DefinitiveCaribbean logo - The Definitive Caribbean Guide - written by James Henderson, and Caribbean travel specialists. James Henderson is of Britain's most respected travel writers and the author of The Cadogan Guide to the Caribbean & the Bahamas.
Virgin Traders
Category: Yacht Charter
Island: British Virgin Islands
Location: Tortola, BVI
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One of the Virgin Traders fleet, Caribbean motor yacht
Horizon 56, luxury yacht charters Caribbean

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Interior Horizon 56 Motor Yacht Master Suite - BVI yacht charters, Caribbean motor yachts

 

Horizon 56 Salon Dining Area

 

Horizon 56 Interior - Bedroom & Basin

 

Horizon 56 Salon Dining Area With Windows To Sea

 

Guest Stateroom, Horizon 56 - luxury yacht charters Caribbean, Caribbean motor yachts with Virgin Traders

 

Virgin Traders Docks, Nanny Cay, Tortola

 

Dive BVI, Virgin Traders Motor Yachts and Power Cats - scuba Tortola

 

Anchored Off Norman Island - Showing Swim Platform,  Bareboat charter BVI Power, Tortolla snorkelling

 

Virgin Traders 56, St Francis Drake Channel, BVI bareboat charters

 

Cruising At Speed Off Anegada

 

Horizon 48 At Anchor Surrounded By Turquoise Sea

 

Scuba Diving Tortola, Virgin Traders

 

Power Cat At Anchor, Bareboat charter BVI power

 

Power Cat Cabin

 

Power Cat Head

 

Sunbathing & champagne on deck - luxury yacht charters Caribbean
Relaxing with Virgin Traders, daysails in Tortola

 

Aft Stateroom, Horizon 48

 

Virgin Traders Signature 475

 

Virgin Trader 44, Bareboat charter BVI power

 

View To Nanny Cay & Sir Francis Drake Channel, Tortola

 

Anegada Island, View From Virgin Traders Motor Yacht

 

Tortola Aerial Shot

 

The Baths, Virgin Gorda, as seen from Virgin Traders Motor Yacht - BVI yacht charters

 

Nanny Cay Marina Docks, Tortola, Home Of Virgin Traders Yacht Charters, Luxury yacht charters Caribbean

 

Willy T, Bar, Norman Island, In The Bight Off Tortola

 

Norman Island Beach Bar

 

Cooper Island Beach & Canoes

 

Bitter End Yacht Club, North Sound, Virgin Gorda, safe overnight anchorage BVI Yacht Charter

 

Power Cat, The Baths, Virgin Gorda

 

Anegada Beach BVI

 

KEY FEATURES...
BVI bareboat charters, Tortola based, 20+ latest and recent model motor yachts, Power Cats, some older boats, immaculately presented. Charters with or without crew, excellent one-to-one service from a knowledgeable team.

 
Virgin Traders is the only BVI bareboat charter company that deals solely in motor yachts. The company has a fleet of over twenty extremely smart boats between 44ft and 56ft in length, many of them sleek and streamlined craft made by the Horizon Yacht Company. Motor yachts offer more space and a more comfortable ride than a sailing yacht and still have the same sense of freedom, so they are ideal for an exclusive trip in high level but affordable luxury around one of the loveliest sailing areas in the world.

While bareboat sailing yachts have been available for charter in the BVI for many years, chartering a bareboat motor yacht is a more recent development. Virgin Traders are now the largest motor yacht charter operation in the Caribbean and besides the BVI they also have an outlet in St Martin which opens up the islands of St Martin/St Maarten (with its offshore cays), Anguilla and St Barts. You will need requisite certificates and sailing experience of course, but you are your own skipper and you can head off in grand style, following your whim as you sail around the islands.

Motor yachts can reach everywhere in the BVI that a sailing yacht can and they give a more stable ride. They are a little wider in the beam and consequently have more space, allowing more comfortable surroundings, larger rooms and beds. Travellers that are not entirely convinced by sailing itself may find themselves a little more comfortable. And if you decide you would prefer to be catered for after all, then Virgin Traders can also provide a crew, captain (also dive master) and mate/cook as required.

