Tortola, BVI

 

Cruising Information

Sailing Itineraries

Docking / Marinas

Off Limit / Red Zones

 

Itineraries:

 

7 Nights - One week from Tortola to Tortola: Clockwise from Road Town

Day 1: From Road Town to Norman Island - 7 nautical miles

Leave Road Town and sail down to the Bight at Norman Island, snorkel around the Caves and the Indians. Eat at the well-known floating restaurant The William Thornton, locally known as Willie T. The Pirates Bight bar & grill is located on the beach in the Bight Norman Island was also the reputed setting for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Day 2: From Norman Island to Great Harbour - 11 nautical miles

On to Little Harbour at Jost Van Dyke or Great Harbour – home of Foxy’s restaurant and bar. Stop on the way at Sandy Cay or Green Cay with beautiful sandy beaches.

Day 3: From Great Harbour to Cane Garden Bay - 5.5 nautical miles

From Jost Van Dyke to Cane Garden Bay with it’s long sandy beach, restaurants and water sports. Quitto, a well-known local singer has a hotel and restaurant here. Callwoods rum distillery is also located at Cane Garden which Clients may visit at certain times.

Day 4: From Cane Garden to Trellis Bay or Marina Cay - 10 nautical miles

Sail up the north side of Tortola to either Trellis Bay or Marina Cay, making a stop for snorkeling or lunch at Monkey Point. Both anchorages have plenty of mooring balls, excellent snorkeling and restaurants. Ice and water are available at Marina Cay. Provisions, ice, souvenirs, arts & crafts and internet café can be found on the beach at Trellis Bay. Fuel, ice and water are available at Marina Cay.

Day 5: From Trellis Bay or Marina Cay to Spanish Town (5 nautical miles) or North Sound - 9 nautical miles

Continue up to Virgin Gorda with a stop at the Baths at Spanish Town. Day mooring balls are available at the Baths, dinghy in and explore through all the rock formations. Leave by 2:00p.m. if client is continuing up to the North Sound. There is no overnight anchorage at the Baths, client can dock or pick up mooring ball in St. Thomas Bay at Spanish Town or sail up to the North. Sound. Once there, there are plenty of overnight mooring balls at Leverick Bay, Bitter End, Drakes Anchorage, Saba Rock to name a few. Also stock up with fuel, water and ice.

Day 6: From North Sound to Cooper Island - 14 nautical miles

From North Sound to Cooper Island, get to Cooper Island early enough to pick up an overnight mooring ball, this is not a good anchorage for holding. A very pretty anchorage at Manchoneel Bay, sandy beach, trees, a good restaurant and beach bar.

Day 7: From Cooper Island to Peter Island - 5.5 nautical miles

A short hop to Little Harbour at Peter Island, maybe have a quick swim at Deadman’s Bay at the east end of Peter Island. Usually a very peaceful anchorage at Little Harbour, ideal setting for a last night.

Day 8: Return to Road Town - 4.8 nautical miles

 

 

7 Nights - One week from Tortola to Tortola: Counter Clockwise from Road Town

Day 1: From Road Town to Cooper Island - 6.5 nautical miles

Road Town to Cooper Island arriving early to pick up an overnight mooring ball at Manchoneel Bay. The holding is not good at this anchorage. Dinghy ashore and enjoy the sandy beach, snorkeling and restaurant on the beach.

Day 2/3: From Cooper Island to Virgin Gorda - 5 nautical miles to Baths, 9 nautical miles to North Sound

Cooper to Virgin Gorda, stopping at the Baths for a swim and walk through the rock formations, leaving early enough to get up to the North Sound for your next anchorage, possibly stopping at the Dogs to snorkel and have lunch. Once up at the Nth. Sound there are plenty of overnight mooring balls and anchorages to choose from Restaurants, water sports, diving, snorkeling or even an island tour.

Day 4: From North Sound to Marina Cay or Trellis Bay - 10 nautical miles

Both anchorages have plenty of mooring balls, excellent snorkeling and restaurants. Provisions, ice, souvenirs, arts & crafts and internet café can be found on the beach at Trellis Bay. Fuel, ice and water are available at Marina Cay, a book called "Our Island" by Rob White tells how he and his wife built their house, of which a portion still stands today on Marina Cay.

Day 5: From Marina Cay or Trellis Bay to Cane Garden Bay - 5.5 nautical miles

Sail down the north side of Tortola to Cane Garden Bay. Dinghy in to enjoy the long sandy beach, waterside restaurants or visit the rum distillery.

Day 6: From Cane Garden Bay to Great Harbour - 11 nautical miles

Over to Jost Van Dyke stopping at Sandy Cay en route. Spend the night at Little Harbour or Great Harbour. Great Harbour is the home of the famous "Foxy’s" restaurant and beach bar. A short walk or dinghy ride will take client to White Bay.

Day 7: From Great Harbour to Norman Island - 7 nautical miles

On to Norman Island, the caves and the Indians, spend the night in the Bight, anchor or pick up a mooring ball. Visit the "Willie T" (the William Thornton) a converted lumber schooner that is now a floating restaurant, or Billy Bones beachside.

Day 8: Return to Road Town - 7 nautical miles

 

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Docking / Marinas:

    • The Tortola base is fully equipped with several docks, hotel, swimming pool, bar, restaurant, showers, ice, dockside supermarket, ATM, diveshop, watersports equipment rentals and small boutique.
    • Showers are open year round, 24 hours a day. Tokens are available through Customer Service . For evening starts get tokens upon check-in.
    • The Cruising Guide offers detailed explanations of each marina and anchorage listed below.

In general, there are many outlets offering a range of services in the BVI cruising area.

