British Virgin Islands Sailing Itinerary

Cooper Island

Norman Island, with its popular anchorage “The Bight”, lies on the east side of Flanagan Passage with St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands just across from it to the west. Hilly, scenic, and popular for its superior snorkelling locations, Norman Island is a highly-recommended stop on any BVI charter.

Enjoy drinks and dining at Pirate’s Bight Restaurant, serving appetizers, salads, entrees and cocktails including Pirate’s “Irma Punch”. There are plenty of mooring balls available here, and you can enjoy snorkelling at both The Indians and The Caves.

Mooring

Anchoring in Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island’s main harbour, is not recommended because the holding ground isn’t good. Moorings for a fee are plentiful, but get there early.

Dinghy dockage: Tie up on either of the jetties flanking the Cooper Island Beach Club.

Things to do

Cooper Island has a good beach for swimming and watersports. Enjoy a meal at the Cooper Island Beach Club or shop at the Seagrape Boutique. Scuba buffs will want to check out Sail Caribbean Divers, which offers dive excursions for divers of all skill levels. Of special interest are dives on the HMS Rhone, a mail steamer sunk off the west end of nearby Salt Island during a hurricane in 1867. As is the case at Norman and Peter islands, a motorboat makes early evening rounds in the mooring fields, its cheerful crew offering a variety of provisions for sale, including freshly baked bread and pastries.

Facilities

Cooper Island Beach Club has moorings. No other facilities for yachts are available.

Virgin Gorda Island

Norman Island, with its popular anchorage “The Bight”, lies on the east side of Flanagan Passage with St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands just across from it to the west. Hilly, scenic, and popular for its superior snorkelling locations, Norman Island is a highly-recommended stop on any BVI charter.

Enjoy drinks and dining at Pirate’s Bight Restaurant, serving appetizers, salads, entrees and cocktails including Pirate’s “Irma Punch”. There are plenty of mooring balls available here, and you can enjoy snorkelling at both The Indians and The Caves.

Mooring

There are mooring balls available at Leverick Bay for a fee. When anchoring, holding is generally good here.

Dinghy dockage: Leverick Bay offers dinghy dockage.

Things to do

The Baths is a major attraction on Virgin Gorda, where you can explore the rock formation’s tunnels, pools, and caves. In North Sound, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to activities and photo opportunities.

Facilities

Leverick Bay Resort and Marina has slips, ice, garbage disposal, and provisions available.

Anegada Island

Norman Island, with its popular anchorage “The Bight”, lies on the east side of Flanagan Passage with St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands just across from it to the west. Hilly, scenic, and popular for its superior snorkelling locations, Norman Island is a highly-recommended stop on any BVI charter.

Enjoy drinks and dining at Pirate’s Bight Restaurant, serving appetizers, salads, entrees and cocktails including Pirate’s “Irma Punch”. There are plenty of mooring balls available here, and you can enjoy snorkelling at both The Indians and The Caves.

Mooring

Moorings are available for a fee in the inner harbour. Anchorages are located in the inner and outer harbours. Holding is good.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

It’s well worth renting a car from one of several companies to fully explore Anegada, or opt for a bicycle or scooter rental instead. There are also taxicabs to get you where you want to go. Loblolly Bay on the north shore is known for its spectacular snorkelling and scuba diving in crystal clear water. Bones Bight and Cow Wreck beaches are also lovely. Fishing on the flats extending eastward from Setting Point is another popular pastime; guides are available for private charters. A sail to the island wouldn’t be complete without savouring the locally caught lobster. Potter’s by the Sea, Anegada Reef Hotel, and Wonky Dog are just a few of your dining options. Not all of the businesses on Anegada accept credit cards, so plan on paying with cash, and be sure to make dinner reservations in advance.

Facilities

Ice, provisions, phones, and Internet access are available. Fun in the Sun Market is open for basic provisions. Ice is available at Li’l Bits store or Anegada Reef Hotel.

Trellis Bay

Norman Island, with its popular anchorage “The Bight”, lies on the east side of Flanagan Passage with St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands just across from it to the west. Hilly, scenic, and popular for its superior snorkelling locations, Norman Island is a highly-recommended stop on any BVI charter.

Enjoy drinks and dining at Pirate’s Bight Restaurant, serving appetizers, salads, entrees and cocktails including Pirate’s “Irma Punch”. There are plenty of mooring balls available here, and you can enjoy snorkelling at both The Indians and The Caves.

