
Last week I wrote about my plans to spend the rest of this season and next season in the Leeward and Windward Islands. The day I was dropping off my…
Both good and bad, the BVI is the “Charter Capitol of the World”. The sailing is short and easy and there seems to be a bar or restaurant in every bay. While you can find a few quiet, out of the way coves, most people in the BVI want a week of partying, sailing, snorkeling, and beaches as they follow a typical circuit around the islands.
Historically, the Arawak tribe first arrive around 100 BC, but were displaced by the aggressive Caribs (the tribe that gave the Caribbean its name) in the 15th century. Christopher Columbus arrived during his second voyage to the New World in 1493. He named the islands after the legend of Saint Ursula and her 10,000 Virgins.
In the following years, various European nations fought for control of the islands while it became a notorious pirate haven. The Dutch finally settled Tortola in 1648 and the English took control in 1672. Sugar cane was introduced and slaves were brought in to run the plantations until 1840 when they were emancipated.
Although I did a two-week bareboat charter back in 2007, it has been the 6 plus years running a charter business in the Virgin Islands that has given me an extensive knowledge of the BVI.
During a week-long charter the highlights are snorkeling the Indians and Caves at Norman Island, which was the inspiration for “Treasure Island”, before getting wild on the Willy T in the evening. Almost everyone loves spending an afternoon relaxing at Cooper Island beach resort after snorkeling the RMS Rhone shipwreck. The exploration around the gigantic boulders at the Baths make it a world class site. Also on Virgin Gorda is the North Sound, where I could spend 3-4 days if allowed. Anegada is unique since it is not mountainous and is
more of a ten-mile-long sand bar and way more laid back then the other islands. Finally, there is Jost Van Dyke, my favorite BVI island, with Sandy Cay, the Bubbly Pool, the Soggy Dollar bar, dinner at Corsair’s, and finishing the day off at Foxy’s. Of course, there is a whole lot more to do in the BVI, but just be prepared to have lots of boats sharing each anchorage with you as they party their vacation away.
My biggest dislike about the BVI is the fact that customer service is atrocious compared to US standards. If you want to try and get in with the locals saying good morning, afternoon, or evening will go a very long way.
Below you can get even more helpful hints by watching the travel videos I made for the British Virgin Islands. Also, you can read all about the BVI in my blog posts located below the video.
Last week I wrote about my plans to spend the rest of this season and next season in the Leeward and Windward Islands. The day I was dropping off my…
Months ago my friend found a little waterproof camera floating by his boat. He picked it up and found no photos on it to help determine who it needed to…
Great Tobago Island is a small island laying 4-5 miles west of Jost Van Dyke and north of St John. With is you will find Little Tobago Island, Cable Rock…
Everyone knows Jost Van Dyke as one of the best islands in the BVI due to the amazing beach in White Bay. Of course, everyone has to go to Soggy…
Tomorrow I am going to tell you all about the hike I did with a family up to the top of Jost Van Dyke’s hilltop, but today I wanted to…
I am very honored to be featured on Amateur Traveler‘s very popular podcast hosted by Chris Christensen. Chris has been hosting a travel podcast for over 13 years now and…
[Shane – I found the following article detailing the return of the Willy T on BVI News and thought so many of you would love to know. The orginal post…
Today’s photo of the day is from last week’s charter where I lead several of them through my special route at the Baths. One of the highlights is making it…
If you happen to be near the North Sound in the BVI on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday you might want to visit Leverick Bay for the Michael Beans Pirate Show…
After seven years of living and working in the Caribbean has shown me that we have amazing sunsets down here. It is as if God pulls out a different color…
The Bubbly Pool on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands is a great place to check out in the winter month when the north swell is running. The…
Last month I told you how the famous floating bar called the WIlly T washed up ashore during hurricane Irma. Well I have some good news! supposable there will be…
On my last charter one of the guest said the moon was amazing, so we all went to the bow of the boat and boy was he correct. The full…
The Willy T was a famous floating bar in The Bight of Norman Island. It was infamous for the debauchery that happened aboard. Each night would be different and I…
As you all know the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were hit hard by two different hurricanes this summer. Well I can tell you that per the culture everyone is…
Several years ago, I made a decision that I did not want to deal with the insane amount of boats that show up in the BVI during New Year’s week….
