7-Day BVI Itinerary: A Practical Bareboat Loop from Tortola

This 7 day bvi itinerary runs a clockwise bareboat loop from Tortola: short first hops to Norman Island, then Virgin Gorda (The Baths and North Sound), the longer open-water run to Anegada and a return to Tortola. The plan keeps daily sails to manageable lengths, flags the single exposed Anegada passage, and gives you mooring choices, typical fees in EUR, arrival windows and sheltered fallbacks.

Table — at-a-glance (distances, time bands, mooring-fee ranges in EUR, and difficulty)

Day 1: Tortola to Norman Island

You should plan the first day as a short shakedown: pick up the boat, finish briefing/provisioning and make a calm afternoon hop to The Bight on Norman Island.

Sailing Route and Distance

• Typical distance: around 7–8 NM from Road Town to The Bight (depends on whether you start at Nanny Cay, Village Cay or Soper’s Hole). Time afloat in settled conditions: 1–2 hours under motor or a short reach under sail. Allow extra time for the Indians or a snorkel stop en route; many crews stop at The Indians or the Caves first.

Mooring Options and Fees

• Main option: The Bight mooring field (many public moorings / local operator balls). Overnight moorings in popular bays in 2026 typically run US$30–55/night; that converts to roughly €27–€49 at recent rates. The Bight can skew toward the upper end in high season—expect around €30–€45 as a practical planning range. If the mooring field is full, there are nearby sandy patches for anchoring when conditions are calm, but avoid reef and seagrass.

Optimal Arrival and Departure Windows

• Aim to arrive by late morning or around noon in high season so you can pick a mooring before fields fill; many skippers say being on a ball by 14:00 is realistic, but in peak weeks you should be on station earlier. If you want to snorkel The Caves first, leave Road Town early after the boat briefing.

Practical notes & fallback

• The Bight is social and busy—expect flotillas and dinghies near the Willy T / Pirates Bight. If you can’t get a ball, anchor on the sand patch east of the bay (check depth and swing room). Avoid tying to older pennants with obvious chafe.

Day 2: Norman Island to Virgin Gorda

Move east-northeast through the Sir Francis Drake Channel toward Virgin Gorda; you’ll have options to stop at Cooper Island or go straight to Spanish Town/Leverick Bay.

Sailing Route and Distance

• Plan roughly 12–14 NM if you transit via Cooper Island / The Indians and finish at Leverick Bay or Spanish Town. Passage time: typically 2–3.5 hours depending on stops and whether you motor in light winds. Distances vary by where you started overnight.

Mooring Options and Fees

• Leverick Bay (North Sound) — moorings and marina services; popular with charterers and a useful provisioning point. Expect overnight mooring fees in the same US$30–$55 band (≈€27–€49). If Leverick is full, North Sound offers multiple resort mooring fields (Bitter End, Saba Rock) but those may charge a premium or have limited availability.

On‑the‑Water Difficulty Rating

• Rating: Easy–Moderate. The Sir Francis Drake Channel is largely protected compared with open Atlantic exposures; standard trade winds give pleasant reaches. North Sound is sheltered—easy to enter and overnight. However, rounding the top of Virgin Gorda into northerly breezes can get choppier; reef entrances and narrow channels require attention.

Alternative shelter

• If the outer route is a fetch in high wind, consider staying inside the Sound (Leverick/Bitter End) rather than trying to drop off the southern tip of Virgin Gorda the same day. North Sound is the go-to lee if a squall develops.

Day 3: Exploring Virgin Gorda

This is your day to stage The Baths and the North Sound — both are high-value but different uses.

The Baths and Beyond

• The Baths are a National Parks Trust site with day‑use mooring buoys only (no overnight mooring permitted). Plan The Baths as a morning to mid-day stop: the park tends to fill with day boats, and the park’s day moorings turn over early. If you intend to go ashore at The Baths, expect to use a dinghy landing and to pay the park entry fee.

