British Virgin Islands sailing charter guide
Short hops, steady trade winds and mooring balls in almost every anchorage. The BVI is the classic first bareboat trip.
This week's BVI deals
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For now, see the operator offers we checked by hand in This Week's Charter Deals #0.
What a week costs
Weekly charter fee for the whole boat, before extras. Charter prices change constantly. These are published ranges, not quotes.
| Boat | High season (Dec–Apr) | Low season (Jun–Oct) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monohull, 40–45 ft | $6,500–9,500 | $3,500–5,500 | [Sulu] |
| Catamaran, 42–48 ft | $9,500–14,000 | $5,700–9,000 | [Sulu] |
| Catamaran, 50–55 ft | $14,000–22,000 | $8,500–13,000 | [Sulu] |
- Sunsail's own guide puts high season at about $7,000 for a week on a 42 ft monohull or $10,000 for a 4-cabin catamaran, and low season from about $3,500 and $5,700. [Sunsail]
- Extras Sunsail lists: mooring balls about $30–40 a night, cruising permits about $4 per person per day, and a damage waiver of about $600 a week on a small monohull or $910 on a 44 ft catamaran. [Sunsail]
When to go
- December to April is high season: dry, with 15–20 knot easterly trades. May is the shoulder, with prices 15–25% below high season. [Sulu]
- Hurricane season officially runs June 1 to November 30, and the highest risk is late August to early October. Some companies cut fleets or close bases from September to mid-November. [Sulu]
What you need: licence or skipper
- The BVI doesn't require a formal sailing licence. Sunsail asks you to fill in an online sailing résumé and reach its Level 1, which means at least 5 days or 100 miles as skipper on a similar-sized yacht. If base staff aren't confident in your skills, they can require you to hire a skipper. [Sunsail]
Requirements vary by charter company. Always check with yours before you book.
Main charter bases
- Sunsail: Wickhams Cay II, just outside Road Town, Tortola. [Sunsail]
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Sources
- Sulu, British Virgin Islands Sailing Guide: The BVI Week (14 Apr 2026)
- Sunsail, How Much Does a BVI Yacht Charter Cost? (undated; checked 20 Oct 2026)
- Sunsail, British Virgin Islands Travel Information & Planning Guide (checked 20 Oct 2026)