  • Major items and fuel are normally available only from the larger outlets, harbours and marinas, such as: Soper's Hole, Nanny Cay, Road Town, Hodges Creek, Leverick Bay, Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour and Bitter End Yacht Club.
  • Other outlets that provide water, ice and a wide variety of provisions can be found at Cane Garden Bay, Trellis Bay, Penn's Landing, Jost Van Dyke and other locations throughout the islands.
  • For clients planning to sail down island to St. Martin or further down island, see also Guide to Caribbean Anchorages. Note: Moorings yachts at the Tortola Base are provided with navigation charts for the British Virgin Islands cruising area only.

Ice

Water

Fuel

Provisions

  • Anegada

x

x

  • Beef Island - Trellis Bay

x

x

  • TOR - Buck Island

x

x

x

x

  • TOR - Fat Hogs & East End Bay

x

x

x

x

  • Marina Cay

x

x

x

x

  • Peter Island - Peter Island Yacht Harbour

x

x

x

  • TOR- Cane Garden Bay

x

x

  • TOR - Maya Cove

x

x

x

x

  • TOR - Nanny Cay

x

x

x

x

  • Tortola - Road Harbour

x

x

x

x

  • TOR - Soper's Hole

x

x

x

x

  • Virgin Gorda - Saba Rock

x

x

x

x

  • Virgin Gorda - Leverick Bay

x

x

x

x

  • Virgin Gorda - Bitter End

x

x

x

x

  • Virgin Gorda - Yacht Harbour/Spanish Town

x

x

x

x

  • Jost Van Dyke - White Bay

x

x

  • Jost Van Dyke - Little Harbour

x

x

x

 

Marinas - Tortola

  • Frenchman's Cay Marina and Shop - Tel: 284-494-2595
  • Fort Burt Marina - Tel: 284-494-4200
  • Hodges Creek Marina - Tel: 284-494-5538
  • Inner Habour Marina - Tel: 284-494-4502
  • Leverick Bay Hotel Marina - Tel: 284-494-5450
  • Moorings - Tel: 284-494-2331
  • Nanny Cay Resort and Marina - Tel: 284-494-2512
  • Penn's Landing - Tel: 284-495-1134
  • Prospect Reef Resort - Tel: 284-494-3311
  • Road Reef Marina - Tel: 284-494-2751
  • Soper's Hole Marina - Tel: 284-495-4740
  • Village Cay Resort Marina - Tel: 284-494-2771

Marinas - Virgin Gorda

  • Bitter End Yacht Club - Tel: 284-494-2746
  • Leverick Bay Resort - Tel: 284-495-7365
  • Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour - Tel: 284-495-5500
  • Saba Rock, North Sound - Tel: 284-495-9966

Marinas - Peter Island

  • Peter Island Hotel & Yacht Harbour 284-494-2591

Cruising Permits

  • A cruising permit is required for all yachts cruising in the B.V.I.
  • Fees are US$2.00/person/day in winter/US$.75 per person/day in summer

Overnight Stays in the Cruising Ground

Marina Docking
  • The cruising ground around Tortola has many overnight marinas available.
  • Slip reservations are available at most marinas, client should call ahead to reserve, either by V.H.F or phone.
  • At the time of publication the price for a slip is US$1.00 per foot at most marinas.

National Marine Parks Moorings Permit

  • Clients can contact the National Parks Trust at Tel: 284-494-3904 - Fax: 284-494-6383 for more information.
  • The British Virgin Islands have protected many anchorages in the cruising ground by designating them Marine Parks.
  • The government to protect the area from damage by anchoring has installed moorings buoys.
  • Charterers are required to use these mooring buoys.
  • Clients purchase a Marine Parks Permit for their use.
  • Fees p/week are as follows:
    1-4 persons $25 USD / 14 EUR / 14 EUR
    up to 6 persons $35 USD / 19 EUR / 19 GBP
    up to 8 persons $45 USD / 24 EUR / 24 GBP
    up to 10 persons $55 USD / 30 EUR / 30 GBP
    each add'l person $5 USD / 3 EUR / 3 GBP
  • Some national park areas are not suitable for overnight stays.

Private Moorings

  • Moor Seacure Ltd. Tel: 284-494-4488 Fax: 284-494-2513 - at locations throughout the B.V.I provides private buoys on a fee per night basis (US$20 per night approx.).
  • A listing of Moor Seacure sites is covered in the chart briefing.

Electricity

  • In the BVI, 110/60 volts AC, 60 Hz are standard
  • US 2-pin plugs used
  • The Moorings docks are equipped with 110V power outlets.
  • All yachts are equipped with power cables and 110V plugs. Yachts must be hooked into shore power to use the boat outlets for hairdryers, computers, etc.
  • There is a 12V cigar lighter outlet by the chart table on all of our yachts.

Fuel:

Cost of fuel per gallon is $2.82 (cash or credit card payment).

 

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Off Limit / Restricted Zones:

With their first deposit, charterers receive a sailing chart that outlines red zones for the cruising ground.

Restricted Zones

  • Restricted zones are covered in the chart briefing.
  • The National Parks Trust protects a number of reefs and areas.
  • When cruising the waters of B.V.I., clients will be required to buy a Parks permit to enable him to pick up the day mooring balls. See also National Park Fee. This fee is charged in advance.
  • An additional fee charged by the The National Parks Trust in the BVI applies to guests who visit the Baths. Guests entering by sea (via dinghy) or by land pay $3.00 each per adult and $2.00 each per child. This is in addition to the National Park Permit purchased by Crewed Yachts or by Bareboat guests.
  • Some of the areas protected are: Prickly Pear, West Dog, Spring Bay, The Baths Devils Bay, Fallen Jerusalem, The Caves, The Indians and the Wreck of the Rhone.
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