The traditional first day out in the BVI is the short sail (8 miles/1 hour) to Norman Island to anchor in the Bight, do some snorkeling at “the Caves”, and maybe hit the famous Willy T’s floating bar. Day 1 is a chance to learn the boat, get your sea legs, and get into the BVI rhythm. So we of course did the same thing! Here is our route.
Setting Sail!
Sailing toward Norman Island in the BVI
The Caves, Norman Island
Approaching the Caves on Norman Island
A great first place to snorkel in the BVI is in “The Caves”, which are directly around the corner from the Bight, so they are the perfect first stop. We set sail around 3 pm and were snorkeling by 4:30. You can go quite deep into the Caves (you’ll need a waterproof flashlight) or just snorkel around the entrances as the fish are colorful and plentiful.
Snorkelling at the Caves, Norman Island
After about 45 minutes of snorkeling, we pulled up anchor and motored around the corner to anchor in the Bight, with about 50 other monohulls and catamarans!
The Bight, Norman Island
The Bight is a large, protected bay on the north side of Norman Island. There are plenty of mooring balls there, so there’s normally no need to drop anchor, and the Bight features two Bar/Restaurants – the Pirates Bight at the end of the Bay, which offers among other things a conch burger, and blows off a cannon daily at the beginning of happy hour. It has recently been remodeled and upgraded, but still has a rustic, eat with you feet in the sand, feel.
The Willy T Floating Bar and Restaurant
The Willy T Floating Bar and Restaurant
Willy T’s is definitely not for children or the light hearted. It’s famous for multiple people doing shooters by tipping up a water ski with 5 shot holders in it, and then dancing until the late hours. Two TV screens on either side of the bar show topless girls doing shooters and jumping off the boat. As mentioned, it’s not for children, but it’s a fun place where you can meet people and enjoy a fun night out from your boat!
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 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!
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!
Head to the Sugar Mill Restaurant, on your luxury yacht charter around the magnificent island of Tortola, in the BVI. Picture dining in a tropical garden at sunset, whilst the gentle waves lap against the golden shore. Known as one of the most romantic restaurants in the world, Sugar Mill thrives on its idyllic setting and succulent food. Indulge yourself on the the evening’s selection of Lobster Bisque with Basil Croutons or Warm Oyster Gratin with Smoked Bacon and Guinness Hollandaise, prepared freshly by Jeff and Jinx Morgan, the restaurants’ award-winning chefs.
The island of Tortola is immersed in the turquoise waters of the BVI. Visit this picturesque setting on the tantalizing NORTHERN LIGHTS. This Westship 132, invites guests into a lavish world of modern deign and faultless engineering. The attention to detail is impeccable. Accommodating up to 10 guests within her 5 grand staterooms, NORTHERN LIGHTS is best suited for large groups who want to experience the ultimate in luxury. Her interior is chic yet imaginative, the silk upholstery and marble top bar are just one of her many exquisite features. The gracefully curving lines of the furniture echo the flow of waves, while original paintings celebrate feminine beauty. The open dining area is luminous and elegant, providing the perfect setting for a 5 course evening meal. Away from the fine china and gold plated interior lies an extravagant reclining area. Here is the perfect place to bask in the sun, unwind in the Jacuzzi or sip slowly at a freshly prepared martini. NORTHERN LIGHTS provides guests with 5 luxurious staterooms, all equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment systems. The adjoining en suites are panelled with the finest marble and the grand walk-in showers are very inviting.
At www.boatbookings.com, we are here to help you plan your perfect luxury yachting holiday. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you bring together the yacht, the crew and all the other aspects that make your charter special.
At Boatbloggings we will keep you updated on the latest industry show releases, news and gossip in the yachting world. If you are looking for more information on yachts, charters and other yachting gossip, please become a fan and like our Facebook page to receive up to date information on our publications.Follow us on Twitter and Google Plus too.
With more and more new water toys available for luxury yacht charters, they are increasingly more important as a deciding factor in the choices that people will make for their charter. Loved by all ages, they are plenty of fun for everyone! This time around, the water toys seem to be more about getting across the water, rather than in to it!
The Flying Fish Marlin II Platinum Black hovercraft was released at this year’s London Boat Show. Aimed at the superyacht tender market, it surely is an innovative way to get from your luxury yacht and on to the land! The build is ultra lightweight, constructed with Kevlar and carbon fibre, and with a shimmering faded black hull, the sparkle will catch anybody’s eye! With blue lighting and chrome and teak deck fittings, this is a hovercraft with style. With a 50bhp ‘Rampage’ engine, be prepared to reach speeds up to 50mph as you fly from land to water.
If you’re looking for a more compact form of transport, the MiniCat is for you! This ultra light, inflatable catamaran is small enough to fit in your car – so you will have no problem storing it on board a yacht. Even if you’re out on a super yacht, there are plenty who still want to try their hand at sailing, and the MiniCat is a fun and exhilarating means to give it a go! It can pack down in to just one bag for storage, and can be easily built and ready to use in just 30 minutes – perfect!
Are you interested in a fun-filled charter? At www.boatbookings.com, we welcome everyone from sailing professionals to complete novices and will help you at every step of the way to make your dreams a reality. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you with any questions you may have.
Watch this space for the latest industry show releases, news and gossip in the yachting world. If you liked the content on this page and our previous posts, please become a fan and like our Facebook page to receive up to date information on our publications. Follow us on Twitter and Google Plus too.
Following on from Part I of our Belize blogs, and having introduced a sample itinerary and the destination, we give you some ideas of the best yachts to charter in Belize.
Two of our favourite yachts for charter in Belize are both Lagoon 500s. Lagoon catamarans are a part of Beneteau Yachts, and are a fantastic brand of catamaran, offering both luxury and comfort in spacious accommodation. Catamarans are perfect for first time sailors, as they provide stability on the water, and a space that you would often struggle to find in a monohull of the same length.
Our second suggestion is the beautiful AMURA, which is also a 2007 Lagoon 500, which accommodates 8 guests in her four well appointed cabins. Her interior is gorgeous and bright, though the use of large windows, which not only allow the sunlight of Belize to shine through into the yacht, but allow you to gaze out onto the crystal blue waters surrounding you.
Interested in chartering a yacht in Belize? At www.boatbookings.com, we welcome everyone from sailing professionals to complete novices and will help you at every step of the way to make your dreams a reality.We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you with any questions you may have.
Watch this space for the latest industry show releases, news and gossip in the yachting world. If you liked the content on this page and our previous posts, please become a fan and like our Facebook page to receive up to date information on our publications. Follow us on Twitter and Google Plus too!
