British Virgin Islands (BVI's) is a small grouping of approximately fifty islands and outcroppings. The BVI's are thought a straightforward sailing area as the hawaiian islands are within sight of one another in order that navigation can be done by Dead Reckoning. And, The Sir Francis Drake Channel, which in right in the midst of these islands, is well protected for comfortable sailing. The 4 spots in this informative article, never to be missed, can be included in 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 well known 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. Sandy beaches are lined with coconut palms and the area provides a dramatic and lovely spot to swim, snorkel and explore.Rent luxury car dubai
An additional beach in the area, called Devil's Bay, is reached through a maze-like passage through the boulders and shallower grottos. The road is lined with ladders and ropes to help relieve the hike along steeper rocks.
Spend some time exploring the area, with tidal pools of pristine clear waters, and white sand. Snorkeling is very good, however more for the marine life, than coral, as this isn't a reef area. Due to the various inlets and pools developed 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 could cause currents with heavy undertows in this area. However, even though swimming is cautioned against, there are 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 well known 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, a traditional bar and cottages existed clinging to the point of land on the north end of North Sound, which was a destination designed for adventurous sailors. The Hokins Family arrived, fell deeply in love with the area, 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 is still a nice-looking anchorage, made more desirable by shoreside establishments like the Bitter End Yacht Club. While in 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 hundreds of 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 is well known 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 place for this uniquely Caribbean treat.
Spot #3: Jost Van Dyke
Jost Van Dyke is a four mile-long barefoot paradise noted for its casual lifestyle, fine beaches and beachfront restaurants and bars. The Painkiller, a glass or two made from the Tortola local rum called Pusser's Rum was created at the planet famous yachtsman's bar named "Foxy's", named after Foxy, the number of years Owner of the bar and restaurant.
Perhaps Foxy's is better called 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. This has now become this kind of tradition, that it is wise to get at Great Harbor per day ahead of time 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 underneath the stars.
Although Jost measures just four by three miles, the island is abundant with 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 born 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 on the bar stools are often dripping wet, including, as you probably guessed, the profit 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 in fact the foaming sea forms a natural Jacuzzi. And you are able to 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 known as the West End, is home as well to a British Virgin Islands customs clearance office with a dock that is utilized by ferries and yachtsmen alike. Across the harbor from the customs clearance office, on another 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 made available from the deep cut of the anchorage in to the surrounding hills, the harbor allows yachts to anchor with good weather protection. Soper's Hole is a nice spot to stop while on charter in the British Virgin Islands as the exact 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 making a sense of a normal Caribbean marketplace. Browse the shops for artwork, crafts and jewelry made from a rock 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, daily with a double tot of rum issued just just before 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 business was established in Tortola and the exact 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 portion of the arises from each bottle sold now head to the Royal British Navy Sailors Fund, known commonly as the Tots Fund. Soon after 1980, the now infamous drink, The Painkiller was born, only properly created using Pusser's Rum. The Painkiller has become served in a variety of locations in the BVI's. The most effective Painkillers, however, are claimed to be served at the Pusser's restaurants, including Pusser's Landing Restaurant in Soper's Hole, where in fact the Pusser's Painkiller is ordered by number in accordance with the amount of shots of rum poured in each drink.
