The presence of almost constant trade winds in Tortola, the warm temperature of the seas, the idyllic coastline with its pristine white sand beaches, fringed by swaying palm trees - all these aspects combine to produce perfect yachting waters. With upwards of 50 bays and cays and anchorages to select from, it is little wonder that the British Virgin Islands are amongst the Caribbean’s most popular sailing areas.

The scenery from your yacht, as you cruise through the perfect blue waters of the Caribbean, will delight even the most experienced travelers. Novice sailors will enjoy the security of knowing that they are very rarely out of sight of land. There’s nearly always an island close by. In fact, perhaps the only time they would be out of sight of land altogether might be if you decided to sail north to Anegada -the drowned island - a truly captivating island, of coral reef beginnings, which is 10 miles long, 2 miles wide but only 28 feet high! This unique sailing destination also happens to serve the best lobsters in the universe! It’s just one of the things to do on your British Virgin Island yachting vacation that will make it a trip you’ll never forget.

Selecting a yacht for your vacation will be full of options. Obviously, the larger the boat you select, the larger the staterooms that will be available to you, with catamarans usually providing the most spacious accommodations. As you might expect, the variety of yachts available for you to charter is considerable - monohulls or catamarans, sailboats or motor charters. You will be able to find something to suit every budget and need.

Deciding whether to choose a crewed charter or to go ‘bareboat’ may be one of the first steps in laying out you Tortola yacht charter. If you choose the latter, then imagine the ultimate sailing experience, with complete freedom and independence. If you’re not sure which would suit you best, the yacht companies will be glad to help you make your decision.

The charter companies based in Tortola will normally require some evidence that the skipper of the vessel has had previous experience - certificates are not mandatory but are, on the other hand, very useful - and, as a general rule, will require there to be at least one other competent crew member.

When it comes to selecting a crewed charter, the possibilities are very wide. Some companies offer a ‘captain only’ service, with the qualified skipper being totally responsible for the safe operation of the yacht but perhaps needing your assistance with the sailing. Some crewed charters offer both a captain and a cook, so that no-one on the journey needs to worry about cooking, cleaning or making sure there is enough ice! It’s also possible to charter a fully-crewed boat, some of which even have members of the crew who are qualified scuba diving teachers - certified to at least the level of Dive Master.

Chartering a great yacht is the ultimate luxury of the sea; your own private cruise, with nothing to do except relax and watch the Caribbean flow by. These crewed yachts will have a good range of water toys - from kayaks to water-skis - for you to enjoy. Whatever your charter requirements, there will be companies in Tortola who will not only meet your expectations but far exceed them. Come and discover exactly why Tortola has become one of the world’s favorite sailing hot spots.

Tags: Travel Tips

Share This