Sailing Yacht Charter British Virgin Islands
The BVI's reliable trade winds, short inter-island passages, and well-sheltered anchorages make this the most complete sailing circuit in the Caribbean. A bareboat or skippered sailing yacht is simply the right tool for it.
Sailing Yachts Available in British Virgin Islands
Browse our selection of sailing yachts available for charter in British Virgin Islands.
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Sun Odyssey 349
Sun Odyssey 349 · 2018
From
$2k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Oceanis 34
Oceanis 34 · 2011
From
€2k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Dufour 460 Grand Large
Dufour 460 Grand Large · 2017
From
$2k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Bavaria 36
Bavaria 36 · 2011
From
$3k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Dufour 412
Dufour 412 · 2018
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Bavaria 37
Bavaria 37 · 2014
From
$3k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Beneteau 43
Beneteau 43 · 2010
From
$3k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Oceanis 45
Oceanis 45 · 2013
From
$3k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Bavaria 40
Bavaria 40 · 2013
From
$3k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht SUN ODYSSEY 419
Sun Odyssey 419 · 2018
From
$3k/week
Bareboat Sailboat Dufour 390
Dufour 390 GL · 2020
From
$3k/week
Bareboat Sailboat Dufour 412
Dufour 412 Grand Large · 2018
From
$4k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Hanse 415
Hanse 415 · 2016
From
$4k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Sun Odyssey 469
Sun Odyssey 469 · 2013
From
$4k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Bavaria 45
Bavaria 45 Cruiser · 2013
From
$4k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Bavaria 45
Bavaria 45 Cruiser · 2011
From
$4k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Bavaria Vision 46
Bavaria Vision 46 · 2013
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Bavaria Vision 46
Bavaria Vision 46 · 2014
From
$4k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Hanse 455
Hanse 455 · 2018
From
$5k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Beneteau 50
Beneteau 50 · 2006
From
$5k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Oceanis 51.1
Beneteau 51.1 · 2020
From
$5k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Dufour 520 GL
Dufour 520 GL · 2020
From
$5k/week
Bareboat Sailboat Sun Odyssey 519
Sun Odyssey 519 · 2018
From
$5k/week
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Jeanneau 57
Jeanneau 57 · 2014
From
$9k/week
Other Vessel Types in British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands sit at the eastern end of the Greater Antilles chain, arranged in a rough arc between Tortola in the west and Anegada in the north-east. The passages between them rarely exceed fifteen miles, the Easterly Trade Winds blow at a consistent 15 to 25 knots from November through to June, and the Sir Francis Drake Channel provides one of the most rewarding day-sail corridors in the Atlantic basin. This is not a destination that requires much argument.
What makes the BVI exceptional for sailing yachts specifically is the variety packed into a compact geography. You can spend a morning beating to windward towards Virgin Gorda's North Sound, anchor for lunch at a floating bar, and be tied stern-to at a proper marina before sundowner hour. The infrastructure caters to sailors rather than superyachts, which keeps the experience proportionate and the anchorages genuinely sociable.
Why Charter in Sailing Yacht charter in British Virgin Islands
The Sir Francis Drake Channel is the engine of a BVI itinerary. Running east to west between Tortola's south coast and the islands of Peter, Norman, Cooper, Salt, and Ginger, it offers point-to-point sailing that is consistently enjoyable rather than punishing. Prevailing winds are on or abaft the beam for the classic eastward passages, and the return legs into Road Town or West End can be made in a single comfortable morning sail.
Beyond sailing quality, the customs and clearance process is among the most straightforward in the Caribbean. A single entry through Road Town or Beef Island gives access to all BVI territory, including the outer islands and the US Virgin Islands if you hold the relevant cruising permits. The Customs and Immigration Authority has streamlined procedures considerably, and most charter guests clear in under an hour. Provisioning at Village Cay Marina in Road Town or at Nanny Cay is efficient and well-stocked for a week's passage.
The BVI also rewards sailors who want to push beyond the obvious circuit. Anegada, the only coral island in the chain, sits 15 miles north of Virgin Gorda and requires a separate navigation permit and careful pilotage through a marked channel. The crossing is straightforward in settled conditions, and the reward is a lobster lunch at one of the beach shacks fronting Setting Point, followed by an afternoon in water so shallow and clear that the sandy bottom is visible at anchor depth.
Sailing Yacht charter in British Virgin Islands Highlights
The Bight, Norman Island — the island widely associated with Stevenson's Treasure Island has four caves worth snorkelling at the western point and a long-established floating bar-restaurant on the west shore. Anchor holding is good in sand throughout the bay.
The Baths, Virgin Gorda — the geological formation of granite boulders at the island's southern tip creates a network of grottoes and pools accessible by a short swim from the anchorage. Arrive before 09:00 or after 16:00 to avoid the day-charter influx.
North Sound, Virgin Gorda — a protected lagoon entered through the channel between Prickly Pear Island and Mosquito Island, offering some of the best protected overnight anchorage in the BVI alongside the services of Leverick Bay marina.
Marina Cay, Beef Island — a small private island with a well-run restaurant and bar, good holding in the bay, and a satisfying short sail from Tortola. Robb White wrote a well-known account of early island life here that is worth reading before you visit.
Cooper Island Beach Club — a sustainably run property on the south shore of Cooper Island with moorings, a creditable rum bar, and a micro-brewery on site. One of the most comfortable overnight stops on the inner circuit.
Sandy Spit, Green Cay — a sand bar off the western end of Jost Van Dyke with room for a handful of boats to anchor in settled conditions. The kind of stop that earns its place on any itinerary by being genuinely unpretentious.