Mooring

A number of moorings are available for a fee. Holding ground is good.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at Trellis Bay.

Things to do

Spend the day at Monkey Point, Guana Island. The snorkelling is excellent, and nearby beaches make a lovely backdrop for paddleboarding.

Facilities

The Trellis Bay Market has ice, drinking water and garbage disposal facilities available

Great Harbour

Norman Island, with its popular anchorage “The Bight”, lies on the east side of Flanagan Passage with St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands just across from it to the west. Hilly, scenic, and popular for its superior snorkelling locations, Norman Island is a highly-recommended stop on any BVI charter.

Enjoy drinks and dining at Pirate’s Bight Restaurant, serving appetizers, salads, entrees and cocktails including Pirate’s “Irma Punch”. There are plenty of mooring balls available here, and you can enjoy snorkelling at both The Indians and The Caves.

Mooring

A number of moorings are available for a fee. Holding ground is good. The anchorage can get crowded, so be sure you have plenty of swinging room.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

A BVI charter wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Foxy’s, one of the more famous restaurants in the Caribbean. It’s located at the eastern end of the beach and has built a reputation over the last 40 years as a hugely popular party Mecca for world sailors. The casual ambience and friendly staff certainly contribute to its appeal, but the other patrons taking a short breather from long ocean passages also play a part in the bar‘s allure.

A short hop to the west brings you to White Bay, home to the Soggy Dollar Bar, so named for the yachties who swim to it from their boats, soaking their dollar notes in the process!

Facilities

Water, fuel and ice are available at the main dock in Great Harbour. Provisions are not available at present.

The Bight

Norman Island, with its popular anchorage “The Bight”, lies on the east side of Flanagan Passage with St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands just across from it to the west. Hilly, scenic, and popular for its superior snorkelling locations, Norman Island is a highly-recommended stop on any BVI charter.

Enjoy drinks and dining at Pirate’s Bight Restaurant, serving appetizers, salads, entrees and cocktails including Pirate’s “Irma Punch”. There are plenty of mooring balls available here, and you can enjoy snorkelling at both The Indians and The Caves.

Mooring

Moorings for a fee are plentiful. Anchoring in the north-east or south-east portion of The Bight outside the mooring fields is possible, but it’s easier to just pick up a mooring to avoid worries about swinging room or dragging anchor.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at the Pirates Bight restaurant and bar.

Things to do

The caves at Treasure Point are a very special snorkelling location. You can swim inside the flooded indentations in the island with an underwater flashlight and observe teeming sea life in the shallow water. Just above the surface, the interior walls of the caves shimmer in purple and rust coloured orange. Nearby Pelican Island and The Indians is another major BVI snorkelling and scuba diving location.

Facilities

No facilities available for yachts.

Cooper Island

Mooring

Anchoring in Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island’s main harbour, is not recommended because the holding ground isn’t good. Moorings for a fee are plentiful, but get there early.

Dinghy dockage: Tie up on either of the jetties flanking the Cooper Island Beach Club.

Things to do

Cooper Island has a good beach for swimming and watersports. Enjoy a meal at the Cooper Island Beach Club or shop at the Seagrape Boutique. Scuba buffs will want to check out Sail Caribbean Divers, which offers dive excursions for divers of all skill levels. Of special interest are dives on the HMS Rhone, a mail steamer sunk off the west end of nearby Salt Island during a hurricane in 1867. As is the case at Norman and Peter islands, a motorboat makes early evening rounds in the mooring fields, its cheerful crew offering a variety of provisions for sale, including freshly baked bread and pastries.

Facilities

Cooper Island Beach Club has moorings. No other facilities for yachts are available.

Virgin Gorda Island

Mooring

There are mooring balls available at Leverick Bay for a fee. When anchoring, holding is generally good here.

Dinghy dockage: Leverick Bay offers dinghy dockage.

Things to do

The Baths is a major attraction on Virgin Gorda, where you can explore the rock formation’s tunnels, pools, and caves. In North Sound, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to activities and photo opportunities.

Facilities

Leverick Bay Resort and Marina has slips, ice, garbage disposal, and provisions available.

North Sound, Virgin Gorda

Mooring

Anchor, mooring balls, and slips available. BoatyBall is available at Leverick Bay and Saba Rock. Moorings and slips also available at Bitter End Yacht Club.