Founded in 1997, Virgin Traders is based on the waterfront in Nanny Cay Marina on Tortola. It is managed by its two owners, James Burgess and Will Driver, who both originate from the UK. Other key members of the 20-person team are General Manager Gene Carson from Canada who oversees the running of the fleet, Trudy Childs, formerly of the City of London, who looks after the accounts and Service Manager Christopher Groves formerly of the Royal Navy.

Since 1997 Virgin Traders has grown from two yachts to a fleet of over 20. They have continually updated their fleet, taking on the newest yachts produced by Horizon. They are closely involved in the design process of the yachts, using their experience of the BVI charter business to identify features for the boat builders, and customizing their yachts. There is an extremely luxurious 82ft Horizon Yacht in the offing at the moment.

As a relatively small business, Virgin Traders is able to offer a very personal service to its clients. On arrival you will receive an individual chart and equipment briefing - unless you are travelling in a flotilla - unlike briefings from some of the larger yacht charter companies, which are for multiple crews. The company is happy to arrange for provisioning and for extras such as sports equipment to be stowed on board by arrangement.

With its greater comfort and to some greater prestige, a motor yacht is clearly a more expensive option than a sailing boat, but if you would prefer the style and gentler ride, and are keen to skipper your own yacht, then Virgin Traders offer stylish and extremely comfortable yachts.

Another stream of Virgin Traders’ business is the representation of yacht builders. Virgin Traders are agents for Horizon Yachts (the source of many of their motor yachts of course), which is based in Taiwan. They market and sell Horizon products in the BVI and the United States. If you would like to own a yacht or to buy one for charter at the times when you are not using it, then Virgin Traders can enable the purchase and by arrangement they can include the yachts in their fleet. Yachts can be custom built with Virgin Traders’ advice and input.
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Base
Virgin Traders is based at Nanny Cay on the southern shore of Tortola, about three miles west of Road Town, the capital of the BVI. The area has a fully equipped marina with berths for 180 yachts, a boat repair facility and chandlery and a number of other services including a restaurant and bar, which is often a hub of activity for yachties on shore for a while. There is also a hotel and a small shopping mall on the waterfront, from which you can provision your yacht if you do not want to head off to the supermarkets in Road Town.
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Fleet
The Virgin Traders charter fleet currently consists of just over 20 motor yachts, all the most recent models and customized for bareboat charter (though they can equally be hired with crew as well as bareboat). The majority of the fleet are Horizon yachts, made by Horizon Yachts of Taiwan, and they include Horizon 44s, Horizon 56s and soon to be, the Horizon 82. There are also some trawler style yachts and one motor catamaran.

Virgin Powercat 52
Specifically designed for Virgin Traders and offered only by them, the Powercat is built in New Zealand to a high standard. Currently one of these vessels is in the charter fleet. They have a generous swimming platform and aft cockpit, with lots of space for barbecue, wetbar and plenty of seating and the salon has an all round view. They sleep eight in four cabins or ten using the fold-down queen berth in the salon. With its widely spaced twin props the Powercat is easy to handle and turns easily. Cruising speed is approximately 20 knots, with more available if needed.
Details
4 double cabins with full queen berths
17 knot cruising speed
Full width swimming platform
Air-conditioning throughout
Spacious fly-bridge with Bimini
Shaded aft deck dining area
Lots of on board storage
2 showers + forward transom
Twin 20' fishing outriggers (fighting chairs available)

Virgin Horizon 48 Twin Screw Motor Yacht
Specifically designed and built for Virgin Traders, the Virgin Horizon 48 is a sleek, modern vessel with three double cabins. There is air-conditioning throughout the salon, lower helm and galley, which makes one central living area. This gives onto the rear deck, from where there are steps down to a full width swimming platform at the rear with a sea stair making it easy to board. The three cabins have full queen berths, en-suite facilities and are air-conditioned. The dinghy is winched by electric crane. With its high fly-bridge, the Horizon 48 is easy to dock and to handle.
Details
3 double cabins with full queen berths
15 knots cruising speed
Full width swim platform with sweep-down sea stair
Air-conditioning throughout
Spacious fly-bridge with Bimini
Shaded aft deck dining area
Lots of on board storage
All cabins with en suite facilities

