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The Bight to Tortola

The Bight to Tortola
121 Nautical Miles /One Way
Visiting: The Bight, The Indians, Salt Island & Cooper Island, Devil's Bay (The Baths), North Sound, Cow Wreck & Loblolly Bay, Monkey Point & Jost Van Dyke, Tortola

8 days in the British Virgin Islands 1

The British Virgin Islands provide flexible itineraries. The cruising zone offers a wide variety of entertainment options. If the wind blows you to a lonely anchorage, you can spend your days swimming, reading, sunbathing, and strolling the beach while your boat is anchored there. The following schedule can help you arrange your time in the British Virgin Islands. It’s a good idea to have a basic itinerary of the places and sights you wish to visit. This sailing tour across the British Virgin Islands is sure to lead you to secluded beaches, top-notch snorkeling spots, and breathtakingly stunning cays.

This trip is designed to show you the best of the islands. We recommend keeping your schedule open so you can make the most of your trip.

The Bight
Distance: 0 Nautical Miles
Approximate Travel Time: 0 min

Your first night’s anchorage should be in the Bight off of Norman Island. After passing through Sir Francis Drake Channel, you’ll pass the islands of The Indians and Pelican. Just ahead is a protected anchorage where you can drop the hook for the night.

Despite being the BVI destination that sailors dream of visiting the most, it is also the one that they remember the least. The infamous Willy T’s on the Bight’s south end and the on-land Pirates Bar/Restaurant ensure it. If you can imagine it, now envision forty or more other vessels in a similarly jubilant state of mind. Irrationality follows. The Bight is a safe, natural harbor with deep water and ample space. You may easily get here from the rest of the British Virgin Islands by approaching from the west and staying clear of only The Indians and Pelican Islands.

The Indians
Distance: 9 Nautical Miles
Approximate Travel Time: 0 min

You can leave the sails down and make a direct run to the Indians in the morning. You can take your time enjoying the spectacular rock formations before heading out on a snorkeling adventure. Compare the contrast between the rocky ledges and the vertical walls that lead to the surface, and the colorful corals, marine life, and sponges that decorate them. The next step is to set sail for Peter Island’s Great Harbor. Peter Island has five beautiful white-sand beaches that are great for swimming and snorkeling.

The Indians

As you approach ‘The Indians’ from your boat, you’ll be awed by the towering formations that rise majestically from the ocean like sentinels guarding the secrets of the sea. Once you anchor, dive into the warm waters and explore the vibrant coral reefs that are home to a kaleidoscope of colourful marine life. Snorkelers and scuba divers alike will delight in the sight of graceful sea turtles, colourful fish, and majestic manta rays gliding through the water. Above the surface, the rocky islets rise steeply out of the water against the sun-kissed skies, creating a stunning scenery that is enhanced by the fascinating sunsets.

Great Harbour (Peter Island)

They have beautiful beaches and great diving like many Caribbean places. The popular cruise port of Great Harbor, Peter Island is no exception. This deep, well-protected port is a popular commercial fishing destination and calm year-round. This is a good place to spend the night, Peter Island is mostly private, including the lovely, exclusive Peter Island Yacht Club east of the port. If you call ahead, you can eat in their great restaurant. This is a terrific place to cook, relax, and watch the sunset over Tortola and the lights come on as night falls.

Salt Island & Cooper Island
Distance: 15 Nautical Miles
Approximate Travel Time: 0 min

The Rhone, a ship that sank in 1867 and now sits just off Salt Island, makes for a spectacular dive or snorkel soon after breakfast. Then, in the late morning or early afternoon, you can tack up to Cooper Island and pick up a mooring there. To continue snorkeling, relax on the beach, or chill at the bar, swim to Cistern Point.

Salt Island

One of the best places to go wreck diving in the Caribbean; a must-see on any yacht charter. While boating around Salt Island, be sure to stop by the shipwreck of the RMS Rhone, which went down in the waters there in 1867 and is now a popular diving and snorkelling spot. Road Town, the capital of the British Virgin Islands, is a charming little town full of local shops, restaurants, and bars. Although there are no bars or restaurants on the island, it is nevertheless an ideal destination for those in search of peace and quiet. Hikers will enjoy the island’s beautiful scenery and the several breathtaking trails they can take to get there.

Cooper Island

Cooper Island, one of the most beautiful British Virgin Islands, has a fascinating history.  It was once known as Bergen Island when it was administered by Sweden and Norway until 1905. Today it is home to the magnificent  Cooper Island Beach Club, a relaxing eco-resort that is a perfect stop for yachts seeking shelter in the bay, or for lunch and happy hour. The area’s variety of fish, turtles and rays makes it ideal for snorkelling. The Cooper Island Beach Club Rum Bar has over 280 rums and is a great place to relax and enjoy the views. Cooper Island offers natural beauty, history, and a laid-back atmosphere, perfect for yachting.

Devil's Bay (The Baths)
Distance: 11 Nautical Miles
Approximate Travel Time: 0 min

Get an early start and take the Sir Francis Drake Channel to get to The Baths on the southern coast of Virgin Gorda. You can spend all day wandering the tunnels, caves, and gin-clear ponds hidden among the giant boulders.

The beauty of this beach is difficult to put into words. Hopefully, the photographs will help paint a more accurate picture! A series of steps and rope handrails lead guests through the boulders from The Baths beach to Devil’s Bay’s beautiful white sand and sparkling blue waters. Devil’s Bay is a popular daylight anchorage where you can swim and snorkel. A trail leads to Stoney Bay, where Atlantic swells batter the coastline and seabirds swoop overhead. This beach has remained beautifully pristine, with no restrooms, cafes, bars, or trash cans. A ‘must see’.

