Sailing the BVI with Captain Glenn 

Now that you’ve just completed your inaugural charter with The Moorings in the British Virgin Islands, where would you place the BVI in the hierarchy of sailing destinations you’ve visited worldwide? 

The British Virgin Islands are probably the best place in the world for a tropical sailing holiday. One could easily spend a month or two experiencing all it has to offer, but you can hit almost all the hot spots easily on a one-week trip. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the BVI quite a few times, many times while working on Superyachts, a couple times on catamarans and once on my first little sailboat, a 34 sloop. I think most sailors dream of cruising the islands of the Caribbean, and it’s generally accepted that the BVI represents the best sailing experience in the Caribbean, with lots of diverse anchorages and marinas within easy reach of each other in a well-protected cruising ground featuring steady trade wind sailing and crystal-clear turquoise waters. 

What were your favorite anchorages, and why? 

It’s impossible to name a favorite when there are so many to choose from, but I consider these “must-sees”: Cooper Island, The Baths (probably the coolest beach on the planet) of course The North Sound and Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, The Settlement on Anegada, the idyllic Sandy Spit, The Bight on Norman Island (and the infamous Willie T’s)  and my all-time favorite White Bay on Jost Van Dyke with the iconic Soggy Dollar Bar, a “must see” if there ever was one. But I can easily think of ten more spots without even trying. 

Any tips you would recommend for someone considering a charter in the BVI? 

Bring plenty of sunscreen, a wide brim hat, a long sleeve rash guard or two. Definitely bring an action camera to capture the amazing world beneath the waves. Leave your cares at home, be flexible with your planning, and if you haven’t already, give a catamaran a go, I promise you won’t regret it. Lastly, go easy on the Painkillers. They are heaven in a cup, but they might sneak up on you! 

We sailed aboard a 42’, 3-cabin, Moorings 4200 sailing catamaran. During the trip you mentioned how you actually don’t have much experience sailing catamarans. What was your overall takeaway from sailing a Moorings cat for a week? 

I’ve been a monohull sailor all my days but there is no doubt that Catamarans are all the rage nowadays. It’s easy to see why: tons of space to hang out and relax inside and out and no heeling, which is especially nice if you have new sailors onboard. You can’t beat the comfort and spaciousness.  

I was blown away by the Moorings 4200 we had. She sailed really well, easily hitting 8-9 knots, and I was very impressed with how easily she tacked and built speed again on the new course. She was surprisingly capable upwind and glided effortlessly downwind with the big mainsail out on one side and the Genoa goose winged out on the other. 

But the highlight had to be the enormous owners suite that I enjoyed, taking up the entire starboard hull, with a massive walk-in shower and head compartment all the way forward and the full size bed at the back with tons of storage throughout, it felt more like a superyacht guest cabin than what I’m more accustomed to. 

We weren’t sure what to expect, but it turned out that everyone in the BVI recognized you from the show. What was that like for you? Do you experience that often? 

I spend most of my time in Europe so I usually only get recognized once every week or two, a bit more so around marinas, naturally. But meeting and being recognized by so many sailors in the BVI was a bit of a Rock Star experience, great for the ego, it’s something I’ve only really experienced at events like BravoCon or at Boat Shows like Miami or Annapolis. 

I really enjoy interacting with fans of the show, especially fellow sailors who really have that first-hand knowledge of why we all love the sea. 

Any final thoughts on your first charter with The Moorings? Did it live up to expectations? Is there anything that jumped out to you as to why you would recommend chartering with The Moorings vs. someone else? 

The trip exceeded all my expectations. The Moorings base was conveniently located and had all the amenities anyone could ever dream of, the staff were friendly and welcoming, the handover walkthrough was spot on and instilled confidence, the boat was in perfect condition and well stocked with everything one would need for a great sailing holiday. 

 I’ve been on a few charter trips with other companies and while still fun, sadly they didn’t always live up to exceptions, too many problems with equipment and systems, and a lack of follow-up support once you leave the marina. I think that’s why The Moorings remains the leader in this field. We had a small issue with a shower drain, for example, and a technician was onboard and had the problem fixed quite literally within an hour of our call, and we were back on our way. The Moorings would always be my number one choice, and I’m not just saying that because I’m now part of the team. I can’t wait until the next trip!