From the idyllic cruising grounds of the Caribbean to the enchanting shores of the Mediterranean, the tropic splendor of far east Thailand to the exotic charm of Tahiti, Tonga, and the Indian Ocean’s Seychelles. No matter where your adventure compass points to, secluded beaches, pristine waters, and breathtaking views reign supreme.

With The Moorings’ exclusive menu of over 20 top-rated sailing destinations spanning across the globe, you can create custom passages and one-of-a-kind charter experiences time and again. Come aboard and discover your own piece of paradise, on your private Five-Star vacation platform, in the company of those most cherished. The world is waiting….go capture something extraordinary.

Visit moorings.com to start your journey.

The post Explore the World with The Moorings appeared first on Cruising World.

Ask any seasoned sailor, and they’ll likely tell you their favorite memories are tied to their boat. But boats are also a lot of work, and no one ever has called a private yacht cost-effective. For this reason, many owners choose to put their boat to work by placing it in a charter management program. 

“There’s a huge economical advantage. But there’s a cost as well; a lot of people will be on the boat,” says Bruno Lemieux, who works in yacht sales, operation and development for Dream Yacht Sales.

Boats can be in Dream Yacht’s charter programs for up to 5 1/2 years, and the No. 1 question prospective owners have is: 

What will my boat look like in five years? 

A charter boat works hard, up to 33 weeks a year, in order to pay for all its expenses plus generate revenue for its owner. 

“Yes, it will get some wear and tear for sure” says Yanik Aubé, Dream Yacht’s America and North Caribbean sales director. “But any boat just sitting at the dock gets damaged—by neglect, salt air, or even by just rubbing on the dock… In this case, damages will be fixed by the base, and you don’t have to worry about it. You have a team that’s going to do it. And instead of paying $90,000 to $100,000 a year for insurance, dockage and maintenance, those are paid for you. Plus, you receive 8 percent of your boat purchase price per year in revenue in some of our programs.”

When the yacht nears the end of its service, Dream Yacht does a phaseout to return it to the owner in good condition.

“About 30 days before the end of the contract, we start building a list of things that need to be repaired. The contract is clear that everything needs to be working. All the equipment on board that was there at the beginning will be there and working, and all the original inventory will be matched. The gelcoat will be done; the bottom paint, if not done within the last 12 months, will be done; sails will be refurbished,” says Lemieux, who was in the owner-care department before sales.

He explains that the contract covers all this and is quite straightforward. What is not covered is normal wear and tear for cosmetic items such as cushions. If any cushions are missing or torn, they will all be replaced per the matching inventory stipulation, but if they are simply worn, they will not be. 

“I’ve been through about 25 phaseouts in the last year, and I have to say, Dream Yacht is doing a very fair phaseout. When the boat stops, they really spend the money and time to make sure the owners are leaving with a well-maintained boat,” Lemieux says. 

So, is it worth it?

The yearly return of 8 percent of the purchase price that Aubé quoted is Dream Yacht Sales’ guaranteed income program, called Dream Guarantee. It more than covers the depreciation of the boat. After 5 1/2 years in charter, about 45 percent of the purchase price has been paid back to the owner.

Dream Yacht also offers a shared-revenue plan called Dream Performance, where charter income is split, 35 percent to the company and 65 percent to the owner. But the owner also pays for all expenses, the big three being dockage, insurance and maintenance.

In real numbers, historical data has shown that after commissions and expenses are paid, if a boat is chartered at least 22 weeks a year in the Performance program, the owner receives an average of 30 percent of all gross charter revenue. “So, if your boat generates $180,000 in revenue, you can expect to get around $54,000 in your pocket at the end,” says Aubé.

With some of the management programs offered by Dream Yacht Charter (Performance or Performance Plus) you can factor in the potential tax advantages of buying a yacht as an investment, which can be up to 35 percent of the purchase price, depending on the purchaser’s tax bracket, making the figures even more compelling. “In many situations, up to 90 percent of your boat gets paid (after charter service), and it’s still worth a lot more than that,” says Aubé.

How will my boat be maintained?

In the Dream Guarantee program, the company is responsible for and pays for everything. “If an engine blows, we will not call the owner; we’ll just replace the engine,” says Lemieux. After all, it’s in Dream Yacht’s best interest to keep the boat in good working order. In addition, a yearly maintenance period, including haulout, is built into the schedule. 

The company also handles all repairs and maintenance items for Performance program yachts, but it will consult with the owners first because, of course, the owners are paying the bills. 

