Yacht Charter East End Bay

Yacht Charter East End Bay

Yacht Charter In East End Bay - Tortola

On a East End Bay yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore much of Tortola and the British Virgin Islands within an easy sail. Whatever you want from a British Virgin Islands yacht charter, from exploring the white sandy beaches to island hopping the Sir Francis Drake Channel, an East End Bay sailing holiday is going to be an unforgettable experience.

The sheltered waters of East End Bay, Tortola are a great place to start your British Virgin Islands yacht charter. Just a five minute drive from the main airport on the island you can forget the long journey and get on with enjoying your sailing holiday just minutes after stepping off the plane.

The townships of East End North, Parham Town and East End South on Tortola are laid back and perfect places to forget the 'real world' outside. There are two small marinas, both with mooring buoys inside the protective coral reef just offshore. Even without setting out to sea you can go snorkeling to experience the abundant marine life just off the beautiful beach.

Explore East End Bay By Renting A Yacht

East End Bay sits on the east coast of Tortola, close to the international airport. From one of the two marinas here you can head out to explore the rest of the British Virgin Islands.

Just off the coast and at the head of nearby Fat Hog's Bay you will discover one of many private islands in the archipelago. Buck Island, unlike many private islands like nearby Peter Island is completely private and has no resort. It will be a great sight as you head off across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to explore the marine reserves and smaller islands to the south. On a typical yacht charter you would head down to Norman Island and then head west via Peter Island, Salt Island and Cooper Island and then you'll find Virgin Gorda, one of the four main islands of the BVI's with its excellent resorts and chill vibe.

The north coast of Tortola has a lot of great sailing destinations too. Cane Garden Bay is another laid back area, sheltered from the east and great to watch sunsets from on the beautiful beach, perhaps with a locally distilled rum in hand.

Most of the islands in the Lesser Antilles are volcanic outcrops. This means you will find high, dormant and extinct volcanoes covered in lush rainforest. For something different you should head around 25 miles NE of Tortola to the coral atoll of Anegada, the only major coral atoll in the region. Unlike the other islands you will find this is a lowlying island that is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. Do check out Cow Wreck Beach with its white sand beach and excellent beach bar.

For those seeking an adventure, the island of St John's in the US Virgin Islands is a short hop by sea from Tortola. Using Coral Bay on the south coast as your port of entry you can explore other great destinations like Leinster Bay on the north coast, which is still just a short sail from Tortola.

Your East End Bay yacht charter gives you access to the whole of the British Virgin Islands so even if on a week long sailing holiday, one of the best yacht charter destinations in the Caribbean.

How To Get To East End Bay

Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport

One of the selling points of the BVI is that it is an out of the way holiday destination. For those heading from Europe this will usually mean two changes of plane. Out of London Heathrow you would change at Miami and fly to St Thomas in USVI.

If the idea of three planes to get to your sailing vacation isn't so fun you can take a ferry from Red Hook on the US Virgin Island of St Thomas to Road Town on Tortola instead - slightly slower but a chance to appreciate the beauty of these paradise islands.

Marinas In East End Bay

There are two small marinas in East End Bay from where you can begin your British Virgin Islands sailing holiday.

JY Harbour Marina

Located on East End Bay and a short taxi ride from the airport, JY Harbour Marina is a yacht charter hub with charter companies offering crewed charter and bareboat yacht charter of luxury catamaran, monohull sailing yacht, luxury yacht charter and motor yacht rental.

Berth Characteristics:

24 berths

Max Length 15m (50 Feet)

Max Draught 4m (13 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, hotel, restaurant.

Penn's Landing Marina

This is the smaller of the two marinas in East End Bay. It is also a yacht charter base in Parham Town with charter companies offering crewed charter and bareboat yacht charter of luxury catamaran, monohull sailingboat, luxury yacht charter and motor yacht rental.

Berth Characteristics:

36 berths (12 slips, 25 moorings)

Max Length 15m (50 Feet)

Max Draught 4m (13 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, garbage disposal, cash machine, supermarket, restaurant (both nearby).

Suggested Sailing Routes From Roat Town

So, what do you want from a British Virgin Islands boat charter out of East End Bay. You can seriously chill on sandy beaches, snorkel or scuba dive on a protected coral reef off your charter yacht? Your Tortola boat rental out of East End Bay can take you around much of BVI in a week or two's sailing, below are sone suggested routes:

7 Days - Major Islands of BVI: Out of your yacht charter base you head SW to Norman Island. Just to the west of here with the private resort Peter Island nearby, is the Rhone Marine Reserve where you will see a whole host of great marine life - get your snorkel and mask out! Your next night will be at at Leverick Bay Resort Marina at Virgin Gordafor some fun ashore. The next day will be a bit of a sail as you head north to Anegada, mooring off the north coast at Cow Wreck Bay. Enjoy the island for the morning and then head SSW to Guana Island for the nature reserve and ultra chill to be found here! To offset the silence, head down to Cane Garden Bay on the north coast of Tortola. Blackbeard is held to have lived on Great Thatch Island, now an uninhabited island to the W of Tortola, and this is where you'll spend your final night aboard before returning to East End Bay.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In East End Bay

Unlike Europe, the sailing season in the Caribbean Sea runs from November to May - perfect for a dose of winter sun. The NE Trades are settled and you will encounter weather between 25-35 degrees C.

Within this period, March and April after the winter northerlies have passed are cooler yet the sailing is just as fun as the rest of the year.

For those who want to try something a little outside their comfort zone, August and September are said to be the very best sailing months of all.

There's a problem with this - many charter yacht fleets will not be in the area thanks to hurricane season that runs between July and November. If booked and a hurricane is on its way your holiday will be cancelled. There is no minimising the danger of being in the region in a hurricane - there is no high ground and with the general trend for ever fiercer storms, it is not an experience to even risk being around for.

The Climate

The sailing season runs from December to June with the hurricane season hitting in June and ending in November. Winds are dominated by the NE Trade Winds and can sit at up to 20 knots, firm and steady all day.

FAQs:

What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

What are the Marinas in East End, Tortola?

There are two small marinas on East End Bay, with JY Harbour Marina and Hotel the larger of the two, though nearby Penns Landing Marina has more mooring buoys but fewer slips.

When are the best times to hire a boat in East End Bay?

East End Bay, Tortola is in the northern Tropics and this means blissful trade winds and comfortable temperatures year round. The cooler part of the year from November to May is better for yacht charters simply because the hurricane season coincides with the hotter and wetter part of the year. As ever, if serious chill is the name of the game, then come out outside of school holidays.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in East End Bay?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht or Boat in East End Bay?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Dress for warm weather but do have something for tropical rains - light but waterproof.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a crewed yacht charter you typically don't require licences.

###