British Virgin Islands (BVI)

Government Overseas British Territory Capital Road Town Currency US$ Area 153km2 Population (2005) 22,016 Language English Islands 15 inhabited Economy Offshore banking (55%) & tourism (45%) GDP per Capita $38,500 (23rd worldwide) [2008 Data] Links CIA Factbook, Wikipedia Page, Tourism Portal

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The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a premium destination for cruisers and charterers alike. It is home to the largest charter fleet in the world and the conditions are optimal for easy sailing - ideal trade winds year-round, sheltered waters and many anchorages. The sheltered Sir Francis Drake Channel makes for easy line-of-sight sailing with numerous destinations available within a short sail or motoring distance. Most anchorages have mooring balls available and most of them sport restaurants and bars ashore. Numerous beautiful beaches and year-round warm climate in the trade-wind belt (hurricanes excepted, of course) round out the package. This is a destination for those who aren't looking for secluded anchorages (while they can be found, one really needs to look for them). The country is reached via flights from the USA (via Puerto Rico or St. Thomas) and only somewhat more difficult from Europe via Antigua or St. Martin. The small Beef Island International airport isn't large enough for big passenger jets which help keep the BVI from becoming a package-tour destination, despite having a large cruise ship dock and catering to cruise ships.

Over time I find that I have spent far too many leisurely days and weeks in the BVI, idling from one anchorage to another over many trips and 4 successive boats. I even stayed on Virgin Gorda for about 2 months at one stretch while waiting for a new rudder for Solitaire to arrive from France. One reason that many remain in the BVI longer than planned is that the next leg is towards St. Martin / Sint Maarten and is almost always directly upwind and against the waves - an uncomfortable uphill sail of ~80nm; and that is when the conditions are good. Usually it is best to wait for a significant northerly wind component and even then it is best to just motor sail and get it over with.

While it is hard to select my favourite pictures from among the many that I have, I've posted some of them below.

For a map with clickable pictures from this site displayed geographically please click here

Looking down at Cane Garden Bay [18°25'0.89"N 64°39'58.21"W (facing NE)]	Sandy Cay Crab [18°26'6.94"N 64°42'37.07"W ]	Loblolly Beach [18°44'35.25"N 64°18'50.17"W (facing W)]	View down to the North Sound (2009-01-19 21:03:01 DSC-N2 [f/8.0, 10/4000s] ISO 160)	Rainbow in the North Sound [18°30'11.93"N 64°21'36.93"W (facing SW)]
Before going snorkeling we needed to fortify ourselves at the Pirate's restaurant and bar. Jen had to leave the shaded comfort and sit in the sun. Later that night she could have used the table in the picture as camouflage, but, unlike me, she didn't burn and was ready for more the next day. [18°19'4.58"N 64°36'47.78"W (facing W)]	Consuming enough calories and maintaining proper hydration is extremely important in survival conditions such as these. [18°26'7.31"N 64°42'38.67"W (facing E)]	Virgin Gorda Baths [18°25'47.4"N 64°26'45.24"W (facing E)]	Napua and I headed to the far side of Prickly pear and were alone on this beach. [18°30'23.69"N 64°21'54.77"W (facing NW)]	Trellis Bay beach [18°26'43.45"N 64°32'5.82"W (facing SE)]
Pelicans at the dinghy dock of Foxy's Taboo in the BVI [18°26'59.6"N 64°43'35.49"W (facing N)]	This wave proved to be a particularly good one. [18°27'15.67"N 64°43'48.51"W ]	Looking west on Jost [18°26'51.19"N 64°45'31.53"W (facing W)]	The waterfront view from the front entrance of Malcolm's Chateau Relaxeau. [18°23'53.23"N 64°41'1.28"W (facing N)]	One of the many leisure activities available aboard the S.S. William Thornton (2013-02-20 18:50:59 NIKON D7000 with a "35.0 mm f/1.8" lens. [f/1.8, 1/6s] ISO 640 Focus 3.76m)
Diving on the wreck of the 75m long refrigeration boat "Chikuzen", sunk in 1981 between Anegada and the BVI in about 80 feet of water. She is the only landmark in a large area of sand and is therefore a magnet for fish. [18°37'54.95"N 64°30'42.18"W ]	Anegada Sunset [18°43'16.38"N 64°22'58.82"W (facing W)]	Potter's bar staff [18°43'24.09"N 64°22'53.69"W ]	A wide shot of the whole of White Bay [18°26'46.09"N 64°45'58.96"W (facing SE)]	The beach in front of the B-Line bar on Little Jost, BVI (2014-05-17 14:06:14 NIKON D7100 with a "18.0-250.0 mm f/3.5-6.3" lens. [f/8.0, 1/320s] ISO 200)