Moorings News

A Journey From Student to Ambassador

The Virgin Islands and Offshore Sailing School Open a New World of Sailing & Sharing

When Owen Herrin books a bareboat yacht charter with The Moorings, chances are it’s going to be in the British Virgin Islands, a place of idyllic beauty he fell in love with 15 years ago. Since then he’s chartered in the BVI at least ten times to enjoy great sailing in protected waters, picturesque anchorages, and funky beachside bars. Sailing in the BVI aboard a Moorings 51.5, Herrin’s usual yacht choice, just doesn’t get old for him. In fact, it gets better every time, so much so that he can’t resist inviting non-sailing friends along with him, knowing the BVI will make a lasting impression and possibly encourage them to take up sailing.

“Over the years, I’ve brought many people who were new to sailing to experience what it’s like to charter in the BVI. It’s perfect for that,” Herrin said. “You’re never out of sight of land, you’re doing short hops to the next destination, and there’s so much to do, the BVI can appeal to almost anyone.” When Herrin, takes a new group of friends to the BVI, he loves to show them the Baths of Virgin Gorda; the formation of craggy rocks features tunnels, caves, and pools to explore. Snorkeling at the Indians, and at the caves of Treasure Point at The Bight is another favored activity, as is relaxing in the cockpit at Cane Garden Bay on Tortola.

Jost Van Dyke’s two classic beachfront bars – the Soggy Dollar and Foxy’s – are also high on Herrin’s list. “If it’s a new group, we take them to Foxy’s,” Herrin said. “It’s world famous. You’ve got to say you’ve been to Foxy’s when you go to the BVI.”

Herrin, a banker from Waycross, Georgia, has also chartered from The Moorings bases at St. Martin in the Leeward Islands and Canouan in the Windward Islands, visiting Caribbean jewels such as St. Barts. “That island has a very beautiful anchorage, and you’ll see all kinds of sailboats from all over the world. There are lots of eateries, bars and designer shops that rival any in the world,” he said.

Herrin chartered out of Canouan to savor the Grenadines. Each island has its own appeal, ranging from the beaches of Mustique to the unparalleled snorkeling in the Tobago Cays Marine Park.

Herrin got into sailing after enjoying an afternoon cruise aboard a catamaran in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the early 1990s. Hoping that the sport would provide a “personal challenge” and enable him to bareboat charter in exotic locales, he took the Learn to Sail course at Steve and Doris Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School, the official sailing school for The Moorings. Completing the Live Aboard Cruising course in 1995 certified him to bareboat charter.

“After that, it’s been one or two weeks per year of bareboat chartering with The Moorings,” he said. “With the Offshore Sailing School being partnered with The Moorings, it makes it very easy to transition from being a student into bareboat chartering.”

Herrin went on to take the Offshore Sailing School’s Ocean Passage Making course to gain more experience. With two instructors aboard, a group of students sailed from Tortola to St. Martin on a six-day adventure involving two night passages. “I loved sailing at night. It was wonderful standing watch under a billion stars and feeling the warm trade winds. My daughter went on the trip with me, and it really opened her eyes to the magic of sailing,” he said.

Herrin has become an ambassador of sailing. His love of the sport and the BVI is infectious, and he finds it immensely satisfying when non-sailing friends take an interest.

“My family all love sailing now, and over the years a number of friends who had never sailed before look forward to going. I’ve had friends from college I hadn’t seen in 40 years, and we got together in 2007 and started sailing. Sailing is relaxing, educational, and exciting. It’s been more than I ever thought it would be,” Herrin said.

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