British Virgin Islands (BVI's) is a group of approximately fifty islands and outcroppings. The BVI's are thought a simple sailing area as the islands are all within sight of each other to ensure that navigation can be done by Dead Reckoning. And, The Sir Francis Drake Channel, which in right in the center of these islands, is well protected for comfortable sailing. The 4 spots in this short article, to not be missed, can be a part of a one week sailing yacht charter in the BVI's.
Spot #1: The Baths
Situated on the southern tip of Virgin Gorda, the Baths is one of the very most popular and popular landmarks to see in the BVI's. Gigantic granite boulders and half submerged rocks line the southern seashore of Virgin Gorda, creating grottos, tunnels, and arches.Boat rental ibiza Sandy beaches are lined with coconut palms and the region supplies a dramatic and lovely destination for a swim, snorkel and explore.
An additional beach in your community, called Devil's Bay, is reached via a maze-like passage through the boulders and shallower grottos. The path is lined with ladders and ropes to help ease the hike along steeper rocks.
Spend time exploring the region, with tidal pools of pristine clear waters, and white sand. Snorkeling is fantastic, however more for the marine life, than coral, as this is simply not a reef area. As a result of various inlets and pools created by the landscape, marine life is caught here in the pools with each tidal change. Make sure you look closely at the safety flags as certain weather can cause currents with heavy undertows in this area. However, even though swimming is cautioned against, you can find always the rocks to climb and the white sandy beaches for sunning.
Spot #2: Bitter End Yacht Club
In the North Sound, located at the northern end of Virgin Gorda, is the home of the popular Bitter End Yacht Club.
The North Sound, once home to pirates Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, was a remote quiet anchorage, rarely visited for centuries. In the early 60's, an austere bar and cottages existed clinging to the stage of land on the north end of North Sound, that has been a destination designed for adventurous sailors. The Hokins Family arrived, fell deeply in love with the region, and built the resort into what it's today, which while offering resort style accommodations and services, still runs in true Caribbean style, using generators for electricity and cisterns for collecting rainwater.
The North Sound continues to be an attractive anchorage, made more attractive by shoreside establishments such as the Bitter End Yacht Club. Whilst in the anchorage, take advantage of the shoreside services offered at the Bitter End Yacht Club, which include a marina, pool, beach, water sports, restaurants and bars, and a spa. The Clubhouse Steak and Seafood Grille is a yachting landmark for years. This open air restaurant sports the burgees from countless yachts and yacht clubs from throughout the world. These flags flutter gently from the rafters in the breeze produced from the numerous ceiling paddle fans, evoking a colonial Caribbean feel. The Clubhouse Steak and Seafood Grille buffet established fact for homemade soups, and breads, and when you yourself have not tried a grilled Caribbean lobster, basted with butter, this will be the time and area for this uniquely Caribbean treat.
Spot #3: Jost Van Dyke
Jost Van Dyke is just a four mile-long barefoot paradise known for its casual lifestyle, fine beaches and beachfront restaurants and bars. The Painkiller, a glass or two produced from the Tortola local rum called Pusser's Rum was created here at the planet famous yachtsman's bar named "Foxy's", named after Foxy, the long time Owner of the bar and restaurant.
Perhaps Foxy's is most beneficial called the spot to celebrate New Year's Eve. Yachtsmen started congregating in Great Harbor several decades ago to ring in the New Year at Foxy's. It's now become this type of tradition, that it is wise to get at Great Harbor each day in advance for an excellent spot to anchor. Because the New Year draws near, the harbor erupts with activity and the buzz of dinghies heading here and there, through the entire harbor, as everyone visits friends, and ultimately heads ashore for Foxy's, to hail in the newest year, dancing on the beach under the stars.
Although Jost measures just four by three miles, the island is full of history. It's been home to Arawak Indians, Caribs, Dutch, Africans and English. Jost was the birth place of William Thorton, architect of the US Capitol, and John Coakley Lettsome, founder of the London Medical Society, was created on nearby Little Jost.
Great Harbour is sheltered by small mountains and offers moorings. In White Bay, just nearby from Great Harbour, is the Soggy Dollar Bar, so named as generally patrons must swim ashore for the cool Caribbean cocktails. All patrons lined up on the bar stools are often dripping wet, including, as you almost certainly guessed, the money in their pockets.
Jost Van Dyke has other offerings. Trace the old trails that connect the island. Explore the overgrown ruins of sugar mills. In the fall and winter, watch whales and dolphins from the hilltop. Or look at the bubbling pot at the East End, where the foaming sea forms a natural Jacuzzi. And you can stop by Foxy's newest watering hole, Foxy's Taboo, on Diamond Cay, at East End. You could walk across to Little Jost or take the dinghy to deserted Sandy Cay, an ideal castaway island on your own beach barbeque.
Stop #4: Soper's Hole
Tucked away, on the western tip of Tortola, is Soper's Hole and Soper's Hole Marina. This area, also called the West End, is home as well to a British Virgin Islands customs clearance office with a dock that is employed by ferries and yachtsmen alike. Throughout the harbor from the customs clearance office, on the other side of a tiny anchorage is Soper's Hole Marina. The pirate Blackbeard, who real name was Edward Teach, once made his home in Soper's Hole from 1715 to 1718. Called a "Hole" because of the protection offered by the deep cut of the anchorage into the surrounding hills, the harbor allows yachts to anchor with good weather protection. Soper's Hole is just a nice spot to prevent while on charter in the British Virgin Islands as the same protection and calm anchorage that made Soper's Hole appealing to Blackbeard, is appealing to yachtsmen today.
Surrounding the dock area are a series of brightly painted Caribbean style buildings making a sense of a conventional Caribbean marketplace. Browse the shops for artwork, crafts and jewelry produced from a stone local to the British Virgin Islands, or stop for a mouthful to consume at the Pusser's Landing Restaurant and store.
Pusser's Rum was the initial rum of the British royal Navy and for over 300 years, the seamen aboard a Royal Navy ship were issued a tot of rum, each day with a double tot of rum issued just prior to battle. The aboard Royal Navy rum was doled out by the Purser aboard, and so eventually the Purser's rum became called Pusser's rum. In 1970, the daily rum tot tradition was abolished in the British Royal Navy and the recipe of the mixture of 5 different West Indian rums was sold privately to the Owner of Pusser's Ltd. This company was established in Tortola and the same rum served for over 300 years to the British Royal Navy was bottled and has been sold to the general public since 1980
Pusser's Rum quickly became a well liked of visiting yachtsmen when cruising in the British Virgin Islands. A percentage of the proceeds from each bottle sold now go to the Royal British Navy Sailors Fund, known commonly because the Tots Fund. Right after 1980, the now infamous drink, The Painkiller was created, only properly made with Pusser's Rum. The Painkiller has become served in many different locations in the BVI's. The very best Painkillers, however, are claimed to be served at the Pusser's restaurants, including Pusser's Landing Restaurant in Soper's Hole, where the Pusser's Painkiller is ordered by number in accordance with how many shots of rum poured in each drink.
