If there were ever a place designed for yacht charters, it’s the British Virgin Islands. A sailor’s paradise of turquoise water, powder-soft beaches, and world-class snorkelling, this cluster of islands offers everything you could want from a tropical getaway — and more.
The sheltered Sir Francis Drake Channel makes sailing smooth and relaxed, with barely a ripple to disturb your morning coffee or sundowner cocktail. You can often see your next destination on the horizon which can be as little as an hour’s sail away, perfect for leisurely island-hopping. The islands carefully guard their natural treasures and allow only select yachts a license to charter here. So when you charter in the BVIs you’re joining a privileged few, who appreciate the opportunity for adventure and preservation.
With American Airlines now flying direct from Miami to Tortola, you can touch down in the heart of the BVIs and be on board in no time — an effortless start to a weeklong charter.
A Paradise of Contrast
Each island has its own character, which is what makes a week of cruising here feel like several holidays rolled into one. You might start in Tortola, the heart of the BVIs and the bustling hub of Caribbean yachting. It’s where island life meets easy sophistication — think beach bars, hilltop restaurants, and lively palm-lined marinas.
As you step aboard, perhaps onto 43m luxury yacht LADY J, it won’t be long before you realise there’s as much to do as there is time to simply do nothing. One moment you’re snorkelling through the giant granite boulders and hidden pools of The Baths on Virgin Gorda, like something straight out of a fantasy novel. The next, you’re sipping a rum cocktail at a bar in Saba Rock, looking out across the turquoise waters of the North Sound towards the world-famous Necker Island.
Then there’s Anegada, a uniquely flat coral island where flamingos wade across the salt ponds and the beaches seem to stretch out for miles. It’s a place that feels enticingly remote — perfect for barefoot lunches or lobster dinners under the stars. Jost Van Dyke greets you with a change of pace and its famously easy-going, small island vibe — home of the original Painkiller cocktail at the Soggy Dollar Bar and weekend-night beach BBQs at Foxy’s. A hike on Great Thatch Island the following morning is a welcome antidote to the previous night’s rum. Or simply sit back and watch the dolphins, whales and turtles from on deck or with the sand between your toes.
The BVIs are steeped in history and legend both above and below the water, with Norman Island said to have inspired the novel Treasure Island, and dozens of well-known shipwrecks littering the ocean floor. Now teaming with underwater life, this is a diver’s haven with sites accessible to beginner divers as well as seasoned ‘wreck-heads’. Yachts such as 50m motor yacht REVERIE and 62m motor yacht LUCKY LADY are equipped with the latest dive equipment and guides to keep you safe as you explore. If you prefer, take a paddle board, jet ski or the tender and appreciate the surroundings from above the water.
Why the BVIs Are a perfect Charter Destination
Everything about the British Virgin Islands seems designed to make yacht life simple.
- The distances between islands are short and the waters are consistently calm
- The opportunities for activities are endless – diving, snorkelling, watersports, hiking, authentic dining and beach bars, it’s all here
- The area is one of the most protected cruising grounds in the world offering exclusivity and ocean preservation
- Direct travel from the USA – door to deck in just a few hours
So, whether you’re a first-time charter guest or a seasoned yacht traveller, this is definitely one to tick off the bucket list. The British Virgin Islands aren’t just somewhere you sail — they’re somewhere you’ll feel you belong.