In the works is a new platform that tracks maintenance, hours and parts for owners in both programs. “Owners will have access to this app in real time and know exactly what’s being done every day. It’s currently being tested in the Med in France and will be launched in America at the end of the year,” says Aubé.

Can I choose where it is based?

Yes—for owners of Performance yachts. “They can decide, ‘I want my boat in Annapolis during the summer, and I want it in BVI in winter.’ No problem. You’re covering the cost, you get the revenue, so you make the decision,” says Aubé. 

In the Guarantee program, the boat is promised a region rather than a specific base. “If you say, ‘I would like my boat in the BVI,’ we will put it there and try to keep it located there, but it might have to be moved to another base if demand fluctuates,” Aubé says. In this scenario, the yacht would stay in the northern Caribbean region of the USVI, BVI and Bahamas. “We are the one who decides if it needs to be moved, but we will always work towards having the boat where the owner wants it to be at first.”

When can I use my boat?

In the Dream Guarantee program, an owner can sail up to 12 weeks a year, paying only a nominal cleaning/turnaround fee. Moreover, they can use these weeks on their own boat or on any similar model in Dream Yacht Charter’s 45-plus locations around the world. 

It’s phrased “up to” 12 weeks because it’s seasonally dependent. Owners can book in advance either two weeks in high season and two weeks in low season, or six weeks in low season, plus they can book six weeks in high or low season last minute, meaning 10 days out.

In the Dream Performance program, owners can do what they’d like on their own boat. “There’s basically no limit of usage. So, if the owner wants Christmas, that’s fine,” says Lemieux.

A charter management program isn’t for everyone. An owner who doesn’t want to share their boat, expects it to be exactly as they left it each time they return, or enjoys tinkering on it every weekend is not a good fit for charter. But for those who are easing into boat ownership—perhaps slowing down on work commitments before the quintessential “sailing off into the sunset”—charter service can be a smart path. Not only does it make sense economically, but it also gives owners time to get to know their boat and gain sailing experience with the safety net of having a professional team looking after their boat.

Learn more at dreamyachtsales.com.

The post Is Charter Ownership for Me? appeared first on Cruising World.

Repeat clients are always a sign of a company that offers exceptional service. At Virgin Island Sailing®, repeat clients are a major part of the business, with the company’s expert brokers helping people book yacht-charter vacations of all kinds throughout the Virgin Islands and greater Caribbean.

“Once we get clients on board and get them past the label of broker—they worry it’s going to cost more money—they see how easy it is, and we have a lot of repeat business,” says company owner Melody Delgado, who has been chartering in the Virgins herself since the 1980s. “What sets us apart is that we’re not focused on a specific product. We’re focused on the service we’re offering.”

That service is giving clients a broad overview of their options for booking charters, and then helping them to make a choice that is an ideal fit for their desires and needs. Unlike companies that offer boats only within their own charter fleets, 

Virgin Island Sailing® has connections with numerous companies that operate charter powerboats, sailboats and catamarans. The Virgin Island Sailing® website was recently updated to give clients in-depth search capabilities for yachts, rates and travel planning, and the company has a team of brokers with decades’ worth of industry experience who get to know each crew and boat personally, right down to things such as each chef’s specialties, as well as itineraries throughout the islands for everything from fishing and snorkeling to scuba diving and paddleboarding.

All of that industry knowledge is used to help clients determine which boat, crew and destination are a perfect match for their dream vacation. The Virgin Island Sailing ® team can help clients book a perfect boat that they find on the website after searching themselves, or can guide them through various options until they find “the one.” 

“We are unbiased in what we are recommending, and we only offer boats that we know are well-maintained with good crew,” Delgado says. “We can use our industry relationships to help you pick the best boat with the best rate for your experience.”

The booking process at Virgin Island Sailing® starts when clients have a conversation with a charter broker to determine the vacation’s budget and client’s wishes—in specific detail, including must-have items such as child-size water skis or a vegan chef.

Next, the charter broker sends a personalized proposal to the client. It includes a selection of three to five yachts. Prices are noted from the start, so clients will have no surprises, no matter which charter yacht they choose.

Once the client selects and books a charter yacht, Virgin Island Sailing® provides a package that is unique within the yacht-charter industry. It includes a substantive cruising guidebook that is several inches thick, and that contains all kinds of helpful information about the specific charter location’s snorkeling sites, moorings, navigation tips and more.

Clients also receive an online vacation planner—again, specialized to the locality and type of charter—with detailed information about travel information, hotels, restaurants, provisioning, packing suggestions and more. 

“It’s constantly updated,” Delgado says. “If we find out there’s a really good new gourmet meal service, we put it in there. Our philosophy is to be proactive. We want to give out information so people don’t have to ask questions.”

