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!
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity(formerly known as the international Advertising Festival) is held annually in June, in the picturesque French Riviera. Cannes provides a perfect luxury chartering setting during the hot summer months. This prestigious festival has established itself as the best in marketing and communications since 1954. The festival attracts over 34,000 entries, 11,000 delegates from 90 countries, worldwide.
Cannes Lions is a seven-day festival that is definitely worth attending. It provides an excellent opportunity for networking and learning, for anyone involved in the marketing or advertising world. Thousands of advertisements and marketing campaigns are showcased in front of a knowledgeable judging panel. Lions are awarded to those who present the most innovative and creative ideas in a number of categories, including; cinema, television, print marketing, outdoor advertising or direct marketing. The festival was originally inspired by the International Film Festival in Cannes and has now established itself as the pinnacle of advertising success.
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a highly prestigious corporate event. Entertain guests and prospective clients on board a luxury yacht of your choice.
RM ELEGANT is one of the most impressive luxury charter yachts in the world, for corporate events and meetings. Accommodating up too 30 guests thanks to its 15 extremely lavish staterooms, elegantly cruising around the crystal blue waters of the French Riviera has never been so appealing. RM ELEGANT is an exclusive and luxurious event charter yacht for large corporate events or extravagant celebrity parties. She has a grand business suite with the most advanced communication facilities , for those all important on board conference meetings. At the end of the day, unwind in the Jacuzzi, pamper yourself in the beauty salon or why not release some tension in the state of the art gym. The impressive array of on board water toys will definitely not disappoint. Cruise along the gorgeous French Riviera in style; charter a luxury yacht with us today.
Here at Boatbookings, our dedicated team has intimate knowledge of the French Riviera and the yachts that are available to charter. We can cater to any need and seek to provide guests with the best possible boat to hire. We are an independent charter retail broker, meaning that we are not biased as to which boat we promote for your yacht charter. Clients are therefore more likely to be offered the best yacht available on the whole of the French Riviera.
Are you looking for yourCannes corporate event yacht charter or entertainment yacht? Cannes is one of the most glorious locations in the world to host a corporate event, party, cocktail cruise or celebration. With the backdrop of the Croisette, Palais des Festivals, French Alps, and of course many beautiful charter yachts, Cannes is unsurpassed for entertainment.
Boatbookings.com is an expert on the charter yachts in Cannes that are perfect for large corporate events, either as separate events or alongside the Film Festival or other major Congresses that are held in Cannes. Although most yachts can accommodate a maximum of 12 people, we know the yachts that can accommodate more guests, and are therefore excellent at hosting events and parties in Cannes.
Whether you’re looking to host a corporate event or cocktail party, the Benetti Classic 120 is a fantastic choice. A favourite of ours is WILD THYME, where you will, undoubtedly, have a wild time! The features of the Benetti Classic 120 that make it such a good choice include the length – which, at under 40 metres, can get you a prime Cannes berth location right next to the Palais des Festivals. The sky lounges which make them suited for all weather – even if the rain may start to fall at the end of October, you can still continue the party inside. With three decks, there is plenty of space for all your guests, so no risk of overcrowding in one area. WILD THYME has a fantastic crew of 7, lead by Captain Peter Van Houweninge, who will provide a service that exceeds expectations, and welcome you and your guests on board with a smile. Accommodating up to 30 guests at dock, on WILD THYME you will experience impeccable service, fine dining and all the little details that make the difference between an ordinary gathering and a spectacular party.
Contact us for details and complete assistance on planning the perfect event in Cannes!AtBoatbookings 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 there to pull together all the subtle aspects of your holiday that make your charter so special.
The French Riviera has so much to offer the charterer, from the shopping on La Croisette to the beaches and nightlife in St Tropez and events such as Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix. With the largest yachting harbor in Europe Antibes boasts more than 2,000 moorings and is able to accommodate craft of more than 100 meters, the French Riviera is a Mecca for the best and most luxurious Super Yachts in the world.
On your luxury yacht charter, you can motor to a range of some of the best yachting destinations in the Mediterranean, from the Lerins Islands just of the coast of Cannes, the ever-popular Club 55 in St Tropez to the southwest or the Casinos of Monaco to the east.
One such luxury yacht that would surely give guests a time if their life is GIORGIA – a stunning 120ft Benetti luxury motor yacht with 5 beautifully appointed cabins and a crew of 7 who will look to guests’ every need. There are a range of fantastic areas on deck to soak up those all-important rays. At the same time, you admire the beauty of the French Riviera, be it from one of the dining tables on the aft deck as you eat one of the delicious meals cooked by the chef on board or the soothing bubbles of the hot tub on the fly deck. As you walk further into the luxury yacht – GIORGIA you are greeted by a stylish and elegant interior replete with dark wooden paneling and cream furnishings that just oozes comfort and luxury.
Here at Boatbookings, our dedicated team has intimate knowledge of the French Riviera and the yachts that are available to charter. We can cater to any need and seek to provide guests with the best possible boat to hire. We are an independent charter retail broker, meaning that we are not biased as to which boat we promote for your yacht charter. Clients are therefore more likely to be offered the best yacht available on the whole of the French Riviera!
