Photo: Pegcjs ↗British Virgin Islands · Sir Francis Drake Channel
The easiest sailing water in the Caribbean.
THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
The easiest sailing water in the Caribbean.
The Sir Francis Drake Channel is sheltered from ocean swell by a chain of islands, hops between anchorages take one to three hours, and there is always a mooring in a quiet bay by evening. That is why the British Virgin Islands are considered the best place to sail for the first time. A week on a skippered catamaran: Norman, Cooper, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.
- The granite boulders of The Baths on Virgin Gorda
- Anegada, the only coral island in the group, and lobster on the beach
- Snorkelling the wreck of RMS Rhone off Salt Island
- Nights on moorings in sheltered bays, no night passages
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · Handover
Arrival on Tortola and boat handover
Meet at Beef Island airport and drive to Nanny Cay marina. Boat handover, provisioning and a safety briefing. First dinner in the marina.
Overnight: Yacht, Nanny Cay marina - DAY 2 · 8 nautical miles
Across the channel to Norman Island
A short crossing of the Drake Channel to The Bight. Snorkelling at The Caves and on The Indians reef. Night on a mooring.
Overnight: Yacht, The Bight - DAY 3 · 7 nautical miles
The Rhone wreck and Cooper Island
A morning snorkel over RMS Rhone off Salt Island, wrecked in 1867 and lying in 9 to 25 metres. Afternoon hop to Manchioneel Bay on Cooper Island.
Overnight: Yacht, Manchioneel Bay - DAY 4 · 18 nautical miles
Virgin Gorda and The Baths
Along the channel to Virgin Gorda. A stop at The Baths and a walk between the granite boulders to Devil’s Bay. Evening in North Sound, the most sheltered anchorage in the islands.
Overnight: Yacht, North Sound - DAY 5 · 14 nautical miles
Open water to Anegada
The only open-sea leg: 14 miles north to a flat coral island that appears only two miles out. Loblolly and Cow Wreck beaches, a lobster dinner at Setting Point.
Overnight: Yacht, Setting Point, Anegada - DAY 6 · 28 nautical miles
A long reach to Jost Van Dyke
The longest day: 28 miles downwind along Tortola’s north shore to Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke. Evening at White Bay and the Soggy Dollar bar.
Overnight: Yacht, Great Harbour - DAY 7 · 12 nautical miles
Sandy Cay and back to the marina
A morning on uninhabited Sandy Cay, then round the western tip of Tortola to Nanny Cay. Boat return and a farewell dinner.
Overnight: Yacht, Nanny Cay marina - DAY 8 · Transfer
Departure
Breakfast on board, transfer to Beef Island airport or the ferry to St Thomas.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Double cabin on a 42–45 ft catamaran
A professional skipper
Breakfasts and lunches on board
Transfers between Beef Island airport and the marina
Snorkelling kit and a paddleboard
Final cleaning of the yacht
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Kitty for dinners ashore, fuel, mooring balls and marina fees
BVI National Parks Trust permit and mooring permits
Single-cabin supplement
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
No sailing experience is needed: the skipper runs the boat, and participants take the helm and trim sails as much as they like. Ivan sends a short primer on catamaran life beforehand so the first day is not spent on logistics.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase
- Shoes with clean, non-slip soles
- Sun and wind protection, and a light rain layer
- Personal essentials suited to your experience at sea
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.