Yacht Charter Adventures in Tortola, British Virgin Islands

by Barry Monteiro

With more than fifty bays and cays, plus an abundance of anchorages to choose from, it's no surprise that the British Virgin Islands are listed at the top of the world's most popular sailing areas. Sailing conditions here are ideal. The right winds, beautiful water and beaches second to none, make this a world class sailing destination.

While sailing in the BVI's, perhaps the only time you would be out of sight of land altogether might be if you decided to sail north to Anegada -the drowned island - a truly captivating island, of coral reef beginnings, which is 10 miles long, 2 miles wide but only 28 feet high! And serves the best lobsters in the universe! The scenery from your yacht, as you cruise through the perfect blue waters of the Caribbean, will delight even the most traveled vacationer. Novice sailors enjoy the security of knowing that they are very rarely out of sight of land. There's nearly always an island close by. If you need a break for some lunch or a swim, a beautiful white sand beach is waiting close by.

You can be assured that the quality of interior furnishings and facilities represent the highest possible standards that you would demand for yourself and your fellow travelers from most yacht providers in the BVI's. As you might expect, the variety of yachts available for you to charter is considerable - monohulls or catamarans, sailboats or motor charters. You will be able to find something to suit everyone's taste and budget.

Deciding whether to choose a crewed charter or to go 'bareboat' may be one of the first steps in laying out you Tortola yacht charter. If you choose the latter, then imagine the ultimate sailing experience, with complete freedom and independence. If you're not sure which would suit you best, the yacht companies will be glad to help you make your decision.

The charter companies based in Tortola will normally require some evidence that the skipper of the vessel has had previous experience - certificates are not mandatory but are, on the other hand, very useful - and, as a general rule, will require there to be at least one other competent crew member.

Some yacht charter companies offer a 'captain only' service. Some crewed charters offer both a captain and a cook, so that no-one on the journey needs to worry about cooking or cleaning. It's also possible to charter a fully-crewed boat, some of which even have members of the crew who are qualified scuba diving teachers - certified to at least the level of Dive Master.

Chartering a great yacht is the ultimate luxury of the sea; your own private cruise, with nothing to do except relax and watch the Caribbean flow by. These crewed yachts will have a good range of water toys - from kayaks to water-skis - for you to enjoy. Whatever your charter requirements, there will be companies in Tortola who will not only meet your expectations but far exceed them. Come and discover exactly why Tortola has become one of the world's favorite sailing hot spots.

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