‘Tis the season – the season to organise your unforgettable Christmas getaway in the British Virgin Islands! Why not exchange the stockings for swimsuits this Christmas and New Year’s and charter one of our exquisite crewed catamarans; they will provide the perfect setting for you to create some amazing memories with your family and friends.
Specializing in Caribbean charters, here are our top 5 reasons to charter a yacht and why the British Virgin Islands is officially one of the best places in the world to charter for your 2020 holiday season!
Escape the bleak mid-winter and spend Christmas 2020 island hopping between the white sand beaches of the British Virgin Islands. The world’s best sailing conditions, island hopping, world-class scuba diving grounds, and a Christmas day conch meal. All of this plus an unforgettable New Year’s Eve makes the British Virgin Islands the only place to charter a yacht this Christmas!!
Whether you’re a seasoned yachtie or sailing around the best sailing grounds of the Caribbean is something you’ve always dreamt of, a yacht charter in the BVI is guaranteed to make 2020 your best Christmas yet.
Although you’ll be on a yacht in the Caribbean, don’t worry there’s still plenty of decorations to make you feel just at home. Expect to see masts with fairy lights going to the top, red and white bikinis and palm Christmas trees!
Spend this Christmas walking around the white sand-beaches of Anegada and join in the local celebrations! Chose from having your own personal crew onboard to sailing solo around the many BVI white-sand beached islands.
Be sure to head to the island of Jost Van Dyke to bring in the New Year. Foxy’s on the island is renowned as being one of the top 5 parties in the world on New Year’s Eve.
Instead of celebrating the ‘New Year’, this bar celebrates the ‘Old Year’s Night’, making this iconic location different from every other New Year Party on the globe.
Hop off your boat and enjoy being in one of the best places in the world this New Year. Be sure to catch the theme before deciding on your outfits!
Switch the traditional family board games on Christmas day for a scuba diving lesson! Scuba dives are an extremely popular Christmas day activity and really make it a Christmas day to remember.
The BVI waters surrounding the islands of Norman Island are renowned for being extremely clear during the months of December and January. The Caribbean waters are full of different corals, turtles, shipwrecks and thousands of different species of fish.
Surprise your loved ones with a diving course and give the gift of the ocean this Christmas!
Eat like a local and celebrate the festivities with a freshly grilled lobster or conch! Head over to the Bitter End Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda for your Christmas lunch, be sure to book early this year as most restaurants serving local Caribbean Christmas delicacies tend to get booked up very quickly.
The trade winds blowing across the islands of the BVI offer a consistent breeze, ideal for sailing and for keeping slightly cool during this period. Christmas is without a doubt one of the best times of year to visit the BVI due to long, sunny days with ocean breezes coming through in the afternoon and slightly cooler evenings.
The BVI is known for ‘line of sight’ sailing and protected bays for anchorages and sailing. Unlike other locations in the Caribbean, the waters in the BVI are usually a lot calmer than many other locations.
Despite the saddening damage, caused by hurricane IRMA in 2017, the BVI’s are being cared for and maintained. The process of rebuilding infrastructure has been a work in progress since the hurricane struck, however, the BVI is back on track and the boat standards and sailing grounds are as popular as ever.
Don’t let the damage caused in 2017 put you off from a yacht charter in the BVI this Christmas – the BVI is up and running. For current information, we please see our “what is open in the BVI after Irma” page, which is updated regularly.
Give Santa a change from the chimney and let him slide down your mast this Christmas! Get in touch today!
2 top Crewed Catamarans in the Exumas/Nassau/area in the Bahamas that have not been affected by Dorian.
We all witnessed with grief the unimaginable destruction brought upon Great Abaco and Grand Bahama Islands by hurricane Dorian and we pray for the fast and smooth recovery of the stricken areas.
Regardless, the Bahamas remains one of our most popular year-long yachting destinations: Dorian only affected the above-mentioned islands but the rest of the islands is as beautiful as always.
In any case, the majority of charter vessels have always been based in the Nassau cruising area. The Exumas combine a protected sailing area with magic sandy beaches, turquoise waters and high temperatures all year long. Some of the most popular charter vessels in Nassau and the Exumas are crewed catamarans
AMURA II is a lovely Lagoon 560, with a professional crew of 2 (captain and hostess/chef). Based all year long in Nassau, AMURA II will also consider one-way charters starting Nassau and finishing in the Exumas; this will allow you more time in order to explore the islands!
Available out of Nassau for both day charters as well as for longer period cruises is SEA SENOR! Excellent catamaran with a very experienced crew, ideal for short escapes out of Nassau! Feel free to contact now our expert broker team and start planning your next crewed catamaran charter in the Bahamas.
With the terrible misfortune, it seems fitting that we have a yacht called SILVER LINING. Berthed in the Exumas, she is an excellent alternative to chartering in the Abacos.
