No. 1 British Virgin Islands

The most popular charter destination in the Caribbean is the British Virgin Islands, with short sails between islands, beautiful beaches and happening beach bars. The iconic rocks of The Baths may be the islands’ most recognizable feature, but the warm turquoise water and reliable trade winds keep sailors coming back.    

Fully recovered from hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the islands were just getting up to speed when the pandemic hit and the BVI shut its doors. Now, with a four-day on-the-boat quarantine and testing, the charter companies are back in business. (See Busman’s Holiday, page 42, for an in-depth look at cruising
the BVI.)

Charters begin on Tortola, and the first stop on a charter is the Bight at Norman Island for dinner at Pirates beach bar and drinks aboard. The infamous Willie T. Cooper Island recently reopened as have favorite spots in Virgin Gorda Sound, Leverick Bay Marina and Oil Nut Bay, a must for Sunday brunch. The Bitter End Yacht Club is set to fully open later this year.

Any charter in the BVI is not complete without a stop at Jost Van Dyke to enjoy a pain killer at the Soggy Dollar Bar and to listen to Foxy Callwoods sweet island music at his iconic beach bar. One bonus of the shut down has been the rebounding of the marine life, and the lobsters are said to have never been bigger.