British Virgin Islands
BVI - Sailing Adventures / Classes
Register for BVI - Sailing Adventure
Sailing Bases
Tortola / British Virgin Islands
Description
Northern Breezes offers Sailing Adventures / Classes in the British Virgin Islands. You will have an opportunity to do many different learning adventures as well as sail just for fun while participating at your chosen level. With some sailing experience, earn your Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Charter skipper certifications in one week in paradise. We offer everything from Basic Keelboat through Advanced Coastal Cruising including “Big Catamaran” Cruising Multihull. Our Destination Adventures specialize in fun, although some of the offshore trips can be quite challenging. We also offer Destination Adventures which require no sailing experience, but welcome your participation. We even have a Sail & Dive option. You can sail as individuals, couples or as a family in which you have the whole boat! All of this in the world’s most perfect winter cruising grounds – The British Virgin Islands.
As you learn and practice navigation, docking, anchoring and skippering skills we will stop in such places as The Baths to explore a beach of house-size boulders like none you've seen anywhere else; snorkel or dive the fabulous Wreck of the Rhone featured in the movie, The Deep; visit snorkel spots such as The Caves of Norman Island, setting for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. We will sail amongst giant sea turtles and dolphins, and enjoy idyllic palm-fringed beaches from the island of Jost Van Dyke to the tiny, perfect white sand islands of Sandy Cay and Green Cay.
You will return home with a tan, fantastic photos, lifelong memories, and Bareboat Charter skipper certification so that your next trip to the islands can be as skipper of your own chartered yacht!
Itinerary
Our BVI bases are located on Tortola, and serve as our gateway to this stellar sailing grounds. Sample itineraries may include visits to the following:
Virgin Gorda: The Baths at Devil's Bay National Park; Leverick Bay, Home of the stilt dancers
Anegada: Loblolly Bay and Whispering Pines
Jost Van Dyke: The Bubbling Pond, Little Harbor's Harris' Place, White Bay
Tortola: Nanny Cay, Downtown, Soper's Hole (West End)
Norman Island: The Bight, The Caves on Norman Island, the Indians
Peter Island: Little Harbor, Great Harbor
Cooper Island: Beauty with food and snorkeling!
How to get to the BVI
Direct flights to St. Thomas (USVI) are available with a short ferry ride aboard the Road Town Fast Ferry to Tortola (BVI). Or fly directly to Tortola's Beef Island airport. Between the airport and the bases it is a 10 - 20 minute ride by taxi.
Course Outline
Shore School in Minneapolis, MN (not mandatory): Boat Systems General, DC Battery Systems and Management, Basic Electrical, Basic Engine, Prop Walk, Sail Trim, Rules of the Road, Sound Signals, Buoys & Lights, VHF Radio Usage, Safety Systems, Heavy Weather Sailing, Written Exams.
Onboard
Safety Orientation, Boat Systems, Reefing, Heaving to, Anchoring, Cruising Tips, Navigation, Galley Safety, Meal Planning/Preparation, Docking & Undocking, Setting Sails, Man Overboard Drills, Chart Reading Problems, Emergency Procedures, Dinghy and Outboard Operation.
Boarding. Board the yacht on the first day after 5:30pm at Charter Base. Set sail the next day after orientation. Learn cruising skills while living aboard. Arrive back in port on the last day and leave before noon.
Provided Each Week
All course textbooks, exams and certifications. Berth onboard, linens, towel, snorkeling gear, all breakfasts and lunches onboard plus one dinner, non-alcoholic beverages, evening tropical drink.
Not Provided
Five dinners and one lunch ashore, extra beverages. Please bring beach towel, deck shoes, casual clothing for 80 degree average temperatures including light rain gear and a light jacket for cool evenings. Alcoholic beverages are normally handled individually or as a "kitty" so that non-drinkers are not subsidizing alcohol consumption.
Cancellation Policy
Full refund less cancellation fee (depends on class, $50-$75) for cancellations at least 60 days before scheduled course/event.
50% refund for cancellations made 30-59 days before course/event.
No refund for cancellations within 29 days of course/event, although we will try to work with you.
CLASS SCHEDULE
British Virgin Islands Adventures / Classes
Not Currently Scheduled. Call for more information.
Prerequisite for this course
None.
Call Northern Breezes Sailing School at 763-542-9707 to register or with questions.
Northern Breezes Continues Veterans Sailing Education Program!
The goal is to share our healthy, peaceful sport with far more "Veterans, Current or Past," and their families.
Click for Northern Breezes Veterans Sailing Education Program