Sailing Holidays: BVI, good for a beginner?

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BVI, good for a beginner?

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Sailing Holidays
Forum Discription: Where you go and what you enjoy!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10879
Printed Date: 25 Jun 25 at 7:09am
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Topic: BVI, good for a beginner?

Posted By: JohnTS
Subject: BVI, good for a beginner?
Date Posted: 15 May 13 at 5:57pm

I am looking into charting a yacht in the BVI but have not been before plus I am a bit of a beginner. Is this a good place to go or does anyone have anyone have any recommendations?

The reason behind BVI was because it looks amazing and latesail.com seem to do some great deals

Replies:

Posted By: blueboy
Date Posted: 19 May 13 at 7:07am

I've chartered there. It's certainly gorgeous. Beginner friendly? Not so sure. It's often pretty windy. Plenty of big coral heads to go crunch-crunch on although the water is so clear there would be little excuse for that.

Btw this is primarily a forum for dinghy racers. You are more likely to get information somewhere cruising-orientated.

Posted By: Contender443
Date Posted: 20 May 13 at 9:19am

John why don't you try going on a flotilla holiday as you are a beginner. That way you get to charter your own yacht and have the support of the lead crew. Plus you will be sailing in company and it is a very sociable way to go sailing.

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Bonnie Lass Contender 1764

Posted By: JohnTS
Date Posted: 20 May 13 at 2:37pm

Great tips thanks both. Dont like the idea of 'crunch crunch' with coral so maybe a floatilla holiday would be a good start!

Posted By: Sailingfriend41
Date Posted: 14 Jul 14 at 11:10am

Hey John. I suggest booking a yacht charter in the BVI here: http://www.yachtico.com/british_virgin_islands. I chartered the BVI and it was a trip I will never forget. Because you are a beginner, Yachtico will book you a skipper at a good price and this will allow you a lot more time to relax and enjoy the BVI. That's what vacation is all about!

Posted By: YachtingSummer
Date Posted: 15 Oct 14 at 11:44am

When booking a BVI charter, have in mind the so called "Christmas winds". They usually blow from November until February-March. From March on, the weather is much settled down and not so windy. If you are a beginner, I would strongly suggest that you first have initial experience in the Mediterranean. Try the Eatern Med - Greece, Turkey, Croatia, as it is not so crowded there during summer time. Try booking through http://yachtingsummer.com/ - more than 400 very well maintained yachts from 20 marinas in the Med.

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YachtingSummer.com, Bareboat and Skippered Sailing Holidays from 20 marinas in the Mediterannean: Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Italy, Malta and France

Posted By: SailBeat
Date Posted: 03 Nov 14 at 8:05pm

Hi John

The BVIs are a great place to charter-I would suggest a skippered charter if your a complete newbie, makes it more of a holiday :) Have a look here for advice and where to visit :http://www.sailbeat.com/home/Destination/BritishVirginIslands/67

If you want anymore advice feel free to email me at luke@sailbeat.com I'm an agent and I know the bvis really well. Good luck Luke

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Compare over 12,000 yachts for charter and sailing holidays in 43 stunning destinations.

www.sailbeat.com

Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 03 Nov 14 at 10:32pm

When you say beginner what do you mean?

The reason I ask is that other than around the cans racing in sub 30fts and a 1wk comp crew course with the joint services sailing centre at Gosport I had no experience when I went on a Sunsail flotilla in St. Vincent for my honeymoon other than 25yrs of dinghy sailing. We had a Jeanneau Sun Odyessy 35 for me and the wife with no skipper. Other than explaining the destination each day our lead boat crew left us to it and it really was a piece of cake. They even let us do what we wanted for a whole weekend while they stayed on Union, so we went back up around Tobago Cays. As long as you can read a chart, drop an anchor or pick up a mooring then you should be fine.
There were however several rather loud yachtmasters who kept telling us that they were yachtmasters who made a pigs ear of everything. I read Tom Cunliffe's 'The complete yachtmaster' before going which helped a little but common sense is what made it easy.