BVI -British Virgin Islands:
Cruise - Info BVI - British virgin islands: In the footsteps of Sir Francis Drake
Duration: 1 - 2 weeks
Port of departure: Tortola
Consistent weather, good wind conditions as well as short distances and navigation by sight provide in the BVI for relaxed and varied vacations on the water with the whole family, wonderful sailing or the perfect motorboat trip in great surroundings. Moor up, swim, snorkel and enjoy life - from barbecues on the beach or dining in upscale restaurants to parties in the marinas and bars ashore. The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival is held annually and is a great mix of fun and hot racing.
The starting point for the BVI trip is often Tortola, where most charter providers have their bases. The 60 or so islands and islets of the archipelago, formed by the endless waves, attract with fine sandy beaches on the turquoise sea, countless beautiful bays and excellent nautical infrastructure. Marinas with fuel and water are never far away, anchoring should be done on sandy ground so as not to damage corals. To protect the marine environment, buoys have been laid out in many places and their use is mandatory. A cruising permit and national park fees are required to navigate the waters.
All in all, the BVI is a great charter area, appealing to beginners and freaks alike.
The heart of the BVI is the Drake Channel between Tortola and Peter Island as well as the eastern foothills of St. John and the southwestern tip of Virgin Gorda, named after the privateer, later vice admiral and first English circumnavigator, Sir Francis Drake. It forms an inland sea-like and clear area, which has hardly any swell beyond the Atlantic swell, ideally suited for a relaxed start to a cruise. Tortola's coastline is highly indented and Sage Mountain (521 m) is the highest point in the BVI with the last patch of rainforest. Under cloudless skies, cruising along Ridge Road affords a breathtaking panorama of the Virgin Islands. All harbors of Tortola are located on the south side, here you can find the famous facilities like Nanny Cay Marina or Hodge's Creek Marina as well as the lovely, typical West Indian capital Road Town with colorful, distinguished weathered wooden houses in Victorian style. Road Harbour is the BVI's only deep-water port, well buoyed and night-fired so it can be entered at any time. A very narrow passage, barely discernible coming from the sea, leads to Paraquita Bay, the brackish water lagoon surrounded by mangroves is the safest hurricane hole in the region.
On the Drake Channel, the smaller islands offer various wonderful anchorages. On Cooper Island, choose the popular, palm-fringed Manchioneel Bay with its lively beach bar and restaurant, or the quieter Hallovers Bay. On the west coast of Salt Island, the wreck of the British mail and passenger steamer RMS RHONE, sunk in 1867 during the passage of a hurricane, is clearly visible at a depth of 10 to 25 m. During the day, you can moor at the buoys of the marine park. Deadman's Bay is said to be the most beautiful bay on Peter Island, right next to it is the well-kept marina of the private island with an exclusive resort, where you are welcome as a correctly dressed guest for a drink or dinner. The Bight on Norman Island is well protected even in strong winds and much visited because of its scenic beauty. With a dinghy and flashlight you can reach the nearby caves at Treasure Point, which are best explored by snorkeling. Nearby Pelican Island with the cliffs The Indians is a nature reserve with mooring buoys, who looks into the water here, looks into a tropical aquarium.
At the western end of Tortola is the former pirate nest of Soper's Hole, a charming natural harbor in a picturesque setting of green hills and pastel-colored wooden houses. Here you can lie pleasantly cool and free of mosquitoes even in the summer months, and the open-air bar Pusser's Landing is known for its drinkable mixed drinks.
It is only a stone's throw to Jost van Dyke, the rather laid-back and quiet, probably also still the most pristine island in the BVI. At the Soggy Dollar Bar the painkiller was invented, the cocktail traditionally consists of dark rum, orange and pineapple juice and sweetened coconut milk cream, then crushed ice is added and finally some nutmeg is grated on top.
Coming from the south, the spectacular White Bay with white shell sand is a distinctive approach point, but uncomfortable in swell. On the other hand, Great Harbour is well protected in trade winds despite downdrafts, as is Little Harbour, while Sandy Spit makes the Caribbean dream come true.
The sandy beaches in the north of Tortola are beautiful and almost deserted, but also without safe shelter. Only Cane Garden Bay, where Caribbean and international artists perform at the BVI Music Festival on Whitsun weekend, can be approached, but in case of a ground sea warning the place has to be left immediately. Lonely anchorages with a palm backdrop are offered by Guana Island, which may not be entered. Those who wish to go ashore prefer Lee Bay on Great Camanoe. Mooring buoys can be found at the small Marina Cay, idyllic in emerald green water and almost completely surrounded by a huge coral reef, while Scrub Island offers a luxurious resort and marina.