Things to do

Hiking, Dining, Biking, Beachcombing, Provisioning

Facilities

Grocery, Ice, Restaurants, Trash service, Laundry, Dinghy dock, Bike rental, Internet

Anegada Island

Mooring

Moorings are available for a fee in the inner harbour. Anchorages are located in the inner and outer harbours. Holding is good.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

It’s well worth renting a car from one of several companies to fully explore Anegada, or opt for a bicycle or scooter rental instead. There are also taxicabs to get you where you want to go. Loblolly Bay on the north shore is known for its spectacular snorkelling and scuba diving in crystal clear water. Bones Bight and Cow Wreck beaches are also lovely. Fishing on the flats extending eastward from Setting Point is another popular pastime; guides are available for private charters. A sail to the island wouldn’t be complete without savouring the locally caught lobster. Potter’s by the Sea, Anegada Reef Hotel, and Wonky Dog are just a few of your dining options. Not all of the businesses on Anegada accept credit cards, so plan on paying with cash, and be sure to make dinner reservations in advance.

Facilities

Ice, provisions, phones, and Internet access are available. Fun in the Sun Market is open for basic provisions. Ice is available at Li’l Bits store or Anegada Reef Hotel.

Anegada Island

Mooring

Moorings are available for a fee in the inner harbour. Anchorages are located in the inner and outer harbours. Holding is good.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

It’s well worth renting a car from one of several companies to fully explore Anegada, or opt for a bicycle or scooter rental instead. There are also taxicabs to get you where you want to go. Loblolly Bay on the north shore is known for its spectacular snorkelling and scuba diving in crystal clear water. Bones Bight and Cow Wreck beaches are also lovely. Fishing on the flats extending eastward from Setting Point is another popular pastime; guides are available for private charters. A sail to the island wouldn’t be complete without savouring the locally caught lobster. Potter’s by the Sea, Anegada Reef Hotel, and Wonky Dog are just a few of your dining options. Not all of the businesses on Anegada accept credit cards, so plan on paying with cash, and be sure to make dinner reservations in advance.

Facilities

Ice, provisions, phones, and Internet access are available. Fun in the Sun Market is open for basic provisions. Ice is available at Li’l Bits store or Anegada Reef Hotel.

Trellis Bay

Mooring

A number of moorings are available for a fee. Holding ground is good.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at Trellis Bay.

Things to do

Spend the day at Monkey Point, Guana Island. The snorkelling is excellent, and nearby beaches make a lovely backdrop for paddleboarding.

Facilities

The Trellis Bay Market has ice, drinking water and garbage disposal facilities available

Cane Garden Bay

Mooring

Moorings for a fee are plentiful. The holding ground is excellent.

Dinghy dockage: The bay has a public dinghy dock.

Things to do

Aside from swimming, enjoying windsurfing or kayaking (rentals are available from Pleasure Boat), or simply relaxing in the cockpit, the bay’s many beach bars and restaurants are well worth a visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can walk from one to the other, beach crawling to sample specialty rum drinks, pumpkin fritters, conch, and other Caribbean delights. Live music and ‘jump up’ is almost always available in one or more establishments. Quinto’s Gazebo, the Big Banana Paradise Club, Rhymer’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, Stanley’s Welcome Bar, Myett’s Garden & Grille Restaurant, De Wedding, and the Elm Bar and Gift Shop all offer a variety of dining and shopping experiences.

When sightseeing, include a trip to Callwood rum distillery. Ask permission before exploring the grounds and take advantage of the opportunity to purchase some locally produced rum!

Facilities

Ice, showers, laundry facilities, provisions, high-speed Internet access, and other amenities are available at one or more locations.

Great Harbour

Mooring

A number of moorings are available for a fee. Holding ground is good. The anchorage can get crowded, so be sure you have plenty of swinging room.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

A BVI charter wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Foxy’s, one of the more famous restaurants in the Caribbean. It’s located at the eastern end of the beach and has built a reputation over the last 40 years as a hugely popular party Mecca for world sailors. The casual ambience and friendly staff certainly contribute to its appeal, but the other patrons taking a short breather from long ocean passages also play a part in the bar‘s allure.

A short hop to the west brings you to White Bay, home to the Soggy Dollar Bar, so named for the yachties who swim to it from their boats, soaking their dollar notes in the process!

Facilities

Water, fuel and ice are available at the main dock in Great Harbour. Provisions are not available at present.

West End

Mooring

Moorings are available for a fee.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at Trellis Bay.

Facilities

Nanny Cay Marina has provisions, fuel, ice, and water available.

Norman Island – Angel Fish Reef