Dreaming about an adventure unlike any other? Consider a Private Yacht Charter...one tailored just for you.

A romantic Honeymoon Customized and Private as any could be. Or maybe a long overdue leisurely visit with old friends. Think about a Family Vacation to suit all ages, from the Grandparents all the way down the age scale to the Grandchildren? And all together, “all in the same boat” you might say...on your terms. Or how about just the two of you celebrating a milestone anniversary? Or just Stop the Carnival and do nothing for a whole week! Christmas and New Years vacations are commonly taken in these islands. This defines just a few scenarios which make a yachting vacation the perfect choice.

Why charter in the Virgin Islands?
The US and British Virgin Islands are recognized as one of the very best sailing and yachting destinations in the world. This Caribbean archipelago sports more than 60 islands and cays, populated and unpopulated. With countless places to anchor or moor, the close proximity to other islands and reliably spectacular Caribbean weather is it any wonder that when one thinks of a yachting vacation these islands simply pop to the front of the mind? Few travel destinations in the world offer so much to see and do in such a small geographic area for all ages and interests as the Virgin Islands. You can easily go from one to the other in less time than you can walk to the corner convenience store.

Consider arriving a day or two before your charter begins to take in some of the sights of St. Thomas. You will not be disappointed. This allows you to relax, and to arrive at your charter yacht by 1200 noon on the appointed day, which is when all charters begin. St. Thomas is a world class shopping destination. It is a duty free port and the range of jewelry, electronics and precious art is some of the best there is, at very reasonable prices compared. While here, take a little tour of the island. The view from the East End of St. Thomas includes St. John, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola and countless beautiful little bays, coves and cays ...all making for a breathtaking panorama of “eye candy”. Imagine....You will be visiting these all, up close and personal on your charter.

Over the hundreds of years since Columbus encountered the Virgin Islands in 1493, these islands have been planted, plundered, pillaged and populated; at one point, with fierce Pirates...ARRRGH!

The very channel separating various islands in the British Virgin Islands is in fact named for the flamboyant darling of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Francis Drake, perhaps the greatest pirate of them all. And it is this well protected channel which makes for modern day smooth sailing and motor yachting even if it might be boisterous outside. Major open water crossings are a non-issue.

Imagine...every night, a different cove to explore with pure white sand beaches, another glorious sundown viewed from your favorite spot on deck and yet another gourmet meal with all the trimmings created especially for you. You set your own schedule...it’s entirely your vacation. So, grab your eye patch and peg leg and parrot—get ready to explore the Land and Waters of the Pirates.

The Nature of the Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands are located at Latitude 18, Longitude 64 or approximately 1500 miles southeast of New York City and just 50 miles East of Puerto Rico.
Volcanic in origin, these rocky green scrubby islands rise dramatically from the sea creating a natural Northern boundary for the Caribbean Sea and a Southern boundary for the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

There are miles of hiking trails, historical landmarks and crumbling sugar mill ruins from the cane plantation days. An energizing hike can bring you to the tops of hills where you’ll think you can see forever. On these islands you might find some rare small lizards, iguanas, many colorful butterflies and flowers, many on the endangered species list. Certain times of the year, various colorful trees bloom: The flame-orange heavy canopied flamboyant and the wild and fragrant native frangipani among many others give quite a show. Some of the older spiny century plants decide it’s time in the Spring to produce an enormous spike from their centers which quickly becomes a “tree” of yellow puffy flowers to decorate the hillsides in great numbers. They will be covered with honeybees and hummingbirds. They evolve and die after about a week and then they become Christmas Trees! Some well over 20’ tall. Yes, the islanders have been using these “skeletons” for generations. They make a fine Christmas tree and you will see some yachts carrying them on their decks decorated to the hilt!

If you’re lucky, after dark a hawk moth might come to visit you in the lights of your cockpit relaxation area. This is the adult form of the colorful frangipani caterpillar. The moth is so large, on first glance you might think a bat has flown into your area! But, no, it’s just this large, rather drably brown moth who thinks you might be a night blooming flower to sip from!
Birders will be treated to the sight of red billed tropic birds (in season), brown boobies, pelicans, various egret and herons, all the tropical terns in your birding book, small finches, the ubiquitous sugar eating bananaquit, various species of hummingbirds, frigatebirds- “The Pirates of the Air”, oystercatchers, night herons and on and on. The Virgins provide generally great exploring for all interests natural.

Before “civilized” man populated these islands, there was known to be two indigenous mammals: The rodent Isolobon portoricensis about the size of a possum, and the insectivore esophontes edithae, looking a little bit like a very small anteater. These species are long extinct.The only present-day native species of mammal is bats (possibly 6 species), though rats and mongoose have taken up residence due to man’s incursions.

While on your charter, you might be interested in feeding your own bats! Yes, after dark, in many coves you might be treated to the sight of a bat flickering in and out of your vision on the water’s surface. You are seeing the fishing bat. Ask your chef to give you some bread, cast it on the water and sit back to watch the show. These bats do not normally eat bread...they are extreme specialists in detecting even the smallest fish ripple on the surface of a potentially wind roiled water surface. Only they know how they can do this, and they aren’t talking. The bread will attract them, and I have known of several charter clients who have captured this wonder on camera! And please don’t worry...they won’t get in your hair! They know unerringly where you and where they are. Ne’er the ‘twain shall meet.

