BVI Crewed Catamaran 7 Day Itinerary – Day 5 – Anegada to Little Jost Van Dyke

This morning we took a taxi over to Loblolly Bay, which is known for it’s beautiful beach, relaxed lifestyle and beautiful snorkeling on the reef. On the way we got a glimpse of the famous pink Flamingos on the north end of the island.

This beach at Loblolly Bay is on the Atlantic side of Anegada, so there are larger breakers. There is a small hotel there, with individual bungalows, and a bar/restaurant area.

Loblolly Bay, Anegada

A shaded Bench at Loblolly Bay — A shaded bench at Loblolly Bay

Sailing to Little Jost Van Dyke

Loblolly Bay took the whole morning, and after returning to the boat for a “cheeseburger in paradise”, we set sail for the long run down to Little Jost Van Dyke. This is a long sail of approximately 3 hours, and because it’s with the wind it is normally calm. It’s good to scan the sea, as often whales and dolphins are spotted.

Sailing toward Little Jost Van Dyke, with a view of whales and the north coast of Tortola

We anchored at Manchioneel Bay, on Little Jost Van Dyke. It is has a small beach with a wind-battered out-of-business bar that is tended by a scarecrow (don’t ask, it’s the BVI), and is quite remote. We chose it because it was the perfect place for a bonfire and dancing on the beach without bothering anyone. It is also very close to the Bubbling Pools and Sandy Spit, two of our destinations for tomorrow.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-12.29.27 — Bonfire on the Beach, Manchioneel Bay, Little Jost Van Dyke

Tomorrow – Bubbly pools, Sandy Spit, and White Bay, Jost Van Dyke.

Click here to see this BVI itinerary all in one page.

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

Exhilarating Day Charter From Luxurious Cannes to Exclusive St Tropez

As summer is fast approaching, why not experience a luxurious day charter from Cannes to St Tropez. If you’re looking to cruise along the French Riviera in style, taste some of the finest foods, marvel at brilliant architecture or party in the the most lavish of settings, this day charter from Cannes to St Tropez is perfect for you!

From Cannes old port, visit the ‘Musée de la Castre,’ the former castle of Cannes. Originally built in the 11th century by Lerins monks, it is now a spectacular museum that exhibits the most exotic artwork collected by explorers through out Asia and the South Pacific. Wander up the castle tower and enjoy a fabulous view of Cannes harbor and its surroundings.

Cannes is a beautiful chartering destination. Leaving the old harbor, circle the bay of Cannes and admire the fancy hotels and restaurants lining the Croisette. This area is notorious for its celebrity spotting during the International Film Festival, charter a luxury yacht and feast your eyes on a number of celebrities.

Next gently cruise out to the Iles de Lerins; two picturesque islands nestled in the bay of Cannes, known for their crystal blue waters and idyllic setting. This secluded spot is perfect for snorkeling or a morning swim. If you have plenty of time, wander around the islands to see the monastery and the dungeon where the Man in the Iron Mask was held.

Head along the coast, past the sun worshipers and the golden white beaches of La Bocca and head to L’Oasis a 2*Michelin restaurant often celebrated for its gastronomical excellence. Here experience fine-dining, luscious cocktails and excellent waiter service.

As you continue past the beautiful small port towns of Theoule-sur-Mer and St Raphael known for their beaches and inland roman ruins, you will arrive at the vibrant and exclusive St Tropez. Characterized by its orange and deep red townhouses, quaint port and long stretch of white sand, St Tropez is a day chartering paradise. Pampelonne Beach, for which the town is world famous, consists of 27 private and public beaches spread over a grand distance of 67 acres. Make your reservations to any of the numerous restaurants and anchor offshore alongside the Rivas, Mangustas and hundreds of other beautiful yachts. Nikki Beach and Club 55 are two lavish beach restaurants that cater for the finest tastes. Party the day away, indulge in fine foods and relax in the sun, this day charter is perfect for everyone.

AQUA BLUE IRELAND is one of the most luxurious Sunseeker yachts berthed on the French Riviera, accommodating up to 6 guests (night) and 10 for day charter. She is the pinnacle of a luxury modern yacht and is ideal for a day charter to St Tropez.

At Boatbookings,we organise luxury yacht charters all around the world with our highly qualified team. We leave no stone unturned in matching not just the yacht and the destination to your requirements but also the crew, itineraries and all other subtle aspects that comes together to create a charter of a life time!

Posted on April 22, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

BVI Crewed Catamaran 7 Day Itinerary – Day 4 – Virgin Gorda to Anegada

The North Sound Virgin Gorda is well protected by islands and reefs, so there are few waves there, making it ideal for water sports. Alex brought out the armada after breakfast, and we spent the morning waterskiing, paddle boarding, wind surfing and kayaking around the beautiful bay. Then after lunch, a one tack sail up to Anegada, which take a bit over an hour in the fresh trade winds.

Watersports in North Sound Virgin Gorda

As mentioned, Souls Calling has a full complement of great water toys, which are a treat for everyone, especially the kids. We spent the entire morning paddle boarding, tubing, water skiing, kayaking, and just hanging out in his large float behind the boat. Alex drove expertly, and got everyone up on skis. Needless to say, we all were happy and a bit tired by lunchtime.

The Sail to Anegada

The constant and predictable trade winds make for an easy, single tack open water sail up to Anegada, which takes a bit over an hour sailing at 8 – 9 knots. Leaving the Bitter End Yacht Club, you pass by Necker Island, the exclusive island that is owned by Richard Branson and was hit by lightning in 2012 and is in the process of rebuilding.

Anegada

Anegada is dramatically different from all the other islands in the BVI chain. It is entirely coral, as opposed to volcanic, and so very flat with little vegetation.

