Caribbean · yacht charter
British Virgin Islands.
Tortola-based cruising across the protected Sir Francis Drake Channel, with the Virgin Gorda Baths and Anegada within easy passage.
Overview
What to expect.
The British Virgin Islands offer the most protected winter cruising in the Caribbean: the Sir Francis Drake Channel runs through the centre of the archipelago, sheltered on both sides, with the principal islands all within line-of-sight. The result is consistent, easy, route-flexible cruising suited to first-time charterers and seasoned cruisers alike.
Embarkation is from Tortola (Road Town or Nanny Cay), or from St Thomas on the US Virgin Islands side with same-day clearance into the BVIs. The window runs December through May. A typical seven-night charter covers Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke; longer cruises extend north to St Martin or south to St Kitts.
Fleet
Yachts currently open in British Virgin Islands.
Available on request
The current selection for British Virgin Islands is shared privately on request. Speak to a yacht advisor for a curated shortlist.
Season
When to cruise.
- Best months
- December to May
- Prevailing winds
- Trade winds 15–20 kts
- Typical base ports
- Gustavia · English Harbour · Tortola
December through May. The protected waters of the Sir Francis Drake Channel make the BVIs the most consistent winter charter ground in the Caribbean: routing flexibility is the rule, not the exception.
Ports
Marinas and anchorages.
Road Town / Wickhams Cay
The principal embarkation in Tortola. Customs and crew rotation move through here.
Nanny Cay
A smaller marina on Tortola’s south coast: alternative embarkation, shorter onward passage to Norman Island.
Frequently asked
Practical questions.
- When is the cruising season in the British Virgin Islands?
- December through May. The protected waters of the Sir Francis Drake Channel make the BVIs the most consistent winter charter ground in the Caribbean.
- Where do charters depart from?
- Tortola: usually from Road Town or the Nanny Cay marina. Some itineraries embark in St Thomas on the US Virgin Islands side and clear into the BVIs on the first day.
- How long is a typical BVI charter?
- Five to seven nights covers the principal islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke). Longer cruises extend to St Martin or south to St Kitts.
Plan your charter
Send a brief.
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Nearby
Other destinations in the Caribbean.
Field notes
Related reading.
Guides
The Mediterranean yacht charter guide.
From the French Riviera to the Greek islands: how the European charter season actually unfolds, when to brief, and where the fleet is most reliable.
Mar 2026
Guides
What a yacht charter costs.
The base rate, the APA, the VAT, the gratuity: what the line items are, and what changes them. No marketing rounding.
Mar 2026
Plan a charter
Plan a charter in British Virgin Islands.
A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.