just don't hand over a $100K boat without being satisfied that you are capable of handling it. In its absence you may have to pay for a captain to test you out or hire one for the duration of the trip. Some sailing schools provide a class, so do the rental companies but inquire ahead of time as once you are down your options may be limited.

Benny · Feb 18, 2009

Oh, another thing. Choose the time of your trip according to the prevalent weather for that time of year. Winter sailing can be quite exciting as strong winds 20+ are prevalent at that time of year. No refunds if you have to stay at the dock.

Andy1237 · Feb 18, 2009

Check out Traveltalkonline.com There is a "bareboat"section and a "BVI" section. Plenty of info there. Also check our Horizon Yacht Charters. Search archives for more data on this site.

higgs · Feb 18, 2009

Respectively disagree w/Benny

One thing that has amazed with BVI charters is how willing they all seem to be to take your word on your experience and set you off on your own. I have an ASA certification for chartering, but no one cared and I never had to even show proof.

One guy at one of the companies told me that the set up down there is designed to be "idiot proof". That is pretty much the case.

John D3181 · Feb 19, 2009

We've used Bobby's Market for provisioning

and found the prices to be in line with other markets in the area. Google Bobby's Market. It's all done on your computer - before you leave home - no wasted sailing time.

First time vacation cruise this summer - maybe BVI?

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