White Bay, Jost Van Dyke — home to the Soggy Dollar Bar, the claimed birthplace of the Painkiller cocktail, accessible only by dinghy from a rolling anchorage. Worth the brief inconvenience.
When to Sail
The BVI has a well-defined sailing season running from November through April when the Trades are most reliable and rainfall is low. Summer months bring lighter and more variable winds alongside elevated hurricane risk from June onwards.
High Season (Jun-Sep)
These months fall outside the traditional sailing season and carry elevated hurricane risk from June through November. Wind strengths drop to 10 to 15 knots on average, often lighter in July and August, which means more motoring between anchorages. Marinas and anchorages are noticeably quieter, and charter rates reflect that. Sailors who enjoy calm, unhurried passages and can monitor tropical weather systems closely will find the islands in a different, more private register. Comprehensive hurricane cancellation insurance is strongly advised for any charter booked between June and October.
Shoulder Season (May, Oct)
May sits just before hurricane season and retains much of the consistent Trade Wind character of the high season, with slightly warmer water and fewer charter boats at the popular anchorages. October marks the tail end of hurricane season and is genuinely unpredictable; some years deliver settled sailing weather, others bring lingering tropical disturbances. Both months offer reduced base rates and represent reasonable value for experienced sailors who accept the weather variability and carry appropriate insurance.
Choosing the Right Yacht
A sailing yacht in the 36 to 46-foot range is the BVI's native craft. Passages are short enough that performance is not a primary concern, but beam-reaching ability matters when you are working east through the Drake Channel with 20 knots of Trade Wind and a chop on the quarter. The Bavaria, Beneteau, and Jeanneau models that make up the bulk of the charter fleet here were designed partly with exactly this sailing profile in mind: comfortable cockpits, manageable rigs, and reliable diesel auxiliary for the rare flat-calm morning.
Seven Days in the BVI — A Classic Southern Circuit from Tortola
A suggested week-long charter route
Join the yacht at Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola's south-west coast, for late-afternoon provisioning and a safety briefing. Clear customs at Road Town if arriving independently. First night aboard at the marina. Short sail west to West End for final crew briefing if the skipper prefers a quieter base.
Depart Nanny Cay on a broad reach south-east, crossing to Norman Island in approximately two hours in typical Trade Wind conditions. Anchor in The Bight, snorkel the Treasure Caves on the western headland, and take dinner ashore at the floating restaurant. Good holding in sand at 4 to 6 metres.
Short morning sail north-east to Cooper Island. Pick up a mooring or anchor off the beach club, swim, and take lunch at the bar. Afternoon sail continues north-east to Peter Island, anchoring in Great Harbour or Sprat Bay before the afternoon trade builds. Peter Island Resort has a dock bar open to visiting sailors.
The longest passage of the circuit: east along the Drake Channel to Virgin Gorda's North Sound, approximately 20 miles. A beam reach in 15 to 20 knots is typical; the crew will earn this anchorage. Enter through the Colquhoun Reef channel and secure a mooring in North Sound. Dinner at Leverick Bay or Gun Creek village ashore.
Anchor off The Baths in the morning before day traffic arrives. The National Park mooring field fills quickly; arriving by 08:30 is advisable. Afternoon sail north-west towards Marina Cay off Beef Island, a passage of roughly 10 miles. Overnight on a mooring with dinner at the island's restaurant.
West to Jost Van Dyke, the most northerly stop on the circuit, entering Great Harbour for customs if the skipper has not yet checked in. Dinghy ashore for lunch, then reposition west to White Bay for the afternoon. The anchorage rolls in swell but the beach is worth it. Consider moving back to Great Harbour for a settled overnight.
Return passage south-east to Tortola, a downwind run of approximately 8 miles back to Nanny Cay or West End. Final provisioning, yacht hand-back by agreed time. Depart from Beef Island Airport (EIS) for connecting flights, a 15-minute taxi from Road Town.
Local Tips
- •Cruising permits are not optional. Any movement beyond BVI territorial waters, including day trips to St John or St Thomas in the USVI, requires a separate cruising permit issued by BVI Customs. Apply at Road Town or Nanny Cay and carry the paperwork aboard.
- •The BVI Dollar is pegged to the USD at parity. US dollars are accepted everywhere; local cash is rarely necessary. Most moorings in the National Parks system are paid via the BVINPT app, which requires a functioning data connection. Download it and load funds before leaving the marina.
- •Mooring balls at popular sites — The Baths, The Caves, Pelican Island — fill by mid-morning during high season. The rule in the BVI is that a mooring ball secured takes precedence over an anchor set afterwards. Arrive early or be prepared to move on.
- •Provisioning at Riteway Supermarket in Road Town is the most thorough option for a week's charter; their delivery service to Nanny Cay and Village Cay marinas is reliable if ordered 48 hours in advance. Bobby's Marketplace in Road Town is adequate for top-ups.
- •Lionfish is increasingly present on restaurant menus across the BVI and worth ordering. It is an invasive species actively being reduced by local divers, it is genuinely good eating, and ordering it amounts to a small ecological contribution. Anegada lobster, landed fresh and priced accordingly, remains the other signature meal of a BVI passage.
- •The inter-island radio net broadcasts on VHF Channel 16, with a dedicated morning cruisers' net at 08:15 on Channel 68. Weather updates, local notices, and informal mutual aid make it worth monitoring even if you are not actively participating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a skipper's licence to charter a sailing yacht in the BVI+
How far in advance should a BVI sailing charter be booked+
What is included in a standard BVI bareboat charter fee+
Is the BVI suitable for sailing with children+
Can I sail from the BVI to the US Virgin Islands+
What sailing experience level is appropriate for a BVI bareboat+
Speak with our brokers to match the right sailing yacht to your BVI dates and group size.
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