Tortola is one of the premier destinations for bareboat sailing charters. However, in the BVI, sailboats are not required to have holding tanks for sewage storage, as they are in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Instead, each boat pumps its raw sewage into the surrounding water. There are rules against flushing the head (toilet) in a marina, but it appears to be unenforceable.
Road Town collects its sewage and pumps it without further treatment into the Sir Francis Drake Channel, several hundred yards offshore.
Toilet paper is not allowed to be flushed from boats. Instead, used toilet paper must be disposed of in the trash can next to the toilet.
A Crusie-ship-tourist's day in Tortola:
The Silver Whisper was scheduled to tender into Road Town, but since we were the only ship in port, we docked instead. Tortola is very much like St. Thomas but more affluent and less crowded. One of the nicest local beaches is Cane Garden Bay, which resembles Magen's Bay on St. Thomas but has no fee and is less private. Just east of Cane Garden Bay is Brewers Bay, which is said to provide good snorkeling. Taxis wait at the pier and will take you north over the spine of the island to the beaches, with fantastic views in all directions along the way, for about US $6 pp each way.
Alternately, an open taxi (jitney style with sun protection) waits at the pier and offers a 3 hour round island tour, again with fantastic views of neighboring islands and photo stops along the way, plus an hour swim at Cane Garden Bay, all for US $20 pp. The driver's name on this visit was Larry, and I think he meets each cruise ship. If not, the local tourist board representative or taxi dispatcher who are at the pier should be able to arrange it for you.
As Caribbean islands become more crowded, especially when more than one ship is in port, my wife and I prefer to escape to some of the nearby islands for a beach day in solitude. In this case, one can take the private ferry to nearby Peter Island (still owned by the Amway Corp. I believe) for US $15 round trip. This is a very quiet, very upscale island resort that allows day visitors but requests that they use the far east end of Deadman's Beach. The near end is reserved for resort guests. The far east end of the beach is shared with the yachters whose boats are anchored offshore. A restaurant is available in the middle of the beach, and we were told it takes credit cards.
A taxi will take you from the cruise pier to the Peter Island ferry pier (caution, there are several ferry piers) for US $4 pp each way. Notify the ferry captain on your return that you need a taxi, and he should be able to radio ahead. As I write this, outbound ferries leave Road Town at 0830, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1530. Return ferries leave Peter Island at 0900, 1130, 1330, 1430, 1630, 1800 and 1930. Verify the schedules with the tourist office representative (or on the net) to make certain you do not miss your boat! Other ferry services run to neighboring islands, but these are farther away and less practical for a day escape.
Geographical Alignment: 18° 27' N, 64° 37' W
Time Band: 6 hours behind UK GMT (EDT - 1) and
5 hours behind UK BST (British Summer Time) (EDT)
The Dominican Republic does not alter its clocks for daylight saving as it is so close to the equator
General:
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are a group of over 60 idyllic and pristine Caribbean Leeward Islands with white sandy beaches, sheltered coves, blue waters and a laid back culture. The capital of the British Virgin Islands is Road Town on the largest island of Tortola.
Tortola is a mountainous island 13.5 miles (19 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide, with an area of 21.5 square miles (55.7 square km). Formed by volcanic activity, its highest peak is Mount Sage at 1750 feet (530 m). Tortola lies near an earthquake fault, and minor earthquakes are common.
The British Virgin Islands are one of the most popular sailing destinations in the World attracting thousands of boats where sailors can explore the secrets of the 60 island chain and still feel like there is enough space for everyone. Island Gems such as Virgin Gorda, Norman (the inspiration for "Treasure Island"), Sandy Spit, Great Tobago, Little Camanoe, Dead Chest Island (where the British pirate Blackbeard marooned some of his crew) and Jost Van Dyke are just waiting to be explored.
Some of the smaller British Virgin Islands are privately owned or have luxury resorts and include Necker Island (owned by Sir Richard Branson), Peter Island and Guana.
The British Virgin Islands have a population of just 26,000, of which 80% live on the island of Tortola. Only a small number of the BVI are actually inhabited and the BVI are known as "the land that time forgot".
(The first set of traffic lights were introduced in 2001 with instructions from the government on how to use them. Jost Van Dyke only had mains electricity for the first time in 1991).
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Swim with the Dolphins - Review of a Thomson excursion... Michelle and I, Michelle & Cheri's mum & dad Sheila and Horace - somehow called Horse by one American tourist - met up on the quay and waited for Gary & Cheri to join us. Then we all walked down Road Town's pretty Main Street, with market stall traders vying for business with shop vendors. We were then taken off by coach to watch and swim with dolphins. Michelle was to swim, while the rest of us spectated. After donning swimming gear and attending a briefing on what was to happen, Michelle and about eight or nine others lined up at the side of the water, holding on to a wooden platform. Here they acquainted themselves with the dolphins, touching them, holding their flipper as though they were shaking hands, before holding both flippers as the dolphins came up and gave them a "kiss"! Then each person took it in turns to swim out away from the platform, turn around and then grab the dolphin by the fin for a tow back to the platform! A spectacular show put on by one and all! If you go on this trip and I do recommend it, but you go to watch rather than swim, make sure you are in some sort of shade as it gets incredibly hot.