North Sound
Distance: 15 Nautical Miles
Approximate Travel Time: 0 min

North Sound on Virgin Gorda has a little something for everyone. It’s a National Park, so of course the three tiny islets there make for a great diving spot.

North Sound is a treasure trove of private islands and pristine beaches, including Moskito Island, Necker Island, Oil Nut Bay, and Leverick Bay, which are all adorned with luxurious resorts, water sports, delicious dining options, and fun beach bars. The heart of this sailing mecca is by Saba Rock, a recently reopened island resort, and Prickly Pear Island, a protected nature reserve. North Sound is a haven for kite surfers who flock here for the steady easterly trade winds that create perfect kiting conditions.

Cow Wreck & Loblolly Bay
Distance: 49 Nautical Miles
Approximate Travel Time: 0 min

From North Sound, heading north, it’s about a two- to three-hour cruise to Anegada. Check out Cow Wreck and Loblolly Bay while you’re there. Along with the gorgeous white beaches, other highlights include Roseate Flamingos, rare rock iguanas, manmade conch islands, and exquisite plant species.

Cow Wreck

With a name like Cow Wreck Beach, it’s easy to say it’s one of the most popular attractions in Anegada. The beach got its name because a ship carrying cow bones wrecked off the island’s coast in the 1800s, scattering the bones everywhere. While there isn’t usually a lot going on in Anegada, there is still a lot to see and do at this beach. Don’t miss out on this hidden gem on Anegada, which offers everything from kitesurfing to snorkeling to lobster meals and tropical cocktails. One of the advantages of being distant from everything is that the beach is rarely crowded. If you want to enjoy some extra outdoor activities after or before going to the beach, consider visiting Francis Family Farm. It’s one of the few sites in the British Virgin Islands where you may go horseback riding.

Loblolly Bay

That remote Caribbean beach where the whispers of the waves stir your desire for the fresh lobster being fried at the restaurant a few steps away from your beachside villa. This bay, located on Anegada’s northern coast, has some of the best snorkeling on the island. This is a location for solitude but with a dash of convenience tossed in. A few steps from its pearl white dunes, the Big Bamboo Beach Bar and Restaurant continues to build on its reputation for the sweetest lobster on the islands.

Monkey Point & Jost Van Dyke
Distance: 10 Nautical Miles
Approximate Travel Time: 0 min

As the sun rises, head westward and downwind toward Jost Van Dyke. Due to the length of your journey, a morning snorkeling break at Guana Island’s Monkey Point is highly recommended.

Monkey Point

You may relax on a dreamy white sand beach after a day of exploring the aquarium-like waters at Monkey Point, which is located in the south of Guana Island. The dive is fascinating because of the nice walls and smaller rocky formations, which are home to smaller fish and invertebrates. The rare fish and vibrant coral at Monkey Point make for excellent photographs. The park is the most well-known attraction in the British Virgin Islands protected area system. Create a marine squad and go snorkeling at this hotspot. A deserted picnic and an afternoon of quiet sunbathing on one of the nearby beaches, such as Bigelow Beach, is another option.

Jost Van Dyke

Teal waters fringe this buzzing tropical island that was once a local haunt for Keith Richards and Jimmy Buffet. Exuding barefoot luxury at its best, Jost Van Dyke remains a nirvana of lush greenery, pristine beaches and a buzz of beach bars that shouldn’t be missed. With a backdrop of emerald hills, White Bay is a crescent-shaped paradise ideal for swimming and snorkelling, not to mention ultimate beach relaxation. The island offers tonnes of eateries to tuck into that Caribbean cuisine, with the most sophisticated of them all, Hendo’s Hideout, serving up modern variations of local cuisine complemented by rustic chic wooden decor.

Tortola
Distance: 12 Nautical Miles
Approximate Travel Time: 0 min

You also have a long upwind sail ahead of you, so get going early. A trip around the West End of Tortola and up the channel is in order.

Come and explore this enchanting destination that boasts some of the most stunning beaches in the world, such as the white sand Cane Garden Bay Beach and the black sand Smuggler’s Cove Beach, which provide some great anchorage, whether you’re looking to relax or engage in water sports. Cane Garden Bay is one of the most famous spots due to its beautiful beach and abundance of water activities and Sage Mountain National Park is a stunning natural park that features tropical forests, waterfalls, and hiking trails, and it is another must-see attraction. Visit Road Town, the island capital, is a great place to do some retail therapy or pick up some unique souvenirs, as it is home to a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and markets selling everything from clothing to local art. You should spend at least one day on Tortola during your BVIs holiday if you’re looking for a relaxing island getaway that doesn’t skimp on natural beauty, culture, or adventure.th a combination of natural beauty, culture, and adventure and you can’t miss a day here on your BVIs tour.

Come and explore this enchanting destination that boasts some of the most stunning beaches in the world, such as the white sand Cane Garden Bay Beach and the black sand Smuggler’s Cove Beach, which provide some great anchorage, whether you’re looking to relax or engage in water sports. Cane Garden Bay is one of the most famous spots due to its beautiful beach and abundance of water activities and Sage Mountain National Park is a stunning natural park that features tropical forests, waterfalls, and hiking trails, and it is another must-see attraction. Visit Road Town, the island capital, is a great place to do some retail therapy or pick up some unique souvenirs, as it is home to a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and markets selling everything from clothing to local art. You should spend at least one day on Tortola during your BVIs holiday if you’re looking for a relaxing island getaway that doesn’t skimp on natural beauty, culture, or adventure.th a combination of natural beauty, culture, and adventure and you can’t miss a day here on your BVIs tour.