HORIZON 56
The Horizon 56 is the main core of the Fleet, an even larger model (with four double cabins) on the same sleek style as the Horizon 48, designed in conjunction with Virgin Traders input to make them ideally suitable for bareboat charter. There is the same grand and open design for the air-conditioned salon and galley, with a view in all directions, and the cabin interiors have been upgraded and are inlaid with teak. Stairs descend to a swimming platform at the rear and there are plenty of opportunities for sunbathing on the fly-bridge above.
Details
4 double cabins with full queen berths
15 knots cruising speed
Full width swim platform
Air-conditioning throughout
Spacious fly-bridge with Bimini
Shaded aft deck dining area
Lots of on board storage
4 showers. 3 heads
Swimming platform with sweep-down sea stair

VIRGIN SIGNATURE 475
The 47ft 6 inch trawler-style motor yacht, the Virgin Signature 475 has a spacious sundeck adjoining its the fly-bridge and then below an air-conditioned salon with sitting area, galley and main bridge. This opens out onto the main open-air deck at the stern and from here you can step down to the swimming platform. There are three double cabins and one single and you will also find a barbecue and a cd player as well as cellular phone and kitchen appliances.
Details
3 double cabins and 1 single cabin
10 knots cruising speed
Air-conditioning
Spacious fly-bridge with Bimini
Shaded aft deck dining area
Lots of on board storage
Superb swim platform with ladder

VIRGIN TRADER 44
A 44ft yacht also trawler style and similar in specification to the Signature 475. There are two double cabins, one with twin berth and a single cabin. There is a similar spacious sundeck attached to the fly-bridge and an air-conditioned salon with bench seating and galley and a teak-laid aft deck with steps down to the swimming deck.
Details
2 double cabins with double berths, 3 single berths
10 knots cruising speed
Full width swim platform
Air-conditioning
Spacious fly-bridge with Bimini
Shaded aft deck dining Area
Lots of on board storage
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The Basics

  

VHF radio

Dinghy and outboard motor

Charts and guide

Flashlight and spare batteries

Lifejackets

BBQ grill

Fire extinguishers

Through-hull plugs

Deck brush

Cockpit table

Bimini

Linen, pillows, towels

Clothes pegs

Cigarette lighter outlet 12v

Hot water

Non skid decks

 

Cellular boat phone

First aid kit

Flare kit

Binoculars

Tool kit

Boat hook

Signal horn

Tape

Cockpit cushions

Deck cooler

All galley and cooking utensils

Log and depth sounder

Electric windlass

Refrigerator

CD player with saloon and cockpit speakers

 

 

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Bareboat Charter Tortola, BVI
With a bareboat charter you are your own skipper, so you will need to satisfy Virgin Traders that you have the necessary expertise to take care of their boat and equipment. The sailing conditions in the BVI are not usually harsh, but you need to be sure of your level of competence. You will be required to show relevant qualifications and a full sailing resume before boarding, so if you have any doubts, or if you are new to Virgin Traders, you should send your resume to them in advance (form on the their website, link above), before making your reservation.

All charters are checked out and sailors are given full chart and boat briefings to familiarise them with the vessel and the cruising grounds in the BVI. With notice, Virgin Traders can provide a complimentary check out skipper who will spend an extra couple of hours with you on a one-to-one basis. Of course Virgin Traders also provides excellent support from shore in case anything happens to you during your charter.
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BVI Skippered Yachts
If you wish, Virgin Traders can provide a professional skipper. They can be with you for the whole charter or just accompany you for a couple of days while you settle in. Skippers cost from US$150/day, plus food, drinks and optional gratuities (usually 10-15% of the charter fee). This is a good option if you do not want to go it alone but would prefer to charter a boat that you can call your own (rather than a fully crewed yacht that feels like someone else’s ‘home’). It should be noted that although a skipper will happily give you lots of tips, he or she is not an instructor. Virgin Traders will happily arrange for a qualified instructor to come out with you on a daily or weekly basis. Training captains cost from US$170/day plus the extras as per skippers.
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Cooks
Cooks are also available and will be charged out at around US$125 per day, plus food, drinks and optional gratuities as per a skipper.
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Sample Iitinerary
The great thing about sailing is the sense of freedom to go anywhere and of course in the BVI there are many variations on the theme, but here is one example of an itinerary with the islands and sights you might visit on the way. Before the charter, Virgin Traders will give you an individual chart briefing, giving you the opportunity to discuss where you might like to go. Mooring buoys are available in many locations, and remember to call ahead of time on your VHF radio to book in at restaurants for dinner!

