a catamaran in the BVI
Sailing in the BVI with children, even in hurricane season, is amazing. In September, my mother-in-law came to visit from South Africa, so we took a week to return to where my husband spent his childhood, the British Virgin Islands. Sailing with young children in a catamaran seems like a crazy idea, but actually it’s a wonderful way to travel. It’s like a having a moving hotel with a pool attached — every morning the kids would wake up at a different deserted island, eat their breakfasts on deck, and then jump into the turquoise waters. Sailing in a catamaran is much more stable that a standard sailboat, so kids can comfortably move around, play, nap, whatever.
And the British Virgin Islands are perfect for a relaxed family adventure. No island is more than a few hours sail away, and there are plenty of different islands so you can sleep in a different cove every night. It’s incredibly therapeutic to wake up with your family alone in a pristine blue sea. And spending your days snorkeling, hunting for sea shells, and just wandering different beaches feels utterly decadent.
There a plenty of beach bars for having dinner, and cocktails. There are too many highlights to list here — but be sure to check out the Willie T, a floating pirate ship/restaurant on Norman Island. And if you get land-sick, you can also moor your boat, and spent a night at one of many little hotels along the coast. We love Myett’s Hotel in Cane Garden Bay, also lovely for dinner or sundowners…
We recommend renting a bareboat charter – with or without a captain depending on your sailing expertise. This way you have complete freedom with how your spend your trip. Rent from Voyage Charters – in our experience, they have the absolute best catamarans, and also some wonderful skippers who can help you sail your boat.