The British Virgin Islands
Sailing the Caribbean Seas
The British Virgin Islands are a sailing fantasyland, with more than 60 islands and islets at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, which separates the Atlantic Ocean from the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada are the major islands of this archipelago. Rich in pirate folklore, the British Virgin Islands offer some of the best sailing anywhere on the planet. You can be as relaxed or as active as you like among the range of smaller islands, many ideal for daytime snorkelling trips as well as overnight stays.
A 9-day itinerary would take you where tranquil turquoise waters lap softly against the hull of your yacht while giant swaths of tropical fish dart just below the surface. Everywhere are white-sand beaches fringed with towering palm trees and picturesque ramshackle beach bars. Other islands remain uninhabited and are just waiting to be explored. From Norman Island, with tales of pirates and treasure caves and the inspiration for the epic “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson, to Virgin Gorda Island, with its maze of grottos and caves beloved by snorkelers. Take a drive or a hike up Virgin Gorda Peak for sumptuous views.