If you’re going on a cruise around the Caribbean with a boat like Guiding Light let’s see what you should pack when you’re getting ready! Suitcases – First of all,…
As I told you on Thursday, I am interrupting our adventures to share with you an article I wrote several months ago for some magazines. Given the damage the two…
Even though they got hammered by two catagory 5 hurricanes in a two week period, the islands still have what you want. The destruction is vast, but the beaches are…
Now that I have finished writting about our time in Morocco, I want to talk about the Virgin Islands for a bit before I get back to telling you all…
Today’s photo of the day is one I took last season and I think is appropriate now that two catagory 5 hurricanes have ripped through the Virgin Islands and Puerto…
[Shane – this week I broke up an article I wrote summarizing our cruise for some sailing magazines. The first part was on Sunday, the second part was on Tuesday, and…
I have a spot at Mountain Point on Virgin Gorda in the BVI that I have named the Lion’s Den, due to the roar that comes out of the cave….
On my last charter of the season we were sitting in the cockpit at Anegada. The day was extremely cloudy with rain every now and then. As we sat drinking…
During the winter, when the north swell is running, the Bubbly Pool on Jost Van Dyke is the place to be. It is on the north side of the island…
Over on the east end of Tortola in the BVI you will find a group of islands. One of the islands is called Guana Island and is pretty famous for…
If you have ever been in Trellis Bay on the north side of Beef Island, then you know how great of a bay it is with all the small shops…
Did you read about the shipwreck I finally snorkeled? If not check it out at yesterday’s blog.
In September 2007, I did a bareboat charter for two weeks in the BVI with friends and family. It was a great experience and gave me lots of knowledge….even leading…
Did you know these caves on Norman Island are featured in Robert Lewis Stevenson’s book “Treasure Island”?
Turns out 15 men were marooned on Dead Chest a mile away. They sailors tried to swim to Peter Island, but drowned and started washing up on this beach. This…
Today’s “photo of the day” is a panoramic of Sandy Cay in the BVI. It is a little deserted island near Jost Van Dyke. Do you want to visit? Just…
Today’s “photo of the day” is a pic using a GoPro where we all jumped off a rock at the Baths.
As many of you know I am finishing my sixth season of chartering in the Virgin Islands this year. After over 100 charters and only three complaints (97% success rate!!!!)…
Today’s “photo of the day” is from the inside of the deepest cave at Norman Island. Is this where the gold was hidden in Treasure Island?
I recently took the ferry over to Tortola to work on my MCA and Boatmaster, which the BVI requires. Since my boat was in Red Hook I took the ferry…
I have seen the above tug boat shipwrecked on the beach at the front of Soper’s Hole Bay everytime I check in. Guest and I have dinghied to it and…
The North Sound on Virgin Gorda is a wonderful place you could spend 3-7 days in. Most people come in for one night and spend it at Bitter End Yacht…
Yesterday I told you about the secret of the dock in The Bight at Norman Island. Today we have a “POTD” from the trail leading to Pirate’s Bight from the…
Did you know that Norman Island was the inspiration for Robert Lewis Stevenson’s Treasure Island? Well regardless of whether people know this or not they flock to Norman Island to…
This weekend my guest surprised everyone aboard by using his Marriott points and getting the boat a slip and everyone the Governor’s Room at Scrub Island Resort. When I first…
During the winter season a lot of my guest tell me they had a great time attending the Michael Beans Show at Leverick Bay, which is a pirate beach party…
This last weekend was the 2nd annual Love City Country music fest on St John. The event was made possible with the help from a local backline rental, providing the…
So on Tuesday I told you how I found treasure in the waters of Norman Island. Well today I want to tell you about something else I saw in the…
I am on a charter right now that brought a drone with them to get aerial footage of their trip. Let me tell you they are getting some amazing pictures…
Well Joost van Dyk found the best way was to help set up the first permanent settlements in the BVI. He was a privateer working for the Dutch West Indian Company…
So everyone knows about the shenanigans that happen at the Willy T, right? Well the other week I actually saw someone kicked off the boat. What could someone possibly do…
One of the main features of the BVI is the Sir Francis Drake Channel. This body of water is surrounded by islands and gives a sailor the feeling of sailing…
Back in the days of yonder when the Virgin Islands were the haven of pirates, there lived one such pirate by the name of Edward Teach. Of course you may…
So you are planing a vacation to the warmth and relaxing Caribbean? In fact you choose to visit the Virgin Islands. Now regardless of whether you came on a cruise…
I have come to a realization…spending New Year’s week in the BVI and New Year’s Eve in Great Harbor on Jost Van Dyke is fun….once. After that the sheer number…
What are you doing this day? I will probably be on a beach like this somewhere.
