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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLAND SAILING INFORMATION
SAILBOAT LIVING: What better way to experience the islands than from your own private yacht! During your week in paradise, become an active member of a sailing crew in one of the world's top yachting destinations. With the guidance of our captain, take the ship's helm, raise sails, set anchors and learn how to maintain a safe ship. Your on board naturalist will provide informal talks on reef ecology
and other topics throughout the week. Sit on top kayaks and a sail board (windsurfer) complete with instruction will be at your service.
Our pace will be leisurely with each day enjoying the exquisite beauty of a new anchorage among the scenic chain of volcanic islands. Our double hull catamaran offers stability and comfort and she's fast too! Each stateroom provides ample storage and a queen size bed. Most women opt to sleep under the stars on our spacious deck or trampoline or you may share a stateroom (you will be assigned another group member to share a stateroom if traveling alone).
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: On December 5th, pleasse be at TMM Charters by 10:00am. TMM Charters is located at Road Reef Marina on the western edge of Road Town. Any local taxi driver will know the location of TMM Charters. Plan on departing from the BVI's anytime after 12:00pm on December 12th. We will arrange a taxi to pick you up at the Beef Island Airport on December 4th and take you to the TMM dock. If you are arriving before December 4th or staying elsewhere on the island that night, please make your own taxi and hotel arrangements. We will provide one group taxi to the airport on December 12th leaving the docks by 10:00am.
Please plan on meeting the group at our charter dock by 10:00am on the morning our trip begins. Plan on departing from the BVI's anytime after noon on the last day of our trip.
BEFORE AND AFTER THE TRIP:There are several options for places to stay before or after the trip. You will need to arrange accommodations the day before since the trip begins at port by 10:00am. As mentioned, there is the option to sleep aboard our sailboat the night before we depart. We will pick you up at the airport and take you to the sailboat on December 4th. The sleep aboard fee is $50 per person including transfers from the airport.
We hope that you might consider joining us on board the night before we set sail! This is the most affordable option and allows us to set sail earlier on our departure date. Please let us know if you would like the sleep aboard option by September 1st.
You may also visit: http://bvi.wheretostay.com/property.html for a nice review of accommodations.
Here are a few additional suggestions we can offer:
Hotel Castle Maria: inexpensive small hotel not far from TMM Charters, the location of our sailboat.
Contact: 284-494-2553.
Beef Island Guest House: small inn located on Trellis Bay within walking distance of the Beef Island Airport; 4 rooms with ceiling fans; off season rate: $85 plus tax. Contact: moongoose@surfBVI.com
Telephone: 284-495-2303
Prospect Reef Resort and Nanny Cay Resort: both are resorts that offer scuba diving packages; you may opt to stay at a smaller resort and still dive with Baskin in the Sun (Prospect Reef) or Blue Water Divers affiliated with Nanny Cay Resort. Contact: 800-356-8937 (Prospect) or 800-742-4276 (Nanny Cay).
Brewers Bay Campground: located on a quiet, beautiful bay on the North shore of Tortola. Platform tents complete with two cots, stoves/utensils may be rented for $35 plus tax; bare sites in which you provide a tent can be rented for $15. Brewers Bay offers good snorkeling and hiking but very few amenities. Can be buggy.The campground has a bar/snack bar (open off/on) but no grocery store; plan on bringing your own food; contact: 284-494-3463
Icis Vacation Villas: new villa located in Brewers Bay Tele: 284-494-6979; quiet and comfortable
Sebastains on the Beach Hotel: reasonably priced beach front hotel on Little Apple Bay; beautiful beaches and numerous restaurants nearby;
contact: 284-495-4212
GETTING TO THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: There are several options for travel to Beef Island International Airport (EIS) in the British Virgin Islands/Tortola. In the past, clients have routed through San Juan, Puerto Rico as well as St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. We suggest that you consult your travel agent who can also give advice on the purchase of travel insurance. Before booking, please check in with Blue Water Ventures for an update on the trip's sign up status.
GETTING AROUND TORTOLA: Taxi's are readily available at the airport and will cost roughly $20 for transfer into Road Town. There are several car rental agencies (Avis, Hertz, National and Dollar). Expect to pay $35-45 for a Suzuki Samurai and $10 for a temporary driver's license. Tortola has very little street crime and is a relatively safe area to explore on foot. However, the terrain is very hilly. Expect a cardiovascular workout! Remember, people drive on the left side and livestock (cows, goats, chickens) may wander onto the main roads.