If you would like to do some advance planning, ask Virgin Traders to send you the latest edition of the Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands ($25 inc P&P). This invaluable book shows aerial photos of all the anchorages, tells you about the restaurant and shore-side facilities, and has many other useful tips and information. It also contains a fold-out chart so that you can log your trip and keep it as a souvenir.

Day 1
After completing boat and chart briefings, depart the dock and make the short run across the 'Sir Francis Drake Channel' to the Bight at Norman Island. Norman Island is rumoured to be the site of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novel, Treasure Island. There will be time for a swim or snorkel at the Indians before watching the Caribbean sunset over a sundowner or two. For the evening visit either Billy Bones restaurant ashore, or the floating bar/restaurant the William Thornton III, a Virgin Islands classic, a floating bar and restaurant in a wooden trading boat, often with a rumbustious atmosphere. Both serve good food and are fun and easy-going.

Day 2
After breakfast, you can take your dinghy across to the Caves, where you can find a National Park buoy and snorkel, one of the BVI’s excellent coral reefs. From here sail up to Cooper Island for lunch or the evening. It is a good idea to arrive early, particularly in season, so that you can pick up one of the overnight buoys (no anchoring is permitted at Cooper Island). There will be time for more snorkelling off Cistern Point, or you can spend the afternoon lounging on the beach. The beach bar at the Cooper Island Yacht Club is also often a very lively stopover for the evening.

Day 3
A gentle motor will take you up to the Baths, where you can pick up a buoy (again it helps to get there in good time), spend the morning and have lunch. The beach really is spectacular so you should head ashore to explore the rock pools and the extraordinary boulders, where walk-throughs are lit by eerie green light. After lunch, sail across to Beef Island off Tortola, to Marina Cay or Trellis Bay, where you can spend the night. You can have a BBQ aboard your yacht, but there are also many places to go ashore including the Last Resort and Loose Mongoose, also extremely lively restaurant/bars.

Day 4
Head off to North Sound, Virgin Gorda, putting in for a snorkelling stop at the Dogs or Mountain Point en route. At the North Sound you need to decide what sort of an anchorage to choose for your overnight stay. For quiet and tranquillity go for Drake's Anchorage. You can dinghy around to the western side to watch the sunset from Honeymoon Beach. However there is also plenty of entertainment in the North Sound. The Bitter End Yacht Club, a sailing club (where you can hire a Hobie Cat or learn to windsurf) has music most nights. There is also a lively bar at Leverick Bay, but if you would like a more elegant evening out then you can always have dinner at Biras Creek, a Relais et Chateaux which is very well regarded for its food, first-class service and an excellent wine cellar. There is a dress code after 7pm. There are shops a Bitter End so you can re-provision your boat.

Day 5
There are other things to detain you in the North Sound next morning. There is an excellent main beach on Prickly Pear Cay, but there are other more secluded spots on the other side of the island that can be reached by dinghy. You can also snorkel on Eustatia Reef. Alternatively you can set sail for Monkey Point on Guana Island, arriving in time for lunch and some snorkelling. In the afternoon cruise down the rugged north shore of Tortola and then cross to Jost van Dyke, overnighting in either Little Harbour or Great Harbour, where you will find many beach bars which can fix you a simply dinner onshore.

Day 6
Motor over to Sandy Cay, the perfect desert island, just a sandbar and a few palms. Snorkel, swim and beachcomb, have lunch and then head across to Cane Garden Bay for your overnight stop. There are many bars in Cane Garden Bay and there is often entertainment at Myetts and Quito’s Gazebo, a classic Caribbean beachside bar.

Day 7
Your final day’s motoring will take you around the western point of Tortola, where you can stop at Soper’s Hole, or back into Sir Francis Drake’s Channel and to Little Harbour at Peter Island. There is snorkelling and then your final sunset.