Last week my cousins visited and I took them on a relaxing stroll through the BVI. Along the way I started comparing the different hammocks I came across. Here are…
Cooper Island Beach Resort has a mooring field that is usually one of the first to fill up. In fact most days you must be there before 1:30pm to get…
Well that is easy. It starts with having one of the best dinners in the BVI at Corsair’s. This hole in the wall looking building pumps out some amazing meals…
If you want a beach party then this is the place for you. Every day boats of all sizes anchor off of the Soggy Dollar in White Bay on Jost…
Marina Cay is a small island near the BVI airport. It is surrounded by a protective reef. Charter boats love to pick up a mooring behind the reef and island,…
Over on the east end of Tortola you will find Guana Island and Monkey Point at the south end. This almost separate island is connect by a very small beach…
The other day I took some guest to the Bubbly Pool on the east end of Jost Van Dyke and decided to tell you about it. This adventure spot is…
On the sail from the Baths to North Sound along Virgin Gorda we decided to change plans and took off for Anegada. We were over half way there and doing…
The date was October 29, 1867 and life aboard the Royal Mail Ship Rhone was idyllic. The weather was settled and the sun was shining while the 310 foot sailing/steam…
Today I was asked a question I get all the time and that is “does it rain a lot and should I bring my rain gear?” The truth is that…
Want to try something amazing? That is what I was asked the other night after a few 2 for 1 rum punches at Cooper Island resort (where there are…
Dr. Seuss was a famous children’s book writer and was known for the rhyming flow to his stories. Well yesterday a local BV Islander drove his skiff up to my boat…
Anegada is a delightful island on the far end of the BVI. It is flat, sandy, and developed from coral unlike the rest of the Virgin Islands which were volcanic…
One of my favorite islands in the BVI is Anegada and it just got better because of the Anegada Beach Club! You see the best part about Anegada is…
As No Beard the pirate mentioned on Sunday, I took them to see Michael Beans (www.beansmusic.com) perform his Happy Arrrrr show at Leverick Bay on Virgin Gorda in the North Sound. Michael performs…
The north part of Virgin Gorda has a mile or so wide protected basin, which I feel you could spend three days of a charter exploring. Check out the first…
Last week I mentioned when you are done exploring the Baths you should take a taxi tour of Virgin Gorda and stop by Copper Mine Point in the process. This…
As much as I love being in the USVI (especially St John and St Croix) and SVI (just read the three blogs in September) the number one site in the…
Unlike other times in life, when one of my charters goes to the Dogs it is a wonderful thing! The Dogs are a group of small uninhabited islands between Virgin…
Every 28 days an event happens around the world that is celebrated in two different locations and styles in the British Virgin Islands. The event is the completion of a…
For the 18 years I lived in Colorado there is one Texas delicacy that was not available (just my luck they started shipping it since I left)! Even though Colorado…
As promised last week let’s talk about the Willy T, your best chance for debauchery in the BVI. The original concept for this joint started in 1989 when an old…
People often ask me what my favorite islands are and I tell them St John is by far my favorite, and I have written about different sites around that island…
From Lesley- Well, it’s officially here- the end of the “most awesome vacation ever.” We coined this phrase about 9 months ago when we booked our trip and have been…
My New Year Eve’s have never been that great. Starting when I was a kid I would spend most of them in Missouri watching over my younger cousins while the…
Twas the month before Christmas, when all thro’ the boat Not a creature was stirring, cause we have no goat; The stockings were hung on a palm tree with care,…
If you haven’t been to the islands before like me (although my husband has been several times) you have visions of paradise. And yes indeed, the Virgin Islands (US and…
This week I got a call from Jeff about a last minute 2 day charter. He said his dream was to spend his 50th birthday on the Willy T. After…
Hello my name is Aaron and my wife, Sabrina, and I just disembarked the Guiding Light after a weeklong trip through the BVI and I have been given the opportunity…
We left Anagada Monday because I had a very bad wi-fi connection and went back to Leverick Resort in North Sound. We sailed and got the boat to 8.7 knots…
(by Steph) Hello, I have the distinct honor of being the first crew person and the first lady to sail under Capt. Shane. I hale from Golden CO, Shane’s old…