British Virgin Islands (BVI's) is a group of approximately fifty islands and outcroppings. The BVI's are believed a simple sailing area as the hawaiian islands are all within sight of each other so that navigation can be done by Dead Reckoning. And, The Sir Francis Drake Channel, which in right in the middle of these islands, is well protected for comfortable sailing. The 4 spots in this informative article, not to be missed, are easily a part of a 1 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 most popular and popular landmarks to go to in the BVI's.Yacht rental ibiza Gigantic granite boulders and half submerged rocks line the southern seashore of Virgin Gorda, creating grottos, tunnels, and arches. Sandy beaches are lined with coconut palms and the location provides a dramatic and lovely destination for a swim, snorkel and explore.
An additional beach in your community, called Devil's Bay, is reached through 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 some time exploring the location, with tidal pools of pristine clear waters, and white sand. Snorkeling is excellent, however more for the marine life, than coral, as this is simply not a reef area. Because of the various inlets and pools developed by the landscape, marine life is caught in the pools with each tidal change. Be sure to look closely at the safety flags as certain weather may cause currents with heavy undertows in this area. However, even when swimming is cautioned against, you will 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 house 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 first 60's, a rustic bar and cottages existed clinging to the stage of land on the north end of North Sound, that was a destination meant for adventurous sailors. The Hokins Family arrived, fell deeply in love with the location, 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 appealing by shoreside establishments like the Bitter End Yacht Club. Within the anchorage, make the most of the shoreside services offered at the Bitter End Yacht Club, including a marina, pool, beach, water sports, restaurants and bars, and a good spa. The Clubhouse Steak and Seafood Grille has been a yachting landmark for years. This open air restaurant sports the burgees from countless yachts and yacht clubs from all over the world. These flags flutter gently from the rafters in the breeze made 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 if you have not tried a grilled Caribbean lobster, basted with butter, this would 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 noted for its casual lifestyle, fine beaches and beachfront restaurants and bars. The Painkiller, a drink made from the Tortola local rum called Pusser's Rum was created here at the world famous yachtsman's bar named "Foxy's", named after Foxy, the number of years Owner with this bar and restaurant.
Perhaps Foxy's is better referred to as the location 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 kind of tradition, it is wise to get at Great Harbor per day ahead of time for a good spot to anchor. As the New Year draws near, the harbor erupts with activity and the buzz of dinghies heading here and there, through the 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 host to William Thorton, architect of the US Capitol, and John Coakley Lettsome, founder of the London Medical Society, came to be 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 generally dripping wet, including, as you most likely 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 a hilltop. Or look at the bubbling pot at the East End, where in actuality the foaming sea forms an all-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 for your own personel beach barbeque.
Stop #4: Soper's Hole
Saved, 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's used by ferries and yachtsmen alike. Throughout the harbor from the customs clearance office, on one other side of a small 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 made available from 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 avoid while on charter in the British Virgin Islands as exactly the same protection and calm anchorage that made Soper's Hole attractive to Blackbeard, is attractive to yachtsmen today.
Surrounding the dock area are some brightly painted Caribbean style buildings creating a sense of a conventional Caribbean marketplace. Look at shops for artwork, crafts and jewelry made from a rock local to the British Virgin Islands, or stop for a bite 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 up to speed a Royal Navy ship were issued a tot of rum, each day with a dual tot of rum issued just prior to battle. The up to speed Royal Navy rum was doled out by the Purser up to speed, and so eventually the Purser's rum became referred to as 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 business was established in Tortola and exactly the same rum served for over 300 years to the British Royal Navy was bottled and has been sold to the public since 1980
Pusser's Rum quickly became a favorite of visiting yachtsmen when cruising in the British Virgin Islands. A percentage of the proceeds from each bottle sold now visit the Royal British Navy Sailors Fund, known commonly while the Tots Fund. Immediately after 1980, the now infamous drink, The Painkiller came to be, only properly created using Pusser's Rum. The Painkiller is now 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 in actuality the Pusser's Painkiller is ordered by number according to how many shots of rum poured in each drink.