Day 8
Time for one more swim before returning to Nanny Cay Marina. Virgin Traders will carry out the check in procedure. They will also have confirmed your flights and booked a taxi ready for your departure for the airport.
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Rates

 

 

01 Nov-

13 Dec

2007

14 Dec-

30 Apr

2007-08

 

01 May-

30 Jun

&

01 Nov-

13 Dec

2008

01 Jul-

31 Oct

2008

 

 

POWERCAT 52

 

 

8,960

 

*9,450

 

8,960

 

8,400

 

HORIZON 56

 

 

8,745

 

*9,240

 

8,745

 

8,085

 

 

HORIZON 48

 

 

6,985

 

*7,590

 

6,985

 

6,215

 

SIGNATURE 475

 

6,000

 

*6,900

 

6,000

 

5,500

 

 

VIRGIN TRADER 44

 

5,830

 

*6,600

 

5,830

 

4,950

 

 

CORINTHIAN 40

 

 

6,500

 

*6,500

 

6,500

 

6,500

 

All charter rates are quoted in US$ per week excluding cruising tax, permits and fuel (see contract for full details). * 10% surcharge over Christmas/New Year.

 

A deposit of 50% of the total charter fee is required to secure a booking.  The balance is due at least 60 days prior to the commencement of the charter. 

 

A 40ft, fully air-conditioned Virgin Express Cruiser with 2 cabins, 3 flip-down 13” flat screen TVs with DVD players, Bose sound system with 6 disc CD changer (wireless headphones in both cabins), and shaded aft deck dining area, is available for charter  from US$928 per day. 

 

All rates are subject to change without notice. 

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Special Offers
Early Booking Discount
Receive a 10% discount off charters booked 6 months in advance of the charter.

LATE OFFERS
25% OFF – 25% off all LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS for all charters that commence within 2 weeks of your booking.

Offers subject to change without notice.
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How to Book
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the DIRECT ENQUIRIES form at the top of this page to make direct contact with Virgin Traders. It is helpful to give the company an idea of your dates, choice of yacht and any special requests. For further advice on how to book a charter, which sets out a step-by-step guide, please see our notes here under
Sailing & Cruising.

Once you have confirmed your requirements and availability has been confirmed, you will need to complete a resume and charter contract, which can be downloaded from Virgin Traders website.
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Provisioning
If you would prefer not to bother with provisioning your yacht, Virgin Traders can do it for you and have everything stowed for you on your arrival. You can select what you want from their list of available items (which is quite extensive in the BVI) and return the completed Provisioning Form and everything will be on board. If you wish, you can customise the provisioning list. You can also order all your liquid refreshments (water, sodas, juices, wine, beer etc) in advance, which will save getting long arms when you have to lug it to your yacht. There are three levels of provisioning

Dinners Ashore
This caters for charterers who would like to dine out in the evenings. It provides everything you need for seven breakfasts, lunches and snacks.

Split Provisioning
If you think you will eat dinner ashore on at least three nights during the week, this caters for 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and four dinners.

Full Provisioning
Full Provisioning includes everything you need if you are intending to cook for yourself throughout your charter. It and caters for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the full seven days.
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Meet & Greet
If you are booking direct and arriving at Beef Island airport, Tortola, then let Virgin Traders know your flight details and arrival time and they can arrange for you to be met by a taxi driver who will take you to the base at Nanny Cay Marina or to your chosen hotel. The journey from the airport to Nanny Cay will take about 30 minutes and the rate is US$30 for up to 3 people and thereafter US$10/person. Rates are subject to change without notice and are not included in the charter fee.

If you are flying into St Thomas in the neighbouring US Virgin Islands and would prefer to make the crossing by ferry, then please be aware that in order to make a same day ferry connection to Tortola your flight should land in St Thomas no later than 3pm. On landing, take a cab to the ferry terminal in Charlotte Amalie and then the ferry to West End, Tortola. The crossing will take about 45 minutes using either Smiths Ferry Services, t (284) 495 4495, or Native Son Inc, t (284) 495 4617). Please note that departure times are subject to frequent change.

