A One-Week BVI Sailing Itinerary

Seven nights is the perfect length for the British Virgin Islands. It's enough to complete the classic loop — the caves, The Baths, the lobster island and the legendary beach bars — without ever feeling rushed. The hops are short, the wind is reliable, and almost every stop has a mooring field so you rarely have to anchor. Here's a proven day-by-day plan you can sail as written or shuffle to taste.

Before you cast off

Most charters start from Road Town, Tortola, or the nearby base at Nanny Cay. Provision the afternoon before or the morning of departure — the Road Town supermarkets are the best you'll find on the islands, and shops out in the cays are limited. See our guide to provisioning a charter yacht for a stock list.

A few planning notes:

• Total distance for the week is around 70–80 nautical miles — gentle, with most legs 1–2 hours.
• Pick up mooring balls in early afternoon during high season; the best bays fill by 15:00.
• Carry US dollars in cash for the beach bars, many of which don't take cards.

The week, day by day

Day 1 — Road Town to The Bight, Norman Island (≈8 nm)

Collect the boat, run through the chart briefing, and make the short reach across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to The Bight on Norman Island — a huge, well-protected bay with dozens of moorings. Snorkel straight off the boat, then dinghy over to the floating bar Willy T for a first night that sets the tone.

Day 2 — Norman Island to Cooper Island (≈7 nm)

Start the morning at The Caves at Treasure Point, some of the best snorkelling in the islands — go early before the day boats. Then sail east to Cooper Island, a low-key gem with a solar-powered beach club, good rum list and a quiet mooring field for the night.

Day 3 — Cooper Island to The Baths, Virgin Gorda (≈9 nm)

A pretty reach up to The Baths, the BVI's signature landscape of giant granite boulders forming grottoes and tidal pools. Take a day mooring (overnight isn't allowed here) and swim ashore early to have the grottoes to yourself. Move on to Spanish Town to reprovision, or push north for the night.

Day 4 — Virgin Gorda to North Sound (≈6 nm)

Sail into the huge, protected North Sound and pick up a mooring off the Bitter End or Saba Rock. This is the watersports hub of the islands — kite, paddleboard, or simply enjoy sundowners with a view back across the sound. A relaxed anchorage and a good staging point for tomorrow's longer leg.

Day 5 — North Sound to Anegada (≈15 nm)

The one proper passage of the week. Anegada is the only coral atoll, low and flat, ringed by reef — so sail it in good light and follow the marked channel into Setting Point. Many bareboat contracts ask you to notify the base first. The reward: a beach lobster dinner (order it that afternoon), miles of empty pink-sand beach, and the flamingos of the salt ponds.

Day 6 — Anegada to Jost Van Dyke (≈25 nm)

The longest sail, a fast downwind run across to Jost Van Dyke. Anchor or moor off White Bay and wade ashore to the original Soggy Dollar Bar, birthplace of the Painkiller. Great Harbour next door is livelier if you want dinner and music.

Day 7 — Jost Van Dyke to Cane Garden Bay (≈6 nm)

Stop at Sandy Spit, a tiny picture-perfect islet, for a last snorkel and swim, then make the short hop to Cane Garden Bay on Tortola's north coast — a gorgeous sweep of beach, good moorings and a final-night party atmosphere. An easy motor back to base in the morning.

Shorter or longer?

• Five nights: drop Anegada and North Sound, and run Norman Island → Cooper → The Baths → Jost Van Dyke → base.
• Ten to fourteen nights: add the US Virgin Islands (clear customs both ways), slow down at every stop, and spend two nights in North Sound to try the watersports.

Choosing your boat

The flat water and beach anchorages make this a catamaran itinerary at heart — stable, roomy and easy to relax on. Couples or crews watching the budget do it happily on a monohull. If you're weighing it up, our catamaran vs monohull guide lays out the trade-offs, and how much a yacht charter costs helps you budget the week.

Frequently asked questions

Which direction should I sail the loop? Most crews go clockwise (east to Virgin Gorda and Anegada first, then downwind back west to Jost Van Dyke), so the longest legs are downwind reaches rather than beats. It's more comfortable that way.

Is Anegada difficult to reach? It requires care — the approach crosses reef and should be sailed in good daylight following the marked channel. Many bareboat companies ask you to check in first, but thousands of charterers make the trip every season.

Can beginners do this itinerary? Yes, especially with a skipper for the first day or two. The hops are short and mostly line-of-sight. See our first-time yacht charter guide and the fuller BVI complete guide.

When should I book? For high season (December–April), 6–12 months ahead. See the best time to sail the BVI for the full seasonal picture.

Ready to sail this route? Browse our British Virgin Islands yachts or explore the whole fleet and book your week in paradise.