Anegada is known for it’s flock of flamingos, which you can see from a bus on a trip to Loblolly Bay, snorkeling on its reefs, long white beaches, and fresh caught grilled lobster dinners. The island is one of our favorite stops in the BVI, although some people find it a bit remote and quiet for their liking.

You’re also nearly guaranteed to get a beautiful sunset from your mooring.

We took the dingy ashore and had an excellent lobster dinner – there are 5 restaurants that are happy to serve you. It’s a good idea, however, to call ahead for reservations so you’re not disappointed.

Tomorrow – Flamingos, Loblolly Bay, and Sailing to Little Jost Van Dyke, and bonfire on the beach.

Click here to see this BVI itinerary all in one page.

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

BVI Crewed Catamaran 7 Day Itinerary – Day 3 – Wreck of the Rhone, The Baths and the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda

Day three has two world famous stops – the Wreck of the Rhone and “the Baths”, and then a nice sail up Virgin Gorda to the beautifully protected North Sound, home of the Bitter End Yacht Club.

We spent too much time the previous day to snorkel at the Wreck of the Rhone, so after breakfast we headed directly to it, going south to the far end of Salt Island. There are several mooring balls at the Wreck of the Rhone (no anchoring, it’s a national park!).

The Wreck of the Rhone

Immediately upon diving in you see a huge sunken ship stretching out into the depths, most obviously the huge propeller and the long drive shaft. A stunning sight!

Here’s what it looks like when diving through the propeller area:

We then set sail for the famous “Baths”, an amazing rock formation at the southwestern tip of Virgin Gorda. We anchored just off of the beautiful beach at Spring Bay, had lunch, and then took the dinghy over to Devils Bay Beach.

The Baths

The Baths is a collection of granite boulders as large as 40 feet in diameter that look as if they’ve been dumped by a huge truck. The were formed when molten lava cooled slowly and formed a hard crystalline granite layer. Shrinkage and cracking formed blocks, which are visiable today because the softer rock has worn away.

There is a nice path with steps and handrails through the rocks of the Baths. Best to do the hike early or late in the day, as it can get hot and crowded – spoiling your ability to just enjoy nature. Kids will also love swimming in the pools around the rocks.

After enjoying the baths, the beaches, and a nice climb up to the bar/restaurant above called “top of the Baths” where you can get a refreshing drink or lunch, we headed up Virgin Gorda on the way to the Bitter End. This beautiful coastline has some of the most exclusive beaches and homes in the world – several movie stars call it have houses along the route.

The Bitter End Yacht Club

The North Sound at Virgin Gorda is well protected by islands and reefs, making it an ideal bay to anchor for the night. Upon entering, you will see the triangular roofs of the bungalows, as well as many moored yachts throughout the sound. You can also see Leverick Bay on the right and the famous Necker Island (owned by Richard Branson) on the left as you approach.

You’ll nearly always get a great sunset at the Bitter End!

Tomorrow – north to Anegada, Loblolly Bay and Grilled Lobsters for Dinner!.

Click here to see this BVI itinerary all in one page.

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

Day By Day – The ideal BVI Crewed Catamaran Charter Itinerary aboard Soul’s Calling – Lagoon 500

We recently revisited the British Virgin Islands in order to update our itinerary suggestions and report on any interesting changes since our last visit. We can faithfully report that all of the things that make the BVI the leading sailing charter destination in the world are still there – the BVI has a timelessness that makes it a familiar place to come back to, even 25 years after our first visit.

This series of blog posts will take you day-by-day through a typical crewed caramaran charter in the BVI. We retraced our “counter clockwise” itinerary of the islands, starting with Norman, then to Peter, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, and then back to Norman Island before the final sail back to Road Town. Here is our actual GPS plot of the itinerary.

A typical BVI Sailing Itinerary

Our Catamaran

We were aboard Soul’s Calling, a beautiful Lagoon 500 catamaran, captained by Alex Mulder. Soul’s Calling has 3 cabins, including a spacious Owners suite, and always gets high ratings and excellent testimonials. She has become one of Boatbooking’s favorite catamarans in the BVI.

Souls Calling - Lagoon 500 Crewed Catamaran — *Souls Calling* in Village Cay Port – a Lagoon 500 Crewed Catamaran

We were excited to see Alex again and meet his wife and the boat’s superb cook, Carla!

Arriving and Boarding

While it is possible to fly directly to Tortola, St Thomas in the USVI is often more convenient because it is served by more and larger planes. We took the Road Town Fast Ferry from Charlotte Amalie (the main port on St Thomas) for the scenic 1 hour cruise. The ferry costs $60 round trip per adult, $35 for children.

We began getting excited for our charter as St Johns, Jost Van Dyke and Tortola rolled into view from the deck of the ferry, and then cruised the south coast of Tortola until we pulled into the Ferry Building in Road Town. Warning – the BVI is a different country from the USVI, and there is quite a bit of tedious paperwork to fill out – a small price to pay to enter paradise!

The Road Town Ferry Building — Arriving at the Road Town Ferry Building

Souls Calling was waiting for us just a short walk from the Ferry Building in Village Cay, one of the many marinas in Road Town. Alex welcomed us, introduced us to Carla, and then gave us a safety briefing and discussed the rules of the boat. We were reminded never to bring sand onto the boat – it ruins the floors and scratches the fiberglass. Because of this, the boat is in immaculate condition.

After the briefing, we cracked open a bottle of champagne, unloaded our bags, and quickly departed!

Tomorrow’s post – The Bight, Willy T’s, the Caves and the Indians.

Click here to see this BVI itinerary all in one page.

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