On arrival at West End, Tortola, you can catch one of the waiting taxis for the fifteen minute journey to Nanny Cay Marina or to your hotel, or ask Virgin Traders to send a taxi to meet you. The taxi fare from West End to Nanny Cay Marina is around $21 for up to 3 people and thereafter $7 per person.
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Boarding
Charter terms start and finish at noon. If your yacht is available Virgin Traders may be able to board you earlier. You should check with them close to your arrival date. You should allow a couple of hours to complete the chart and boat brief procedure before you are ready to leave the dock. If you are arriving late in the day, the briefing procedure will take place the following morning.
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Sleepboard
If your flight arrives too late for you to start your charter on the same day, Virgin Traders will offer, where possible, the option of a sleepaboard on your first night, at an additional charge. Boarding is after 5pm and the yacht will be prepared for your late arrival. Please enquire about this option should you require it.
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Useful Information
Cellular Telephones and Message Service
All Virgin Traders Yachts yachts have cell phones on board. However, technology has gradually improved in the Caribbean, and so it may be convenient to bring your own mobile telephone with you. If you wish to leave Virgin Traders’ telephone number with your friends and relatives, please use the local base number and not the toll-free reservation number. Just ask us for more details.

Credit Cards
While Virgin Traders accept credit cards in payment of your charter fee, you are asked to pay in cash or travellers’ cheques for any incidentals due at the base such as local government Cruising Permits, Hull Damage Waiver insurance, provisioning and other additional expenses. While many establishments throughout the islands take credit cards, some do levy a surcharge and it is always a good idea to ensure you have extra cash or travellers’ cheques available.

Electrical Appliances
If your yacht has an inverter on board then you may use electrical appliances that you have brought with you (hairdryer, recharging batteries, etc) while sailing or at anchor. You may need to bring an adapter. Most of Virgin Traders’ yachts are 110V with US receptacles. All yachts have 12V sockets.

Environmental Issues
Please do not drop your anchor over coral and be very careful when snorkelling - even touching coral with hands and fins can destroy hundreds of years of growth. Also, do not remove any sea life, flora or fauna. It is illegal to anchor in the BVI National Parks areas and for day-time mooring buoy use you will be required to have a permit (which will be issued to you at the base). Please ensure your that rubbish is disposed of properly (there are designated areas throughout the islands) and make sure that items are secure on your yacht while you are sailing and overnight, so they are not lost overboard.

Luggage
Unfortunately luggage can sometimes be delayed into the islands so it is wise to pack a small overnight bag with essentials and, the most important thing, your swimsuit! Travel light and use soft-sided bags as they are easily stowed on your vessel.

Rain Gear
It does rain in the Caribbean! We suggest you take light rain jackets.

Safety/Rescue
In the event of an emergency, an accident or mechanical failure, Virgin Traders are able to respond immediately. They have their own chase boat with engineers on board as appropriate.
Before you depart safety will be covered in depth as part of your briefing. You should be in no doubt about what to do when you leave, but on board you will also find a comprehensive Boat Manual. This gives details of all the systems aboard and explains the procedure to follow in case of emergency.
Please note that a sailing resume and qualifications will be required before you are permitted to take control of the yacht.

In addition to the cover provided by the charter company, the BVI is also fortunate to have
VISAR (Virgin Islands Search and Rescue), a volunteer organisation that responds to calls from those in trouble in Virgin Islands waters.

Sailing Resumes
You need to be sure about your level of competence and if you have any doubts, or if you are new to Virgin Traders, you should complete a sailing resume and send it through to Virgin Traders before making your reservation. All charters are checked out and given full chart and boat briefings to familiarise you and your crew with your BVI cruising grounds and the vessel. With notice, Virgin Traders will provide a complimentary check out skipper who will spend an extra couple of hours with you on a one-to-one basis.

Snorkel Gear
If you have your own gear, it is best to bring it with you to ensure a good fit. You can however rent masks, snorkels and fins at reasonable rates from Blue Water Divers at Nanny Cay.

Sunscreen
Bring a hat, good sunglasses and start with at least 30SPF sunscreen and please, no sun tan oil as it stains linens, boat cushions and decks. Remember those after sun-soothers too!

Travel Insurance/Trip Cancellation Insurance
Virgin Traders is unable to offer refunds within 90 days of your charter start date unless they can re-sell your reserved dates. It is a policy that the company adheres to so we recommend that Travel Insurance or Trip Cancellation Insurance is purchased. You can purchase your travel insurance on-line through Worldwide Travel Insurance.

