The British Virgin Islands - Overview
 The British Virgin Islands (BVI’s), is a group of approximately fifty islands and named bits of land.
Cruising in this area is comfortable and the BVI’s are considered an easy sailing area as the islands are all within sight of one another so that navigation can be done by Dead Reckoning. Also, The Sir Francis Drake Channel, which is right in the middle of these islands, is well protected for comfortable sailing.
Four spots you wouldn't want to miss when charting a sailing yacht in this area include: The Baths, The Bitter End Yacht Club, Jost Van Dyke and Soper's Hole Marina.
Spot #1: The Baths
 Situated on the southern tip of Virgin Gorda, The Baths is one of the most well known and popular landmarks to visit in the BVI.
Gigantic granite boulders and half submerged rocks line the southern seashore of Virgin Gorda, creating grottos, tunnels, and arches. Sandy beaches are lined with coconut palms and the area offers a dramatic and lovely place to swim, snorkel and explore.
A second beach in the area, called Devil’s Bay, is reached through a maze-like passage through the boulders and shallower grottos. The path is lined with ladders and ropes to ease the hike along steeper rocks.
 Spend time exploring the area, with tidal pools of pristine clear waters, and white sand.
Snorkeling is great, however more for the marine life, than the coral. Due to the various inlets and pools created by the landscape, marine life is caught here with each tidal change.
Do pay attention to the safety flags as certain weather can cause currents with heavy undertows in this area. And, there are always the rocks to climb over and the white sandy beaches for sunning.
Spot #2: Bitter End Yacht Club
In the North Sound, located at the northern end of Virgin Gorda, is the home of the well known Bitter End Yacht Club. 
Take advantage of the shoreside services offered at the Bitter End Yacht Club, which include a marina, pool, beach, water sports, restaurants and bars, and even a spa.
The Clubhouse Steak and Seafood Grille has been a yachting landmark for years. This open air restaurant sports the burgees from hundreds of yachts and yacht clubs from all over the world fluttering gently from the rafters in the breeze made from the numerous paddle fans, evoking a colonial Caribbean feel. The buffet is well known for homemade soups, and breads, and if you have not tried a grilled Caribbean lobster, basted with butter, this would be the time and place for this uniquely Caribbean treat.
North Sound, once home to pirates Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, was a remote quiet anchorage, rarely visited for centuries. In the early 60's, a rustic bar and cottages existed clinging to the point of land on the north end of North Sound, intended for adventurous sailors.
The Hokins Family arrived, fell in love with the area, and built the resort into what it is today, which while offering resort style accommodations and services, still runs in true Caribbean style, using generators for electricity and cisterns for collecting rainwater.
Spot #3: Jost Van Dyke
 Jost Van Dyke is a four mile-long barefoot paradise known for its casual lifestyle, fine beaches and beachfront restaurants and bars.
The Painkiller, a drink made from the Tortola local rum called Pusser’s Rum was created here at the world famous yachtsman’s bar named “Foxy’s”, named after Foxy, the long time Owner of this bar and restaurant.
Perhaps Foxy’s is best known as the spot to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Yachtsmen started congregating in Great Harbor several decades ago to ring in the New Year at Foxy’s.
This has now become such a tradition, that it is wise to get to Great Harbor a day in advance for a good spot to anchor. As the New Year draws near, the harbor erupts with activity and the buzz of dinghies heading here and there, throughout the harbor, visiting friends, and ultimately heading ashore for Foxy’s, and hailing in the new year, dancing on the beach under the stars.
 Although Jost measures just four by three miles, the island is rich in history. It's been home to Arawak Indians, Caribs, Dutch, Africans and English. And besides the birth place of William Thorton, architect of the US Capitol, John Coakley Lettsome, founder of the London Medical Society, was born on nearby Little Jost.
Great Harbour is sheltered by small mountains and offers moorings. In White Bay, just around the corner from Great Harbour, is the Soggy Dollar Bar, so named as generally patrons must swim ashore for the cool Caribbean cocktails. All lined up on the bar stools are usually dripping wet, including, as you probably guessed, the money in their pockets.
Jost Van Dyke has other offerings. Trace the old trails that connect the island. Explore the overgrown ruins of sugar mills. In the fall and winter, watch whales and dolphins from a hilltop. Or visit the bubbling pot at the East End, where the foaming sea forms a natural Jacuzzi. And you can stop by Foxy's newest watering hole, Foxy's Taboo, on Diamond Cay, at East End. You could walk across to Little Jost or take the dinghy to deserted Sandy Cay, the perfect castaway island for your own beach barbeque.
 Spot #4: Soper's Hole Marina
Set sail the next morning to the western tip of Tortola, where tucked away, is Soper's Hole and Soper's Hole Marina.
This area, also called the West End, is home as well to a British Virgin Islands customs clearance office with a dock that is used by ferries and yachtsmen alike.
Across the harbor from the customs clearance office, on the other side of a small anchorage is Soper's Hole Marina. The pirate Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach, once made his home in Soper's Hole from 1715 to 1718.
Called a "Hole" because of the protection offered by the deep cut of the anchorage into the surrounding hills, the harbor allows yachts to anchor with good weather protection.
Soper's Hole is a nice spot to stop while on charter in the British Virgin Islands as the same protection and calm anchorage that made Soper's Hole attractive to Blackbeard, is attractive to yachtsmen today.
 Surrounding the dock area are a series of brightly painted Caribbean style buildings creating a sense of a traditional Caribbean marketplace.
Browse the shops for artwork, crafts and jewelry made from a stone local to the British Virgin Islands, or stop for a bite to eat at the Pusser's Landing Restaurant and store.
Pusser’s Rum was the original rum of the British royal Navy and for over 300 years the seamen on board a Royal Navy ship were issued a "tot" of rum, each day with a double tot of rum given just prior to battle.
The on board Royal Navy rum was issued each day by the Purser on board, and eventually the Purser’s rum became known as Pusser's rum. In 1970, that tradition was abolished in the British Royal navy and the recipe of the blend of 5 different West Indian rums was sold privately to the Owner of Pusser's Ltd. This company was established in Tortola and the same rum served over 300 years to the British Royal Navy was bottled has been sold to the public since 1980.
Pusser's Rum quickly became a favorite of visiting yachtsmen when cruising in the British Virgin Islands. A percentage of the proceeds from each bottle sold now go to the Royal British Navy Sailors Fund, known commonly as the "Tots Fund". Soon after 1980, the now infamous drink, The Painkiller was born, only properly made with Pusser’s Rum, which is now served in a variety of locations in the BVI’s. The best are claimed to be served at the Pusser's restaurants, including Pusser's Landing Restaurant in Soper's Hole, where the Pusser's Painkiller is ordered by number according to the number of shots of rum poured in each drink.
Attached to the Pusser's Landing Restaurant is a Pusser's Rum store selling products branded with the Pusser's official label. In addition, Pusser's Rum drink mixes are sold along with Caribbean spices and condiments, for a taste of the British Virgin Islands.
written by Missy Johnston
© 2009 Missy Johnston |