The stunning SILVER LINING is still available for Thanksgiving in Nassau to cruise the Exumas. Although Hurricane Dorian caused devastation in the Northern Islands of the Bahamas, there are still hundreds of untouched islands in the Cays. The Exumas is a 100 mile stretch of stunning coastline and turquoise waters where you can enjoy beautiful anchorages and wonderful fresh food.
The Tropic of Cancer beach, also known as Pelican beach is a must-see on Little Exuma. The sand is blindingly white, not just lightly coloured as many ‘white beaches’ are described. The sand itself radiates the sunlight that bathes it to create a blaze of light unique to this beach. If ever there was a picture postcard, then this beach truly is it:
Big Major’s Cay is home to the mystifying swimming pigs! It is widely believed that the reason the pigs swim in this area is down to their intelligence. Pigs are extremely intelligent, and they know tourists will come and feed them, hence why they will always swim out to you!
Stocking Island amongst other islands in the Exumas is home to Stromatolites, the oldest known macro-fossils on earth. They hold the biological activity of thousands of years.
If you are a lover of marine life and nesting sea birds, then Moria Harbour Cay National Park is a must-see. Sand dunes, beaches, mangroves and seagrass all located between Great and Little Exuma. This area covers 13,440 acres!
SILVER LINING is the perfect yacht to take you around the Bahamian paradise with a great crew on board, Captain Peter and chef/stewardess Ginny are a highly proactive team who are keen to ensure a memorable experience for their clients.
She offers 3 ensuite cabins, perfect for a family or group of friends. A well presented enclosed flybridge with a large dining table. The cockpit has easy access to the sea for fishing and swimming. Huge sunbathing area on the bow.
BBQ grill to cook the catch of the day! A great selection of water toys including wave runner, wakeboard, skis, SUP, airhead inflatable tube, 2 floating islands, snorkelling gear, fishing gear and beach set up with chairs. For an additional cost, clients can hire the 36ft Aquila power cat which also comes with a crew member giving a higher level of service on board.
Get on contact with us today to see how you can enjoy SILVER LINING on your Thanksgiving holiday.
Broker Cordy gives an insight into her time working onboard Megayachts
One of my favorite places to cruise when I worked onboard mega yachts (Giga yachts weren’t around then!) was the stunning West coastline of Corsica. I was fortunate to work for a wonderful English family who adored this area, so it is where we spent the majority of the summer. On a displacement yacht cruising at around 12knots, the journey from Cannes to St Florent is around 10 hours which can normally be achieved overnight. So, if you are on the French Riviera and fancy something a little different, why not enjoy a wonderful dinner on board anchored at the Iles des Lerins, Cannes, and then start your journey after this. Be sure to ask the crew to wake you up at dawn to dolphin watch! One of the most amazing experiences at sea.
Arriving in St Florent is stunning, this pretty little fishing port has a host of local restaurants and bars huddled around the marina. Restaurant de l’Europe and Le Grill are perfect places to sit in the sun and watch the world go by!
Having relaxed in the sun, head one street back to the old town full of independent shops selling local charcuterie and souvenirs. Keep heading up and you will reach the citadel, steps from the citadel car park lead down to a small beach. The stunning cathedral de Nebbio is found on the other side of the town on the Chemin de la Cathedrale and is most definitely worth a visit.
For the more energetic persons amongst your group, Le Roya Beach can be found to the southeast of the town offering water sports including windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, jet skis and scuba diving! There really is something for everyone!
Heading west from St Florent is the beautiful town of Calvi. Coming into port you have an incredible view of the citadel, once docked, it is definitely worth climbing up the cobbled streets for breathtaking panoramic views of your surroundings. There are some great restaurants up here as well as the voguish Chez Tao bar!
Once you have soaked up the incredible views, wander around the shops through the old cobbled streets of the town. The marché de l’Orée des Pins is full of local charcuterie, grapes, cheeses, and amazing pastries!
Around the corner, further West from Calvi is possibly the most beautiful spot in the Med! Girolata is a fortified bay at the south of the Scandola Nature Reserve. The setting is spectacular, with the village perched on the peninsula and surrounded by the sea and the famous red rock mountains of this area. This bay is a wonderful place to anchor and swim ashore to the beautiful beach.
Further south in the Scandola National Park is the bay of Porto where you can find a pretty little village and see more of the stunning Calanques de Piana rock formations.
Having enjoyed the National Park, further south again you will find Ajaccio, famous for being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte! You can visit the Maison Bonaparte, now a national museum, the ancestral home of the Bonaparte family, to discover more about his life. Ajaccio’s charming old town is a great place to amble and enjoy the beautiful architectural features and stunning landmarks such as the Cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption.
The pretty port of Ajaccio is adorned with bars and restaurants serving seafood and pizzas. The perfect place to soak up the atmosphere and admire the view!
Contact Cordy at Boatbookings to plan your Corsican adventure and please keep reading the blog for part 2 of the West Coast of Corsica!
