Sailing and Yachting in BVI

The British Virgin Islands are known for their excellent sailing, and sea-loving travelers will be inspired to hit the seas. Below are tips and guidelines for ensuring a safe and enjoyable passage.

Entering the British Virgin Islands

Travelers may enter the British Virgin Islands at any of four ports of entry: Road Harbour and West End Harbour on Tortola; Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke; and St. Thomas Bay on Virgin Gorda. Customs and immigration offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays, excluding holidays.

Arrivals and departures outside these times are possible but must be scheduled, and will incur additional fees. To schedule an arrival or departure, travelers should call customs at 284-494-3475 and immigration at 284-494-3701 ext. 2538. When sailing into the islands outside of office hours, raise the Q flag and enter customs as soon as possible.

To clear customs, be sure the crew and ship have all required identification and paperwork and that all are present. Visas are not required for nationals of commonwealth countries, most European countries, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Russia, Turkey, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela, and the United States, if the visit does not exceed six months. However, residents of other countries will need a visa for entry.

Customs will not allow firearms to remain on the boat. they will be retained at customs until the ship leaves port. Certificates of health and rabies shots for animals must be shown to customs officers, and there is a $5(USD) fee per pet.

Some fees are paid according to the size of the boat, but other taxes and fees are flat. The British Virgin Islands cruising tax states that all visiting yachts from other Caribbean islands or from outside the territory must obtain cruising permits from Customs officers upon entering its territorial waters. This will cost $4(USD) per person, per day. Foreign boats must also pay $10 to $15(USD) per visit per boat, as well as a $4(USD) departure tax per person.

Yachts registered in the British Virgin Islands and chartered by visitors will also need to purchase a cruising permit, at $2(USD) per person per day from Dec. 1 through April 30 and $0.75(USD) per person per day from May 1 through Nov. 30. Crewed charters do not require captain and crew to pay the cruising fee, but guests will have to pay. Bareboat charters require the fee from all passengers.

For further questions, the British Virgin Islands' customs offices can be reached at 284-494-3475.

Marinas

Name	Address	Phone number	VHF channel
Penn's Landing Marina	Po Box 2926, East End, Tortola, BVI	(284) 495 1134	16
Pussers Marina Cay	Lower Estate Road Town, Marina Cay, Tortola, BVI	(284) 494 2174	Unknown
Peter Island Yacht Harbor Marina	P.O. Box 211, Sprat Bay Point, Peter Island, Tortola, BVI	(284) 495 2000	16
Road Reef Marina at Royal BVI Yacht Club	Road Reef, Road Town, Tortola, BVI	(284) 494 8140	12
Fort Burt Marina	P.O. Box 243, Waterfront Drive, Road Town, Tortola, BVI	(284) 494 4200	12
Scrub Island Resort Marina	Scrub Island, BVI	(284) 440-3440	Unknown
Neptunes Treasure Marina	Anegada, BVI	(284)495 9439	16
Bitter End Yacht Club	PO Box 46 Virgin Gorda, BVI	(284) 494 2746	16
Baughers Bay Marina	Road Harbour,Tortola, BVI	(284) 494 2393	16
BlueSail Marina	Tortola, BVI	(284) 494 6300	Unknown
Hodges Creek Marina	Maya Cove, Tortola, BVI	(284) 494 5000	16 and 71
Prospect Reef Marina	P.O. Box 104, Road Town, Tortola, BVI	(284) 4943311	Unknown

Restrictions in the British Virgin Islands

Vacationers will need to acquire a permit for recreational fishing in order to fish in the waters surrounding the British Virgin Islands. However, be aware that spearfishing, lobstering, and collecting live shells, as well as the use of jet-skis, is prohibited.

Boats have caused damage to the national parks in the British Virgin Islands, thus there is a new program in effect. Sailors will need to make use of mooring buoys in areas that have had damage due to anchoring. To cruise, travelers must obtain a National Parks mooring permit and hold to the following regulations:

• Buoys are color-coded:

• Red buoys: non-diving, day use only

• Yellow buoys: commercial dive vessels only

• White buoys: non-commercial vessels for dive use only, on a first-come, first-served basis, these have a time limit of 90 minutes

• Ships larger than 55 feet LOA or weighing more than 35 tons may not use the mooring system

• Ships must use the mooring line provided, however, the line may be extended as necessary to avoid chafe

Travelers assume responsibility for any damages they cause to themselves or their crafts as a result of using these moorings. The rules and regulations of seafaring in the British Virgin Islands have kept the waters safe and watersports enjoyable.

Sailing and Yachting

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