Tag Archives: BVI

Watersports on a Luxury Crewed Yacht Charter in the BVI

Whether you wish to try your hand at water-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, knee boarding, windsurfing or Seabobs (among other sports), there are always boats on offer that meet all the necessary water sport requirements. Chartering a crewed yacht with a variety of sea toys is a fantastic way to ensure a family vacation with plenty of excitement and adventure. Below you will find brief descriptions of just some of the fantastic water sport opportunities on offer.

Scuba Diving / Snorkeling

Screen-shot-2012-11-13-at-12.10.07The beautiful waters of the Caribbean are the perfect place for exploration and discovery. Dive down to sites that include the wreckages of Spanish galleons and British warships, or snorkel through the stunning coral reefs that are home to a host of tropical fish and other rare species of marine life.

Many crewed yachts offer diving instructors on board who will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable scuba-diving experience. Rendezvous diving means that you are joined by a professional diving company who bring their own boat and diving equipment. These companies offer only the most experienced diving staff who have unrivalled knowledge of all the best local dive sites.

As the only coral reef island in the Virgin Islands, Anegada is an extremely popular charter destination for snorkelers and scuba divers.  Other popular diving and snorkeling destinations include the Maldives, Seychelles and the Great Barrier Reef.

Waterskiing, Wakeboarding and Kneeboarding

The easiest and quickest way to learn how to ski is by starting on a kneeboard. Kneeling on the board gives you a much lower centre of gravity than conventional waterskiing, which makes it easier to balance and keep control when you are being towed at speeds of around 30-50km/h.

In contrast, water skiing not only requires exceptional upper and lower body strength but also extremely good balance. Many boats offer both adult and children’s waterskis. Children often find learning to waterski easier than adults due to their lower centre of gravity.

Wakeboarding was originally developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing. Wakeboards are usually made of foam or honeycomb, which is mixed with resin and coated with fibreglass.

Given the obvious dangers of falling into the water at speed, a third person is required as a spotter for the person in the water. The spotter’s job is to ensure that all necessary safety measures are taken.

Interesting fact: The most skiers towed behind one boat is 145. This world record was set by the Horsehead Water Ski Club in Strahan, Tasmania, in January 2012.

Personal Water Craft / Water scooter

Personal Water Craft (PWCs) are often referred to by their more well-known brand names such as Jet Ski, WaveRunner and SeaDoo. These vehicles are normally designed for one or two people, although three- and four-man models do exist.

PWCs are popular because they are small, very fast and easy to manoeuvre. They are also an extremely fun way to explore the ocean and are safer around swimmers because they do not have external propellers.

Riders should probably try their best not to fall off though, as there is a risk of similar injuries to those that can be picked up on waterskis.

Screen-Shot-2012-12-03-at-14.15.31With accommodation for 6 guests in 2 cabins, the Jongert 27m crewed sailing yacht ICARUS is ideal for sailing charters around Europe and the Virgin Islands. ICARUS offers a variety of exciting water toys including snorkelling equipment, waterskis, tube, towing ring, wake board and fishing gear, while rendezvous diving is also an option.

If you would like some advice and help in planning a trip to the BVI, please  have a look at our BVI Catamaran Charter Guide or send us an email to [email protected], where one of our Brokers would be delighted to assist you.

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Chartering a crewed Catamaran in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Virgin Gorda is the third largest and the second most populated of the British Virgin Islands. The island is a well-known destination for romantic getaways and for relaxing holidays with friends and family. Christopher Columbus is said to have named the island “The Fat Virgin” because its profile on the horizon looked like a fat woman lying on her side. Whether this is true is still open for some debate.

The population of Virgin Gorda was only about 600 when American venture capitalist Laurence Rockefeller constructed the Rosewood Little Dix Bay resort in 1964. The resort is credited with establishing the tourism industry on the island, whose population now stands at over 3,200. Rosewood Little Dix Bay is a 4-diamond resort offering luxury villas and suites, an award winning spa and its own spectacular bay and beach. It is located near Spanish Town, the island’s capital city.

Although the pace of life can be slow on Virgin Gorda, the island provides the ideal blend of stunning scenery, good restaurants and plenty of activities and tourist attractions for those who have had enough of sunbathing on the beautiful white beaches.

The giant granite rock formations of the Baths, found in the south-west of the Island, are the biggest tourist attraction in the BVI. The rock pools and secret beaches found here are fascinating to explore and show evidence of the island’s volcanic origins.

This protected area also includes Devil’s Bay, a horseshoe shaped bay that is a 15-minute hike from the top of the Baths. Alternatively, hikers can take a second, more challenging path that involves climbing a series of ladders that scale the boulders. This is the perfect location for swimming, snorkeling and unwinding on some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.

Established in 1974, the 265-acre Gorda Peak National Park is also extremely popular. The park, which is the perfect example of Caribbean dry forest, contains a path leading up to the island’s highest point of 1,370 feet. Here you will find a wide variety of indigenous and exotic plants and an observation tower that offers panoramic views of some of the surrounding islands.

