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Yacht charter in British Virgin Islands
Often described as one of the easier places to bareboat, with short sails from Tortola to spots such as the Baths and Norman Island.
When to go
- Season
- The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November, so check your dates against it and ask the charter company about its storm policy.
Where charters start
Tortola, St Thomas (US Virgin Islands).
Licence and paperwork
No licence is required for a bareboat charter. Charter companies ask for a sailing resume showing you have skippered a similar-sized yacht and can anchor, moor and navigate. Visitors pay a $10 environmental levy on entry and a $20 departure tax.
Rules change and each charter company can ask for more. Confirm what your company accepts before you pay a deposit.
Types of charter here
Bareboat
You skipper the yacht yourself. Usually needs a recognised licence and proof of experience.
Skippered
You hire the yacht with a professional skipper, so no licence is needed.
Crewed
A full crew sails, cooks and looks after the yacht. You just pick the route.
Catamaran
Two hulls: more space and less heel, popular with families and groups.
Sources: virginislandsailing.com, nbcmiami.com. Last checked 3 November 2026.
Guides
All guides- The best time to charter a yacht in Croatia, Greece, Turkey, the Balearics and the BVI
Season, peak weeks and the winds that matter for five popular charter destinations, so you can pick dates that suit your crew.
- Do you need a licence to charter a yacht? Country by country
What skippers need to bareboat in Croatia, Greece, Spain and the British Virgin Islands, what the ICC is, and why a sailing CV matters as much as a certificate.
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