A BVI Sailing Vacation With Kids

There is always something special about sharing a new adventure with your family. A few years ago, my husband and I decided to take our niece (then 8) and nephew (then 10) on a seven day sailing vacation to the British Virgin Islands. Living in Florida, we wanted to provide them with an experience other than Disney. Although I was excited to share a sailing vacation experience with them, I had three main concerns.

First, would they be bored without their devices? Second, would the normal sibling spats escalate being in a closer living quarters? And finally, how would they handle different foods when they primarily subsisted on pizza and buttered noodles? It turns out, I didn’t need to worry.

Virgin Island Sailing® made the arrangements through The Moorings to charter a 47’ catamaran for our sailing vacation. The squeals of delight from our niece and nephew when we met them at the Redhook, St. Thomas ferry dock with our dingy, were quickly surpassed by the exclamation, “SWEET!” as we pulled up alongside our anchored yacht that would be our home for the next week. This was the first time they had ever been on a catamaran. After a quick tour and a couple liveaboard lessons – safety, using the head and water conservation, we all retired early so that we could begin our BVI sailing vacation first thing in the morning.

When I went to check on the kids, my niece inquired, “How can you sleep on this thing?” But, I assured her that the gentle rocking of the catamaran would soon have both children soundly snoring. We cleared the kids through customs in West End, Tortola, and then began island hopping through the glorious British Virgin Islands.

“I’m bored” was simply not a factor on this trip and my initial concern was a non-issue. Prior to leaving on our sailing vacation, I made journals for them filled with maps and photos of the BVI.
Each morning we would discuss various topics including the history of the Caribbean, the culture, music and language. The kids had an opportunity to write down their thoughts and the journals later proved to be wonderful keepsakes that they proudly shared with their friends and classmates.

The kids loved the adventure of exploring pirate caves on Norman Island, jumping off the Willy-T at The Bight, and snorkeling for hours around The Indians.

They enjoyed the “main drag” on Jost Van Dyke. They decorated and hung their own “we were here” sign at Foxy’s; my niece had her hair braided and beaded at the beauty shop; my nephew was introduced to Ting (a carbonated grapefruit drink) at Abe’s By The Sea; and played with the beach dogs.

Both kids became fast friends with the other children that were playing on the beach. The crossing to Marina Cay / Trellis Bay was occupied by learning to man the helm, plotting a course on a chart, and playing hide and seek on board.

Of course, The Baths on Virgin Gorda was one of their favorite spots. Climbing through, up and around the boulders was a highlight of their sailing vacation.

I thought they might appreciate the Bitter End, mainly because I figured they would need a fix at the outdoor big screen television. To the contrary, they wanted to leave because the resort was, “too fancy” and “not islandy enough.” I think that meant they had to wear shoes and shorts in the restaurant, rather than be in swimsuits and barefoot! Wow, they sure did adapt quickly.

They delighted in playing in the sand at the Cooper Island Beach Club, chasing goats on Peter Island and swimming with the sea turtles in Great Harbour.

Days were spent snorkeling, swimming, lounging on the trampoline of the catamaran, cannon-balling off the aft, telling pirate stories and making up pirate names for each of us. Playing games at various bars and restaurants, searching for iguanas, and learning to drive the dingy were all great hits.

They learned how to raise a sail and participated in the daily chores of living aboard. Both kids were provided with disposable water cameras and Caribbean fish guides so they could identify what they saw while snorkeling. By nightfall, they were exhausted and often barely made it through dinner.

My second concern regarding sibling fighting was also a non-issue. We were pleasantly surprised to see how well the kids got along. The only argument in seven days was a brief spat having something to do with “backwash” in a shared can of Ting. Yes, you read right – shared a can of Ting!

Overall, the sailing vacation seemed to bring them closer together. My last concern regarding taking the children on a sailing vacation had to do with what my niece and nephew would eat since their main diet was very basic at home. Since this was my vacation too, other than breakfast, I did not cook aboard.

Fortunately, almost everywhere we went had BBQ chicken or ribs, which the kids ate. They tried and liked Caribbean rice and beans, fried plantains, and a variety of new locally grown fruits like mangoes.

We were shocked because they even actually ate triggerfish sandwiches at Foxy’s. My niece did get her buttered noodles on Cooper Island, while my nephew unfortunately developed a taste for fresh Anegada lobster (sorry, Sis!).

Both kids slurped nightly virgin Pina Coladas or Daiquiris – better than any state-side slurpee. They thought it was pretty cool to mix their own drink concoctions at Sidney’s Peace & Love. Neither child came close to starving and with all the activity and fresh air, they had good appetites at meal time.

Both of them were very sorry to see their sailing vacation end. My husband and I have spent many vacations with them, but this was definitely the best! The “BVI” has become as much a normal part of their vocabulary as “pepperoni pizza” and “iPhones.”

Recently, my nephew had to write a paper for his sixth grade Language Arts class about his idea of the perfect vacation. He did not need to fantasize – he already knew. A sailing vacation on a 47’ catamaran in the British Virgin Islands, of course! Since then, we have had several more opportunities to take a BVI sailing vacation with the family.

Luckily for all of us, we are going back again this summer.