Sailboat hire in British Virgin Islands with or without skipper

Hire a sailboat in The British Virgin Islands with Océans Évasion

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) make up a volcanic archipelago in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a British overseas territory with four main islands and is made up of around 60 islands in total. The islands are particularly known for their silky sands and coral reefs. As a whole, this island group is truly one of a kind, and a perfect location for a sailboat hire! Not only do you have a vast amount of natural beauty on the islands such as beaches, national parks, and unique wildlife, but you also have so much culture to experience.

How much does it cost to hire a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands?

There are many factors that determine the price of a sailboat charter in the BVI such as the size of the sailboat, the duration of the trip, the seasonality, and whether or not you hire a skipper. In general, a sailboat hire in the BVI fit for 10 people costs around £2,193 per week during the low season and £7,603 per week during the high season.

Should you hire a sailboat with or without a skipper?

While searching for boats on the Oceans Evasion website, you will find that you can hire a sailboat with or without a skipper. If you have a valid boating license, then you do not require a skipper and can enjoy the sea at your leisure. However, if you do not have adequate qualifications, then you must hire a skipper with your sailboat. This being said, there are many advantages to having a skipper on board with you! For one, a professional skipper will be familiar with the BVI region. Therefore, they can help guide you through the waters safely, showing you the special places only locals know about. Moreover, if you’re looking for an ultimate luxury experience, you can also organise cooking and cleaning on your boating holiday!

How is the climate in the British Virgin Islands?

The BVI experience a subtropical climate throughout the year, with hot air and consistent solid winds. The temperatures average around 25 to 30 degrees Celsius in the winter and 27 to 32 degrees in the summer. As such, the BVI experience wet or dry seasons depending on the rainfall rather than the four traditional seasons.

The best time to visit the BVI is from December to April, as this is the dry season. However, if you would still like to go during the summer months, we recommend you visit in June and July instead of August to October, because there is less risk of tropical storms.

What to do in the British Virgin Islands?

Of course, if you head to the BVI on a sailboat hire, you will want to experience some of the amazing and unique beaches. However, with so many islands and so much to see, it can be overwhelming. Here at Oceans Evasion, we have gathered a few recommendations to help you have the best boating holiday.

There are four main islands in the BVI: Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. However, there are many smaller and uninhabited islands in the archipelago that can be easily enjoyed with your sailboat hire! These are just our recommendations for the larger islands.

Tortola

This is the largest and most populated island in the archipelago and even has the capital city Road Town. This is likely to be the starting point of your sailboat hire experience and is equally as likely to make a great first impression. If you like to get away from the crowds and just relax, we recommend heading to Smuggler’s Cove. With just two little beach bars, this is a hidden gem of the island. However, if you are searching for a beach that has a lively atmosphere, head to Cane Garden Bay! There are plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you satisfied. The beach also has the iconic crystal clear waters, so it is perfect for those of you looking to do snorkelling.

Virgin Gorda

Next up on the list is Virgin Gorda. This island is famous for The Baths. This is a collection of huge boulders with pools and seawater grottoes in between them. The rocks are remains of volcanic lava from over 70 million years ago. This is truly a must-see if you are on the island, as the towering boulders lead to these naturally formed crystalline pools.

Anegada

This island is particularly known for its unique and exotic wildlife! The island is home to a large number of secluded coral reefs, making it the perfect destination for snorkelling. One of the most well-known spots on Anegada is the Horseshoe Reef, stretching across 63 kilometres of soft and hard corals. Moreover, you can head to Flamingo Pond to see the marvellous beauty of the native flamingo population!

Jost Van Dyke

In just 4 to 5 hours, you can make it from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke. This is the smallest of the four main BVI, but there is still so much to explore! With its size and natural beauty, you will feel like you’re on a private island. One of the best spots is White Bay Beach, as it has bright blue waters and soft white sands. Other suggestions include Sapphire Beach, Cinnamon Bay, and Bubbly Pool. Fortunately, with a sailboat hire, you can visit all of these locations as you please!

Nearby destinations

If you can charter your sailboat for a longer period, then you should highly consider exploring other islands and countries outside of the BVI. Because of the colonial history of the Caribbean, there is just a melting pot of cultures within the area, so you can uncover vastly different experiences by travelling. For example, if you travel west, you can sail to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, or Haiti! These are all larger islands in the Caribbean and totally worth getting to know. Alternatively, you can head south to discover smaller island groups such as Montserrat, St Lucia, and Barbados. All in all, if given the time, taking advantage of the BVI’s proximity to so many other islands is definitely worth considering!