Virgin Islands Weather
When you arrive, your first impression will be the total clarity of the air itself. The clouds appear as cotton balls in a clear deep blue sky. There is no industry per se on these islands to lend pollution to the atmosphere.

The average temperatures range from 77°F in the “winter” to 82°F in the summer. Water temperatures in the Virgin Islands do not change greatly from summer to winter. Usually the 4 or 5 degree change is only noticeable to those of us acclimated to consistently warm tropical weather. In the summer months the water temperature is about 83 degrees and in the winter about 79 degrees.

Average wind speeds range from 10-12 knots from the East to ESE in the Late Spring and Summer to 15-18 knots, East to ENE in late Fall and Winter.
The famous easterly Trade Winds which propelled Columbus and his merry men and later, so many others, to these islands are almost always some shade of East. Since the island chain is oriented from East to West, this makes for great sailing in the Drake Channel, especially on the home bound leg.

But for true blue sailors, the windward tacks in the Sir Francis Drake Channel make for spirited sailing and are the very reason so many World Class Regattas are held in the waters of the Virgin Islands.

Virgin Islands Diving And Snorkeling
Miles and miles of colorful coral reefs extend out from the mostly protected aquamarine shores of the US and British Virgin Islands. The area is abundant with famous dive sites like the Wreck of the Rhone and many others too numerous to mention.

Remember, though it might be blowing “over there” the natural barrier of the islands flanking the Sir Francis Drake Channel, provides cover and shelter to keep your lovely snorkeling area tranquil and clear. Just like swimming in your own personal aquarium.

VIRGIN ISLAND AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
Numerous major airlines fly from select major US Cities directly into St. Thomas. If need be, you will be routed through Puerto Rico (where you then take a 20 minute flight to either Tortola BVI (EIS) or St. Thomas (STT).

And being US and British Territories, everyone speaks English (some with a lilting island dialect, mon) and all islands use US currency.
Most of the US and British Virgin Islands are so close that many “land” vacationers take day boat trips from St. Thomas or St. John to Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda. Ferries run daily between St. Thomas and St. John as well as the major BVI ferry ports (Imagine this: some BV Islanders commute to work on St. Thomas daily!). Thus, you can hop a short ferry ride from St. Thomas to the BVI if you choose a charter originating from one of the ports there.

THE SPANISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
For those with a more adventuresome spirit, do not overlook the possibility of cruising the beautiful Spanish Virgin Islands of Culebra and Vieques, just off the Eastern coast of Puerto Rico. This is a bit “off the beaten track” and should be considered if you can take more than the customary week long charter. You might gain access to your charter by flying into San Juan, and hiring a taxi to take you to the East end of the large island of Puerto Rico. You would meet your charter there to begin your exploration of the less visited islands of the Spanish Virgins.

Or you can choose a yacht which will take you there from St. Thomas. You could then fly into St. Thomas on the inbound leg, and fly out of San Juan on the outbound leg thereby spending your sailing vacation virtually “off the wind”. Either way, it’s best to add a day or so to your charter week to arrive there in a leisurely fashion.

While there you can visit pristine reefs for diving and snorkeling and you can sit in a “bubbly pool” while the froth and foam of the Atlantic Ocean washes over you. That night, or the next night, you could be in Vieques to experience making green angels in the water! Yes, the few world famous (and undervisited) small bays are populated with a bio-luminescent plankton. Have a friend or your accommodating crew take your photo. You will be a Green Angel...promise! Consult your professional charter yacht broker as to which boats work out of these locations.

Why a Yacht Charter? Why not a Villa or a Resort?
Considering a sailing or motor yacht charter with professional crew is a very special way to see this lovely place. Consider it your Floating Villa, a moveable luxurious accommodation for your whole party complete with customized gourmet on-board catering and service. Your crew will cater to your every need and be very visible or seem to disappear if you wish.
Why see one island when you can virtually see them all? At a resort or villa, nice as it might be, you will be spending about as much there as you would a cabin on your Floating Resort. This Floating Resort typically has all the toys you could dream of plus! If you spot a lovely beach along your journey, all you have to do is ask to go there. And your crew will take you there. You don’t have to rent a day sail boat or motor yacht to see the area. You are already aboard one.

You are in charge of your itinerary (with a watchful eye from your skipper for weather conditions). You can do it all, or do nothing. Every day evolves on it’s own. Over breakfast, if there’s something you’ve decided to do which wasn’t planned, just change your plan. To make this dream vacation happen, all you have to do is seek guidance from a knowledgeable and professional yacht charter broker; from that time on, all the work of finding the perfect yacht is done for you at no additional charge.

To sum it up, you would have to look long and hard for another destination which offers you so much to see and do all in one very tightly knit group of tropical islands. Access is easy, people are more than friendly, inter-island transportation is frequent and reliable, weather is wonderful, abundant foods are a combination of exotic and familiar. As so many before you have discovered, this is indeed a very special place comprised of Nature’s Little Secrets, and America’s Paradise and it waits for you. You will come back again and again....

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