• For an overnight, pick North Sound (Leverick, Bitter End, Saba Rock) — protected water and more space.

Mooring Options and Fees

• The Baths: day‑use permit (National Parks Trust) purchased per party (the NPT issues permits priced by party size, commonly quoted roughly US$25–55 per week for the permit that covers day moorings). North Sound resort moorings are in the usual mooring price band (US$30–55 ≈ €27–€49).

Weather & Practicalities

• The Baths can be closed to mooring/swimming when the National Parks flags are up; check the flag and arrive early on calm days. Use North Sound as your protection if squalls or a fresh trade build unpredictable gusts.

Day 4: Virgin Gorda to Anegada

This is the week’s most notable passage — the atoll sits separate from the volcanic chain and demands attention on approach.

Sailing Route and Distance

• Typical planning distance: ~14–16 NM from North Sound / Leverick Bay to Setting Point, Anegada. If you were to sail directly from Road Town it is longer (~26 NM). Time afloat: plan 3–4 hours from North Sound; allow longer from Tortola. The Anegada approach is reef-lined and requires strict adherence to the buoyed channel.

Mooring Options and Fees

• Setting Point: the main mooring/anchorage for Anegada and where the lobster shacks and dinghy landing sit. There are BoatyBall and local moorings; when they’re full, anchoring in sand is possible but holding can be patchy. Typical mooring fees are in the BVI band (US$30–55/night ≈ €27–€49). Anegada Beach Club offers resort moorings but availability is limited.

Optimal Arrival Window

• Aim to arrive by mid‑afternoon (no later than ~15:00) so the restaurants that cook lobster to order can reserve table space — many say reserve by about 16:00 in high season. Also you want daylight to follow the channel into Setting Point.

On‑water difficulty & approach cautions

• Rating: Moderate–Challenging because of open sea exposure and reef hazards. Approach via the marked channel only; stay on buoyed leads and use up‑to‑date charts and local guidance. If seas are short and confused, delay the approach and run for North Sound or Soper’s Hole depending on wind direction.

Day 5: Exploring Anegada

Anegada is shallow, spread out and very different from the volcanic islands — plan time ashore.

Activities

• Lobster shacks at Setting Point (book in advance in high season), long sand beaches (Cow Wreck, Loblolly), and excellent snorkeling along the Horseshoe Reef. You will dinghy ashore from the Setting Point mooring or the anchorage; many beaches require a short drive or moped ride from the dinghy landing.

Moorings, fees and holding

• Setting Point offers moorings (BoatyBall presence and local balls); anchoring in sand outside the reef is possible but holding can be unreliable in exposed conditions. Typical mooring price expectations remain in the US$30–55 band (approx. €27–€49). The island is low and can be exposed to wind gusts; be ready to move if a strong blow arrives.

Weather considerations

• Anegada’s north shore is very exposed to ocean swell and wind. If tropical activity or long fetch is forecast, either shorten your visit or plan an earlier exit to a more sheltered harbour.

Day 6: Anegada to Tortola (return)

Make the longer return; choose the Tortola harbour that best suits your hand‑back plan and the prevailing winds.

Sailing Route and Distance

• Setting Point → Road Town is roughly 26 NM by common routing (a 5–6 hour day under normal charter speeds), with alternate stops possible at Jost Van Dyke (Great Harbour) or Soper’s Hole depending on wind and time. Plan conservatively for fuel/time and engine motoring if needed.

Mooring options in Tortola

• Soper’s Hole (West End) — practical service stop, fuel and clearance/return convenience. Cane Garden Bay — beach bars, village services (note: more exposed to northerly swell). Soper’s Hole, Cane Garden Bay and Road Town all have moorings and marina options; expect mooring costs in the usual band and some marinas may charge by length.

Difficulty

• Rating: Moderate–Challenging (length of day + possible chop from fetch). If winds are right on the nose, the leg back via Jost Van Dyke and across can be a slog that increases crew fatigue; staggered stops at Jost or Trellis are reasonable alternatives.

