Sprinkled alongside each other like tiny flecks in the Caribbean blue, the United States and British Virgin Islands (BVIs) are nothing short of the paramount luxury yachting destination.
Combined with the Virgin Islands’ simple navigation, ideal anchorages, world-class marinas that are able to accommodate superyachts well over 100m and supreme seaside venues, it is no wonder that this island chain is synonymous with premium superyachting.
Year-round winds in the Virgin Islands attract discerning travellers with a bevy of nautical thrills. Frequent regattas are staged above the water and the area is ideal for kite-surfing and water sports. Below the surface lies an alluring menagerie of captivating coral reefs and famous shipwrecks on the seabed, enticing scuba divers from all over the world.
From Saint Thomas, the busiest of the United States Virgin Islands, which offers a colourful and charismatic collection of luxury restaurants, bars and beaches, to the less populous Saint John, with a landscape of quiet bays and legendary pirate ruins. Even further lies Saint Croix, whose beauty lies in its exclusivity, there is much to keep yacht guests entertained in this Caribbean haven.
The principal island of the British Virgin Islands is Tortola, which is a colourful mixture of mountains and coast, as well as conventional and new-age living. The narrow, sheltered curve of glistening sand at the Cane Garden Bay makes it an excellent place to drop anchor.
The Baths on Virgin Gorda make this sleepy island an integral part of any yachting itinerary and the island of Jost Van Dyke possesses a personality that belies its tiny size and attracts an upbeat and vivacious crowd to its escapist shores.
Besides these floating fantasylands, there are a scattering of outlying islands which are best explored by boat. Many of which are virtually deserted, with waters home to fascinating dive or snorkel sites, another reason to head out and explore.