One yacht that is perfect for a romantic getaway in Virgin Gorda is the stunning Sun Odyssey 54 DS SAYANG. This crewed sailing yacht is hugely popular for honeymoon charters and ideal for sailing vacations and holidays around the Virgin Islands.

Please have a look at the 7-day BVI sailing itinerary on our website. If you would like some advice and help in planning a trip to the BVI, please send us an email to [email protected], where one of our Brokers would be delighted to assist you.

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Chartering a crewed Catamaran in Anegada, British Virgin Islands

Anegada, the second largest of the British Virgin Islands, is an extremely popular charter destination for snorkelers and scuba divers. As the only coral reef island in the Virgin Islands (the rest are all volcanic islands), Anegada is home to many rare species of marine life, including needlefish, stingrays, parrotfish and sea turtles. The island is also known for its famous rock iguana and beautiful fauna including wild orchids.

Anegada takes its name from the Spanish word for “drowned”. As it is not a volcanic island, Anegada is relatively flat and can be difficult to navigate by boat. At it’s highest it is just 26 feet above sea level. Before the advanced global tracking systems of the modern era, mariners often couldn’t see it and became trapped in the coral of Horseshoe Reef which, at eighteen miles long, is the largest barrier coral reef in the Caribbean and the fourth largest on earth.

Visitors can dive down to sunken ships or snorkel in the turquoise waters from one of the white, sandy beaches such as Loblolly Bay or Cow Wreck beach. Much of the island’s best marine life can be found among the wreckages of Spanish trading ships and British warships. Despite its size, Anegada is the most sparsely populated of the main islands; it is almost like having your own private beach.

After a long day soaking up the sun, many chose to dine at restaurants that serve fresh lobster. Often found in the deep waters off the North Drop, the locally caught lobster have a reputation as the best in the Caribbean.

Anegada is the perfect place to charter a yacht over the festive period. It is an island that really embraces the spirit and traditions of Christmas. The lighting of the biggest Christmas Tree in the BVI, with more than 15,000 lights, has become an annual event. The tree, which stands at 35 feet high, is lit on first Saturday evening of December each year as part of a cultural event that brings together the island’s community.

One yacht that would be perfect for friend and family charters in Anegada is CATSY, a fantastic Sunreef 62 Catamaran, who was voted as the Best Multihull Over 51 Feet at the 2011 Tortola Charter Yacht Show. She has plenty of living space and beautiful al fresco dining areas with stunning views of the Caribbean scenery.

You can find more information about Anegada yacht charters on our website. If you would like some advice and help in planning a trip to the BVI, please send us an email to [email protected], where one of our Brokers would be delighted to assist you.

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Chartering in the BVI on our Top 5 November Crewed Catamarans, Part II

Part I of this blog introduced our top 5 with the excellent CATTITUDE, followed by the modern IN THE WIND, two fantastic options for a Crewed Catamaran in the BVI. Part II will follow on in the same vein, exploring some of those best crewed catamarans available for charter in the BVI that we highly recommend.

MOTU is a stunning crewed catamaran, available for charter. She is a 2006 61 foot Privilege, with the space to accommodate 8 guests in 4 large cabins easily. She has an excellent fly-bridge, a perfect space for viewing the oceans around you whilst you sail on board. MOTU always makes her clients feel at home, and chartering her is one of the most extraordinary experiences one can have. One charterer said “The Motu experience was the best vacation I have taken. First, simply being on a boat living in luxury with the flexibility to roam wherever your heart pleases may just be the perfect combination. We did the BVI`s under the Motu, a 60 foot cat that is in excellent condition. Additionally, there are fun toys like the waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, kayaking, snorkeling, exploring, hiking, fishing and of course sailing. Captain Luc and Freddie were dynamite. Freddie is one of the best cooks I know.” MOTU does not disappoint, and she is the perfect crewed catamaran for charter, let alone just in the BVI! MOTU is currently available between November 18th and December 14th for charter, and in mid January too. She would love to have you on board!

WORLD’S END is a 65 foot Fountaine Pajot with 5 luxurious cabins accommodating up to 10 guests. She is a fantastic charter for families and groups of friends alike, providing both great facilities in and out of the water. She has plenty of water toys, ranging from kayaks, fishing gear, to waterskis for both adults and children, as well as wake boards. On board, she is fully air conditioned and has plenty to keep you busy, if you’re not exploring the wonderful islands of the BVI! She also has loads of deck space for all passengers to enjoy sailing from. If you haven’t booked plans for Christmas, she is currently available for a charter in the Caribbean!

SOON COME brings our top 5 luxury crewed catamarans blog of November to a close. She is a 62 foot Sunreef, with 4 great cabins to accommodate 8 on board. Her interior is made up of light flooring and upholstery, blended with the red-looking American Cherry wood of all her furniture. She is a first class catamaran, stylish, sophisticated, and perfect for charter in the BVI. She is air-conditioned throughout, and has a brilliant deck with a table to sit all guests. She is available January through to March and would love to have you on board!

If you are interested in chartering a yacht, please visit www.boatbookings.com, or email us at [email protected] and one of our charter specialists will get back to you shortly!

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