Advice
Charter Tips
Everything we wish someone had told us before our first BVI bareboat — from choosing a company to clearing customs on the way home.
Twelve charters in, we still learn something new every trip. But there's a core set of things that make the difference between a stressful week and a great one — and most of them happen before you leave the dock. This page covers the topics that come up most often when friends ask us how to plan their first (or fifth) BVI charter.
Choosing a Charter Company
The BVIs have a healthy fleet of charter companies ranging from large international operators to small independent outfits. The big operators offer newer boats, more standardized check-in processes, and better backup support if something goes wrong — important on your first charter. Smaller independents often have more character, older but well-maintained boats, and owners who genuinely care about your experience.
What to look for: fleet age and maintenance reputation (ask on sailing forums — the BVI sailing community is vocal), what's included in the base rate versus add-ons, the quality of their provisioning service, and how they handle breakdowns. Read recent reviews carefully, especially about the check-in process and boat condition on departure day.
Book early. The best boats in the best condition go first, especially for peak season (December through April). Six to twelve months out is not too early for a holiday week.
Provisioning
Most charter companies offer provisioning packages — a fixed list of groceries loaded onto the boat before you arrive. They're convenient but expensive and often generic. We've done it both ways and prefer to provision ourselves, at least partially.
The main provisioning stops in Road Town are Riteway and Bobby's Marketplace, both within easy reach of the charter bases. Arrive the day before your charter starts, stay at a hotel or guesthouse, and do your shopping in the morning. You'll save money, get exactly what you want, and start the trip feeling organized.
Practical tips: buy more water than you think you need (a case per person per week is a reasonable baseline). Stock up on snacks and easy lunches — you'll eat most dinners ashore but want quick food on the boat during the day. Don't forget sunscreen, seasickness medication (even if you've never needed it — conditions vary), and a good insect repellent for the anchorages.
Weather Windows
The BVIs sit in the trade wind belt, which means reliable easterly winds of 15–25 knots for most of the year. This is what makes the sailing so good — but it also means you'll be beating into the wind on any eastbound leg, and the Sir Francis Drake Channel can build a short, steep chop that's uncomfortable in a loaded charter boat.
The best sailing months are December through June: steady trades, low humidity, and minimal rain. July through November is hurricane season — most experienced sailors avoid the BVIs from August through October, though early and late season can be perfectly fine with careful monitoring.
For weather routing: check the NOAA Caribbean forecast and Passage Weather in the days before departure. The BVI Met Office broadcasts on VHF 27 at 0730 and 1930 daily. If a tropical system is developing, your charter company will have a protocol — follow it.
Plan your itinerary to sail downwind or on a reach as much as possible. The classic loop (Road Town → Norman Island → Virgin Gorda → Jost Van Dyke → Road Town) works well because the longest legs are mostly downwind or reaching.
More Tips Worth Knowing
Packing
Pack light and soft
Soft duffel bags only — hard-sided luggage has nowhere to go on a boat. Each person should be able to manage their own bag. Bring less than you think you need; you'll be in the same three outfits all week and won't miss the rest.
Packing
Footwear that works on and off the boat
Boat shoes or non-marking rubber soles for the deck. Flip-flops for the beach and dinghy dock. One pair of closed-toe shoes for hiking (the Baths trail, Anegada by golf cart). That's it. Three pairs total.
Packing
Sun protection is not optional
The BVI sun is intense, the reflection off the water doubles it, and you'll be outside all day. SPF 50 minimum, reapplied constantly. A long-sleeve rash guard is more effective than sunscreen for extended time on deck. Bring twice as much sunscreen as you think you need.
Crew Preparation
Brief your crew before you leave the dock
Even if no one else has sailed before, a 20-minute briefing covers the essentials: where the life jackets are, how the head works, what to do if someone goes overboard, and the basic rules of the cockpit. A prepared crew is a relaxed crew.
Crew Preparation
Assign roles, not just tasks
Designate a first mate, a navigator, and a provisioning manager before you leave. Shared ownership of the boat's operation reduces friction and means the skipper isn't making every decision alone. Rotate roles on longer charters.
Crew Preparation
Seasickness: plan for it regardless
The Sir Francis Drake Channel can be lumpy, especially on the beat back from Jost Van Dyke. Meclizine (Bonine) taken the night before works well for most people. Scopolamine patches are more effective but require a prescription. Have a plan even if you've never been seasick — conditions in the BVIs can surprise you.
VHF Etiquette
Monitor Channel 16 at all times underway
Channel 16 is the international distress and calling channel. Keep it on whenever you're moving. Hail other vessels and marinas on 16, then switch to a working channel. The BVI Coast Guard monitors 16 continuously. Never use 16 for extended conversations.
VHF Etiquette
How to hail a marina or mooring attendant
State the name of the marina or service, your vessel name, and your request — once, clearly. Wait 30 seconds before repeating. Most BVI marinas and mooring services monitor 16 and will respond quickly. Speak slowly and use standard phonetic alphabet for vessel names if there's any ambiguity.
VHF Etiquette
Weather broadcasts
The BVI Met Office broadcasts on VHF 27 at 0730 and 1930 daily. WX channels (WX1, WX2, WX3) carry NOAA continuous weather broadcasts. Make it a habit to listen to the morning forecast before getting underway — it takes two minutes and can change your plans.
Customs & Immigration
Clear in at Road Town or Great Harbour
If you're arriving from outside the BVIs (including the USVI), you must clear customs and immigration before going ashore anywhere. Road Town (Wickhams Cay) and Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke are the main ports of entry. Have your passports, crew list, and boat documentation ready.
Customs & Immigration
The USVI crossing adds paperwork in both directions
If you sail to St. John or St. Thomas, you'll clear US Customs on arrival (Cruz Bay for St. John) and BVI Customs again on return. It's worth it — Coral Bay on St. John is beautiful — but budget a half-day for the paperwork and fees each way. Carry more cash than you expect to need.
Customs & Immigration
Cruising permits and fishing licenses
A BVI cruising permit is included in most charter packages — confirm with your company. If you plan to fish, you need a separate BVI fishing license, available at customs. Spearfishing is prohibited in BVI waters. Lobster has a closed season (April 1 through July 31) — don't order it ashore during those months either.
On the Water
Arrive at popular anchorages early
The Baths mooring field, The Indians, and White Bay on Jost Van Dyke all fill up by mid-morning in high season. If these are on your itinerary, plan to arrive by 0900. Sail early, anchor early, and enjoy the anchorage before the day-charter boats arrive.
On the Water
Cash is king in the BVIs
Many mooring attendants, beach bars, and small restaurants are cash-only or prefer it. The US dollar is the official currency. Bring more cash than you think you need — ATMs exist in Road Town and at a few marinas, but they're not always reliable. Budget around $30/night for mooring balls plus cash for meals ashore.
On the Water
The dinghy is your car
You'll use the dinghy constantly — to get ashore, to snorkel spots, to visit neighboring boats. Keep it properly inflated, carry a spare fuel can, and always tie it securely when you leave it. A dinghy that drifts away in the night is a very bad morning.