BVI Classic

DAY 1 · The Moorings Base (Wickhams Cay II)

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Leave 11:00 am

The start of the charter, in the north-east corner of Road Harbour. Expect a briefing and provisioning before you leave, and stock up here: the supermarkets are a short walk or taxi ride away. Keep clear of Scotch Bank on the way out and go slowly inside the harbour.

• 9:30 amChart briefing and provisioningAsk about any areas your charter company restricts, and buy ice, water and the first dinners.

7.5 NM · about 1 h 15 mto The Caves (Norman Island)

The Caves (Norman Island)

Photo: Matt & Nayoung (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 2.0

Arrive 1:00 pm · leave 2:30 pm

Three sea caves at the base of the cliffs at Treasure Point, just outside the Bight. You swim from bright reef into a cave that darkens as you go, with fish and sometimes turtles inside. Orange national park day moorings are first come, first served with a 90-minute limit, and a marine conservation permit is required. Bring a mask, fins and a light.

• 1:15 pmSnorkel the cavesGo early if you can, before the day-charter boats arrive. If the balls are full, dinghy over from the Bight.

0.5 NM · about 5 mto The Bight Mooring Field (Norman Island)

The Bight Mooring Field (Norman Island)

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Arrive 3:00 pm

Norman Island's big, steep-sided harbour is one of the best-protected anchorages in the BVI and the classic first night. The Willy T floating bar is in the bay and Pirates Bight is on the beach. Take a mooring; the only danger entering is Ringdove Rock off the north-west point, and the winds in the lee are baffling, so expect to motor in.

• 6:30 pmDinner at Pirates BightDinghy ashore for a first-night beach dinner.

6.5 NM · about 1 h 5 mto RMS Rhone Marine Park Day Moorings (Lee Bay)

DAY 2 · RMS Rhone Marine Park Day Moorings (Lee Bay)

Photo: O'Dea (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Arrive 9:30 am · leave 11:00 am

The day moorings off Salt Island's south-west corner are the way to visit the wreck of the Rhone, a mail steamer lost in the 1867 hurricane. Moorings are day use only, first come first served, with a 90-minute limit, and a marine conservation permit is required. Snorkel from the dinghy at the stern; expect some surge and tight swinging room.

• 9:45 amSnorkel the RhoneThe stern and reef near the wreck are shallow enough to see from the surface. Do not anchor, touch coral or take anything.

1.5 NM · about 15 mto Manchioneel Bay Mooring Field (Cooper Island)

Manchioneel Bay Mooring Field (Cooper Island)

Photo: giggel (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 3.0

Arrive 11:30 am

A protected mooring field off the Cooper Island Beach Club and one of the most popular nights in the BVI. White balls are first come, first served and usually fill by noon, so arrive in time for lunch. Anchoring inside the field is prohibited because of seagrass; take a ball.

• 3:00 pmSwim and a drink ashoreThe beach is steps from the dinghy dock. Ask about the Beach Club's rum bar.

5.5 NM · about 55 mto The Baths Day Moorings

DAY 3 · The Baths Day Moorings

Photo: P. Hughes (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Arrive 11:00 am · leave 12:30 pm

The national park day moorings off The Baths: pick up a ball, then dinghy to the swim line and swim ashore into the boulders and sea pools. Moorings are day use only, with a 90-minute limit, and a marine conservation permit is required. They are usually full by mid-morning in season, so leave Cooper Island early.

• 11:15 amWalk the Baths trailScramble through the boulders to Devil's Bay and swim in the pools.

7.5 NM · about 1 h 15 mto Bitter End Mooring Field

Bitter End Mooring Field

Photo: Gruepig (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Arrive 3:30 pm

Seventy-two moorings at the head of North Sound, the most sheltered water in the BVI and well away from any swell. The leg from The Baths is the longest sail of the week, about three hours, mostly in the lee up the Virgin Gorda coast. Hail Bitter End on VHF 16 as you arrive; the docks have fuel, water, ice and trash.