Virgin Islands Search and Rescue
VISAR is a Charitably funded and entirely volunteer staffed organisation dedicated to the saving of life at sea. It provides a permanent 24 hr search and rescue service in the British Virgin Islands. Virgin Tradeers and DefinitiveCaribbean actively supports VISAR and we encourage charterers, and others,to support this worthwhile and essential service as well. Please read more about VISAR and give your support to this immensely important charity.
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Sports & Toys
The BVI is an excellent arena for many watersports. The winds are reliable year round and the water is warm. There are also protected anchorages, sheltered bays and there are very few currents. You may well want to hire some equipment to carry aboard your yacht during your charter. Consider space on board when it comes to something bulky like a windsurfer or a kayak, but many other sports are also available.

If you are learning to windsurf you can spend the whole day learning to get up without worrying about the cold, but if you are a more experienced wind surfer then the reliable offshore winds present a more challenging sail. The snorkelling is excellent. There are many well known day stopovers and equipment is readily available. Surfing is also available on Tortola’s north shore if you know how. Body boards are available for less adventurous waves. You can also get floats if you fancy that you will be sunbathing a lot.

If you have never tried kayaking, the BVI offers an opportunity to explore small and secluded beaches and coves that cannot be reached without a boat. If space isn’t an issue on board you might consider hiring a bicycle or mountain bike for exploring ashore. Or if you imagine a more sedentary life, then you might want to hire some fly fishing gear.

All equipment can be rented ahead of time and added to your vessel prior to your arrival. If you want to learn to windsurf, Virgin Traders can arrange for an instructor to meet you at your boat (before leaving the dock) to give you some tips. All equipment is available for shorter periods of time, but rental rates, which are subject to change without notice, are based on a week’s hire including delivery and pick up.

Kayaking in the BVI
Prices from US$119 per week for a single to $161 per week for a double

Windsurfing in the BVI
There is a large range of sails to choose from, catering for beginner, intermediate and advanced windsurfers. A basic beginner’s package is just US$161/week and prices range up to US$259/week for advanced equipment, which includes a harness and a rigging tool.

Surfing in the BVI
Boards are available for US$119/week for a 7’3”, 7’9” or 8’4” Bic surfboard.

Cycling in the BVI
A wide range of equipment is available to suit all sizes and budgets, coating US$120-160 for a 7-day hire. All bikes come with a helmet (mandatory), lock, pump, water bottle and a seat pack (with tube, levers, patch kit).

Fishing in the BVI
You can hire a spinning or trolling rod with reel only or as a package. Rod holders come as an extra (US$10/week). The Spinning and Trolling packages include a selection of lures and a rod holder. Prices range from US$35/week for a Spinning rod and reel to US$84/week for a Trolling package.

Other Water Toys
Body floats, snorkel boards and body boards are available for about US$23/week whilst snorkel belts and life jackets cost just US$12/week each and a Water Blaster US$7/week.

If you would like to see more about what's on offer, please see
www.laststopsports.com. Please make sure that reservations are made through Virgin Traders so that deliveries and pick-ups can be co-ordinated.

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling in the BVI

Tortola Scuba Diving - Tours & Rendezvous Diving
For Tortola scuba diving and snorkelling, we recommend Blue Water Divers (based at Nanny Cay and Soper’s Hole, West End) and Sail Caribbean Divers (Hodges Creek and Cooper Island). Dive trips leave from their respective bases, but it is well worth knowing that both of these companies also offer what is called ‘rendezvous diving’, in which they pick you up from your charter boat en route to the dive site by prior arrangement. The dive companies will provide the scuba equipment for each dive, but they are also happy to hire out the equipment for the week of your charter. If you are intending to scuba dive during your time in the BVI, mention it during your briefing from Virgin Traders and they will point out the areas with good diving. All of Virgin Traders’ yachts have swim platforms.

Tortola Snorkelling
Snorkelling equipment is available for hire from Blue Water Divers right next door to Virgin Traders at the Nanny Cay base.
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All the information on this page comes to you free of charge. Please remember to mention DefinitiveCaribbean when you are talking to Virgin Traders for your BVI yacht charter / Caribbean motor yacht charter requirements.
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