At Devil's Bay in southern Virgin Gorda is the BVI's most popular attraction - called The Baths. Here, huge granite boulders rise out of the water, forming a maze of canyons and passages in the sea and on land, housing small sandy beaches, grottoes, arches and natural pools. The natural spectacle illustrates the volcanic origin of the island and is part of the National Park.
A narrow and well buoyed reef passage leads to Spanish Town to Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour with all amenities. A shore excursion to Copper Mine Point, where copper ore was mined until 1862, is recommended. On a clear day, the drive up the narrow road to Virgin Gorda Peak (414m) is worthwhile.
Highlight for navigators is the wide, deep Gorda Sound in the north of the island, almost completely surrounded by islets and reefs, well shielded from wind and swell. For yachts, only the buoyed passage between Mosquito Island and Prickly Pear Island is practicable and offers excellent anchoring and mooring opportunities. By dinghy you can go snorkeling in the fish-rich underwater world. Fantastic villas and luxurious resorts line the natural bay. From champagne breakfasts to fine dinners with grilled lobster, everything is available here. Crews are welcome guests at the famous Bitter End Yacht Club, which serves fish and seafood as well as the best pizza in the Antilles. The Caribbean offshoot of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is more exclusive, with its ultra-modern marina and elegant clubhouse.
The reef landscape around nearby Necker Island is one of the most spectacular natural beauties in the BVI. Although privately owned by Sir Richard Branson, the island is usually open for anchoring.
About 12 nm further north, the shallow Anegada is a bit off the beaten track, lined with miles of beautiful sandy beaches. Flamingos and ospreys live in the salt lagoons, and the rare rock iguana can be found on the island. The ever-breaking Horseshoe Reef in the southeast as well as countless coral stacks and shoals make approaching the island difficult, so caution is advised when navigating. Those heading to Anegada should leave Gorda Sound early in the morning to have good light conditions upon arrival, even though the entrance to the main anchorage is buoyed.
If you want to extend the cruising area without much trouble, include a visit to Saint-Martin, oneways are possible, the east-west direction being the more preferred. The distance is about 80 to 90 nm, the safest course is via Round Rock Passage. Clearance points are Road Town and West End on Tortola, Great Harbour on Jost van Dyke and Spanish Town as well as Gun Creek on Virgin Gorda..
Cruise - Info BVI - British Virgin Islands: Where France borders the Netherlands - BVI - British Virgin Islands - St Martin
Duration: 2 - 3 weeks
Port of departure: Tortola - St Martin
Sunny days and mild nights, white beaches and turquoise water, juicy mangos and refreshing coconuts, fried fish or lobster - St. Martin offers everything your heart desires. From Pic Paradis (424 m), the view extends to the two neighboring islands, the French St. Barth and the British Anguilla, which stretch over 30 nm on a common oceanic plateau, which is one of the breeding waters of the humpback whales.
The Treaty of Concordia, still in force, sealed the peaceful partition of St. Martin in 1648 with free movement of people and goods. Since then, the island has been politically divided in two, Dutch in the hilly south, French in the mountainous north, which is now part of the EU and its westernmost point. The barely visible border is marked only in two places by obelisks and English is the most spoken language, though not officially. The economy, successively oriented toward the cultivation of tobacco, indigo, cotton, sugar cane, and salt production and livestock until around 1950, is based primarily on tourism. Philipsburg and Marigot are free ports with good supply facilities.
The island enchants with its diversity and breathtaking landscapes. With bougainvillae and hibiscus, the east side facing the trade winds has lush green vegetation, while the west is more arid, with shrubs and cacti. Many birds, including brown pelicans, boobies, frigate birds, ospreys and herons, populate the rocky shores and mangroves....
The strongly indented coastline of St. Martin offers wonderful anchorages and great bathing bays. Starting point for a cruise from St. Martin are the charter bases in Marigot, Anse Marcel or Oyster Pond. Compared to the BVI, the easterly trade winds blow steadily throughout the year with about 15 to 20 kn from NE to SE, otherwise the climatic conditions are very similar.
Depending on the time available for the cruise, St. Martin, St. Barth and Anguilla can be explored in short strokes. If the weather plays along, the still quite pristine island of Saba can also be visited on your own keel, although it is faster and more convenient to fly there.
St. Martin can also be combined well with a one-way to the BVI, and in trade wind conditions the long stretch to Virgin Gorda or Tortola is comfortable sailing.
Clearance points are Marigot and Anse Marcel (France) as well as Simson Baai and Philipsburg (Netherlands) on
St. Martin, as well as Road Bay (Great Britain) on Anguilla.