APPROPRIATE DRESS: The Tortolan people are fairly conservative and we ask that you respect a casual, but appropriate dress code. We will discuss this topic further on board. As a reminder, before your trip, please cover up bathing suits if going into a public areas such as streets, shops, beach bars or restaurants.
CLIMATE: December is a relatively dry season in this region of the Caribbean. However moderate rain fall is always a possibility in the tropics. Temperatures should be reasonably pleasant with day time highs in the upper 80's and lows in the 70's. Easterly trade winds often prevail keeping the temperatures pleasant.
Bring a waterproof sun block/lip balm with a protection factor of 3 0 or higher. Water temperatures may range from 78-82.
You may want to bring a shorty wetsuit or farmer jane style wetsuit (2.5-3mm).
Another great option is a a top/bottom combination of Mysterioso found at most kayak shops;
Mysterioso products or wetsuits may be purchased online at Kayak Connection in Santa Cruz (831-479-1121).
SEA SICKNESS PREVENTION: If you are prone to mild sea sickness, we recommend bringing some form of prevention. Most people in this category get their "sea legs" in a few hours or a day. Medications such as Bonine or Dramamine are usually effective although drowsiness or thirst can be a side effect. Your local pharmacist or physician can advise you. In the past, several clients have successfully used "sea bands" which employ a pressure point on the wrists rather than medication. Sea Bands have no side effects and can be purchased at most dive shops.
PHYSICAL CONDITION: While sailing experience is not required to participate in this program, good, general health is recommended. For those who enjoy a lot of activity, there will be plenty of opportunities to hike or beachcomb on shore as well as hours of snorkeling. All hikes are optional. Please call us ahead of time if you have any questions about health concerns.
MEALS: Healthy, well balanced meals will be prepared by your Blue Water Ventures staff on board. Help in food prep is always welcomed, although not expected. Vegetarian meals can be arranged upon request. You are welcomed to bring personal snacks or alcoholic beverages on board. Soft drinks or juice will be provided each meal. We will go ashore one evening to sample some Caribbean cuisine (dinner and drinks are on your own this evening). Please specify dietary restrictions or allergies on the registration form that will be sent to you.
INSECT REPELLENT: A few mosquitoes and sand gnats may be encountered in the BVI's. Avon Skin so Soft is the best defense against sand gnats and a strong pump style repellent is good against mosquitoes. A layer of light weight, light in color clothing is good defense against insects. Generally, there are few insects while on board.
CLOTHING: Loose fitting cotton or quick drying nylon work well in the tropics. Lighter colors seem more comfortable in the heat. Jeans take too long to dry out and are not recommended. Laundry is done by hand as needed by each participant.
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS:The boat comes equipped with a 110 volt electical plug which should accommodate recharging digital cameras or other appliances. Our Catamaran has a CD player so bring your favorite tunes. We will also bring portable speakers that should accommodate most Ipods or bring your own speakers.
TAKING SHOWERS: Freshwater is a limited resource aboard our floating home. There will be plenty of water for consumption, but leisurely freshwater showers will be restricted. Bathing can also be accomplished using salt water and biodegradable soap followed by a quick freshwater rinse.
PASSPORTS: Everyone is required to have a current passport for entry into the British Virgin Islands . It usually takes 6-8 weeks to process a passport. You may visit your local post office to obtain/ submit a passport application. Please make several photo copies of your passport (one to keep at home, one to bring with you and you may send one for our records if you would like too).
LUGGAGE: Several medium or one large duffel bags well. Large, hard shelled suitcases are difficult to store on board and are not recommended. You may store them at the boat charter storage area and repack your belongings into smaller duffels that you bring.
MONEY: US dollars are used as exchange throughout the British Virgin Islands. The only costs you'll have on board is personal liquor, one dinner on shore, tips (see below) and any non-scheduled excursions you may opt to take. We will provide one group taxi to the sailboat (day one) and to the airport (day eight) at a designated time. An airport departure tax of $20 is your responsibility as you leave the country.
HOW TO REACH OUR GROUP: In the event of an emergency, family or friends back home would call the TMM Charter Company at: 1- 284-494-2751. A message would be sent to us. We will have a cell phone on board which may be used by purchasing minutes from the TMM office before we set sail.
Calls are approximately 50 cents per minute to locations in the USA.
Most of you will have cell service while in the BVIS.
You may want to call your provider before you depart to see what the fees are for calls and texting.
TIPPING: It is customary to tip the captain of our sailboat at the end of the week. $50 per participant would be an appreciated tip. We will pool tips on the last day of the trip.
ILLEGAL DRUG USE: The BVI government has very severe penalties for the use of illegal drugs. Do not bring illegal substances into the BVI's or purchase/use them during this program.