Day 7: Final Day in Tortola — return and closeout

Use the final day to finish inspections, final provisioning, short sightseeing or an easy beach stop before handing the boat back.

Activities & timing

• Wrap up paperwork and have the boat cleaned/stowed; many charter companies request the boat returned before midday or early afternoon (practices vary by operator—check your contract). Spend any spare hours ashore in Road Town markets or at a west‑end beach depending on your base. Many skippers find Soper’s Hole a convenient final night stop to shorten hand-back logistics.

Departure preparations

• Check fuel and water levels, confirm outstanding fees (park permits, mooring receipts, final provisioning) and plan a short transfer schedule to the airport or ferry. Keep receipts for mooring and park permits — bases often expect Originals at check‑in/return.

Weather, safety and contingency planning (short checklist)

• BoatyBall & mooring reservations: BoatyBall reservations open at 07:00 local time for that day’s moorings — use them for Great Harbour, Cooper, Setting Point and other high‑demand fields if you need guaranteed space. If you rely on first‑come moorings, arrive early.
• National Parks moorings: The Baths, The Indians and similar sites use day‑use yellow/red balls and do not permit overnight mooring — plan these as day stops only.
• Anegada approach: only use the marked Setting Point channel; charts and local marking are critical — don’t eyeball the entrance. If conditions are rough, delay and shelter in North Sound or Soper’s Hole.
• Mooring fee budgeting: plan for US$30–55 per night (we converted that band to roughly €27–€49 using recent exchange-rate observations). Keep small USD cash for paying mooring attendants (many collect by dinghy).

Final operational tips (what the base will check)

• The handover typically verifies inventory, fuel/water levels, safety kit and engine hours — expect the briefing to take 1.5–3 hours depending on operator and your experience. Most companies will show you how to pick up/leave a mooring ball and will point out national‑park rules. Plan your first-day sail conservatively to complete checks and a provisioning run.

Plan your provisioning and cash: carry small USD for mooring balls and lobster shacks; buy park permits early in the week if you plan multiple park stops.

If something goes wrong

• If you can’t get a mooring at a planned stop, head for the nearest sheltered anchorage or a resort mooring field and call your charter base for advice — they will often help arrange a replacement spot or advise the best anchorage for your boat type.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the daily sailing distances and routes?

This itinerary breaks into short hops (7–15 NM) for the first three days, an exposed run to Anegada (≈14–16 NM from North Sound or ≈26 NM direct to Road Town), then the return leg (≈26 NM to Tortola). Exact NM vary by your charter base and chosen waypoints.

Where can I find mooring options and fees?

Major mooring fields: The Bight (Norman Island), Leverick Bay & North Sound (Virgin Gorda), Setting Point (Anegada), Great Harbour & Soper’s Hole (Tortola/Jost). Overnight moorings in 2026 typically run US$30–55/night (≈€27–€49 at current rates) depending on location and BoatyBall vs first–come status.

What are the optimal arrival and departure windows?

Plan to arrive crowded anchorages by midday or early afternoon (around 11:00–15:00) to secure moorings; BoatyBall reservations open at 07:00 daily for that day's slots. National Park day-balls (The Baths, The Indians) turn over early—arrive before 09:00–10:00 for best access.

How would you rate the on-the-water difficulty?

Most legs inside the Sir Francis Drake Channel are Easy–Moderate (protected water, short runs). The North Sound approaches are Easy (sheltered). The run to/from Anegada is Moderate–Challenging: open-water exposure, shallow reefs around the atoll, and more wind-driven seas.

What are alternative shelter options in bad weather?

Primary shelters: North Sound (Virgin Gorda) for lee and space, Soper’s Hole and Cane Garden Bay (Tortola) on the west side for protection, and Great Harbour (Jost Van Dyke) in settled northerlies. If Anegada is exposed, stand off the approach and run for North Sound or the lee of Tortola depending on wind.