With Grand Etang, St. Martin is home to the largest lagoon in the Caribbean. From fishing boats to mega yachts, countless ships are moored here or in a marina with modern comforts, and the bridges on both sides open three times a day for shipping traffic.
On the French side is picturesque Marigot, a West Indian town with colorful colonial houses, good restaurants and colorful weekly market. Fort Louis was built in 1789 to protect the port and its warehouses for coffee, salt, rum and cane sugar; from here you can enjoy a magnificent view. While Port-La-Royale is well protected within the lagoon, the circular harbor in Baie de Marigot is accessible at all times, alternatively anchoring is the order of the day. The bays at the western tip of the island or Anse Heureuse are more suitable as a swimming stop.
Stronghold of gastronomy with many excellent restaurants is the charming, former fishing village Grand-Case. The beautiful Baie de Grand-Case, guarded by the Rocher Créole, is a popular and picturesque anchorage, well protected, except in swell from the N. On a hill is Hope Estate, where remains of an Arawak settlement lie. Crystal clear water and a white sandy beach also characterize Anse Marcel with its safe marina, accessible via a narrow channel on the east side of the bay, which is buoyed and lighted and can also be entered at night.
and can be entered at night. Here is the last gas pump on the way to Anguilla or the BVI.
The whole northeast of St. Martin is a nature reserve, from Rocher Créole to the uninhabited island of Tintamare and off Oyster Pond, mooring buoys are laid out for yachts. In addition to the waters with coral reefs and seagrass beds, lagoons and mangroves, the zone also includes coastal strips worthy of protection with rich marine flora and fauna. The wild Sentier des Froussards, for example, leads through the last contiguous piece of dry forest. This also includes Baie Orientale, with the island's most famous sandy beach, framed between Ilêt Pinel and Caye Verte, with beach bars, hotels and boutiques, as well as excellent restaurants. At the nearby Ferme aux Papillons, numerous species of butterflies can be seen in a pretty tropical garden. The Old House Museum, located on a former sugar cane plantation, traces the history of rum in the Caribbean, followed by a tasting.
Detailed charts are indispensable for safe navigation along the east coast. In addition, due distance is to be kept with mostly onshore winds and approaching is only recommended in good weather and high sun. The somewhat tricky entry to Oyster Pond, the only marina on the Atlantic side of St. Martin and perfectly protected by offshore reefs, can be managed without problems in normal trade wind weather and good light conditions.
The Dutch side of St. Martin is largely free of shoals, except for Proselyte Reef off Groot Baai. Cruise ships often moor in the port of Philipsburg, the huge bay is not very attractive for yachts, unless you want to visit the city and shop duty free. Stores and casinos are mainly found along the two main arteries of Front Street and Back Street, where the Courthouse and the local museum are also located.
The island's most spectacular attraction is Princess Juliana International Airport, on a narrow strip of coastline squeezed between the sea and the lagoon. The threshold of the runway is only a few meters from Maho Beach, and here the planes thunder just over the tropical beach during takeoff and landing. The unusually close distance allows plane spotting at its best. Because of the proximity to the airport, Simson Baai is not exactly one of the quietest anchorages. Behind the bridge, various marinas can be found in the lagoon.
After St. Barth it goes about 10 nm over open sea, the detour is recommended not only because of the good food. The mountainous archipelago with a strongly indented coastline and emerald green water is a true bijou and exudes a charm very vieille France. Originally immigrating from Brittany and Normandy, the population is mainly white, as the French traded St. Barth for a trading right in Gothenburg. The well-protected natural harbor is renamed Gustavia and receives free trade status from Sweden.
In the northwest of the island, the semicircular Anse du Colombier beckons. While only a few yachts stray as far as the lonely, rugged Ile Fourchue, the climb to the island's summit is rewarded with a great panoramic view.
Those who succumb to the magic of the underwater world should head for Anguilla. The elongated, flat limestone island is only about 4 nm away from St. Martin. A cruising permit is required to sail the waters, but if NE swells occur, they must be abandoned for safety reasons. The main anchorage is Road Bay on the north coast, well protected against the prevailing winds and with many restaurants along the waterfront, in stable trade winds Crocus Bay is an alternative.
With fine white sand, Anguilla's beaches are said to be among the most beautiful in the world. There is not much to see on land, the natural treasures of the island lie in the sea, surrounded by reefs it is a diver's and snorkeler's paradise. Various zones have been designated as marine parks, and mooring is only allowed during the day and exclusively at the buoys laid out. These include Little Bay, surrounded by ochre cliffs, Sandy Island, the Prickly Pear Cays and Seal Island Reef. Little visited is Dog Island, which is home to lilies and cacti, seabirds, lizards, geckos and wild goats.