• 6:00 pmSundowners at Saba RockA short dinghy ride across the sound.

0.5 NM · about 5 mto Prickly Pear Island National Park

DAY 4 · Prickly Pear Island National Park

Photo: giggel (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 3.0

Arrive 10:30 am · leave 12:30 pm

An uninhabited, cactus-covered national park and bird sanctuary that walls in North Sound to the north. White-sand beaches wrap Vixen Point and the north coast, and the salt ponds shelter wading birds. Land by dinghy and take your trash back.

• 11:00 amBeach lunch at Vixen PointWalk the trail from the beach bar to the quieter north-shore beaches.

11 NM · about 1 h 50 mto Marina Cay Mooring Field

Marina Cay Mooring Field

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Arrive 2:45 pm

Moorings in the reef-sheltered water between tiny Marina Cay, Great Camanoe and Scrub Island, with a bar and grill on the cay. Approach from the south or west favouring the southern tip of Great Camanoe and leave the red buoy at the reef's south-west end to starboard. Do not anchor near the reef; the moorings are fine for overnight.

• 5:00 pmSnorkel the reef edgeSwim from the dinghy near the cay, staying clear of the channel.

9 NM · about 1 h 30 mto Cane Garden Bay Mooring Field

DAY 5 · Cane Garden Bay Mooring Field

Photo: Balou46 (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Arrive 1:00 pm

A crescent of white sand under green hills, lined with beach bars and a short walk from the Callwood rum distillery. The bay is open to the north and becomes dangerous in a winter north swell, so check the forecast before you leave Marina Cay. Moorings are reservable ahead; sand bottom.

• 3:00 pmCallwood Rum DistilleryWalk or take a taxi to the old estate and taste the rum.

7 NM · about 1 h 10 mto White Bay Mooring Field (Jost Van Dyke)

DAY 6 · White Bay Mooring Field (Jost Van Dyke)

Photo: Mattes (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 2.0 de

Arrive 11:00 am · leave 2:30 pm

A reef-sheltered beach split by rocks into a lively west side (Soggy Dollar, Hendo's) and a quieter east side. Enter only through the marked gaps in the reef and expect tight swinging room. Day-trip boats crowd it from late morning, so arrive early. It is a lunch stop, not a safe overnight in swell.

• 11:30 amSwim ashore for lunchThere is no dinghy dock: swim in or beach the dinghy.

1 NM · about 10 mto Great Harbour Mooring Field (Jost Van Dyke)

Great Harbour Mooring Field (Jost Van Dyke)

Photo: Mattes (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 2.0 de

Arrive 3:00 pm

Jost Van Dyke's main harbour and port of entry, a deep bay lined with Foxy's, Corsairs and other beach bars. Moorings now cover most of the bay, so use one rather than anchoring. Lift and lock your dinghy; theft is a recurring problem.

• 6:30 pmDinner on the sand streetPick any of the beach restaurants; Foxy's is the famous one.

5 NM · about 50 mto Soper's Hole Mooring Field (West End)

DAY 7 · Soper's Hole Mooring Field (West End)

Photo: giggel (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY 3.0

Arrive 10:45 am · leave 12:30 pm

A deep, hill-ringed harbour between Tortola's West End and Frenchman's Cay, with a ferry dock, shops and Pusser's Landing. Many charter crews stop here for fuel, water and provisions rather than staying the night. Currents are strong and ferry traffic is heavy, and dinghy theft is a known problem.

• 11:00 amLast provisions and lunchPick up anything you want for the last night ashore.

6.5 NM · about 1 h 5 mto The Moorings Base (Wickhams Cay II)

The Moorings Base (Wickhams Cay II)

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Arrive 3:00 pm

Return to the base at the end of the charter. Come in through Road Harbour keeping clear of Scotch Bank (red buoy) and go slowly inside. Allow time to fuel, tidy up and return the boat before your flight or ferry.