Each charter client is also assigned a Virgin Island Sailing® concierge, who reviews everything and follows up to ensure that all paperwork and travel arrangements are complete. Clients receive timely reminders about things such as provisioning for bareboat charters or filling out preference sheets for crewed charters. And, if there are changes to things such as government travel protocols after the charter has started, the Virgin Island Sailing® team ensures that the client has all the most up-to-date, necessary information for a smooth travel experience.

In addition, once the charter vacation is underway, the Virgin Island Sailing® team stays in communication with the client to help resolve any problems. Again, the company’s industry relationships are key. While individuals booking a charter yacht can sometimes find it challenging to get answers to immediate questions, the Virgin Island Sailing® team can act as a valuable go-between with relationships already in place.

The team can also follow up after a charter ends to make sure that any loose ends with contracts or payments are handled professionally and promptly. 

All in all, Delgado says, the booking process at Virgin Island Sailing® is organized to help clients feel empowered, no matter how they like to choose a vacation. If they want to do most of their research online themselves, the company’s website is available 24/7/365 for that purpose. If they would like the expertise of a charter broker from the start, that level of service is available too, at no extra cost. 

“We suggest talking to a broker to save time, but if you want to do your own research, we are set up for you to do that,” she says. “Our website has a monster search engine that helps you see rates, deals and seasonal promotions, and we are always here with our expertise to provide any additional assistance you need.”

Learn more here.

The post Virgin Island Sailing®: Excellence in Personalized Charter Bookings appeared first on Cruising World.

When Richard Hokin arrived on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands 30 hours after Hurricane Irma passed on September 6, 2017, he wasn’t particularly shocked. He fully expected that his Bitter End Yacht Club had been destroyed. After all, the BVI island had endured a Category 5 storm with relentless 180 mph winds—and a storm surge that wiped out anything the gusts had spared. 

He was correct: What was essentially a pile of rubble greeted him where the resort, which had been in his family for 44 years, once stood. There was one surprising thing though. The oldest fleet member was missing. What had happened to the faithful boat that predated his family’s ownership of Bitter End, the one that was integral to its development in the early days and still loyally served the resort? Where was Reef Sampler? 

“The fact that the boat had disappeared was kind of mysterious because some of her superstructure had washed up on Prickly Pear Island, which is right next to us. But there was no sign of the boat,” Hokin says.

When Irma hit, Reef Sampler was approaching its 50th birthday. In need of a platform for fishing, diving, exploring and picnicking, the Hokin family commissioned the 34-foot downeast fiberglass hull from Webber’s Cove in Blue Hill, Maine, to be finished at Essex Boat Works in Connecticut. Named for the family’s favorite pastime in the vibrant Virgin Islands waters, Reef Sampler was delivered in 1969.

“She started out as our family’s just-messing-around boat in St. Thomas and eventually became the workhorse for Bitter End,” Hokin says. “She hauled most of the building materials from St. Thomas up to North Sound in the early days when we were just starting to remodel and expand, and then she was our principal source of fun there. We’d take off and go over to Anegada for the day and go diving or go out fishing. Our life really centered around the boat.”

Reef Sampler rode out Irma holding on to the heftiest mooring. As it turned out, it never let go. In early 2018, the UK Hydrographic Office, conducting its first BVI survey in nearly a century, discovered an anomaly in its soundings. Further investigation by Sunchaser Scuba revealed Reef Sampler’s hull, sitting neatly upright on the bottom of North Sound, still tied to the sunken mooring.

Abandoning the boat in this watery grave was never an option. “Next to me, she’s the oldest member of the Bitter End crew,” Hokin says as he readies for his 82nd birthday. “I wasn’t going to walk away from her—we’ve been together for over 50 years. How do you walk away from someone or something that’s been important to your life? And not just to my life but to the whole Bitter End lifestyle, which is what defines us.”

Using air bags, it was floated and dragged onto the beach. Then, Hokin had an idea.

“I have always had a bee in my bonnet about a beach bar—and that a boat would make a really cool beach bar. This was the opportunity. We’re starting from scratch [rebuilding Bitter End]. We had the boat, and the boat was integral to Bitter End’s story. I figured she’s worked hard for us for close to 50 years; let’s give her a place where she doesn’t have to work so hard and everybody can enjoy her.”

Now, Reef Sampler, freshly varnished and painted in its original hue, has pride of place on Marina Beach at Bitter End 2.0. On its foredeck is a navigation table with seating for 8; along its sheerline aft, there’s a bar for resting a drink; and within its cockpit is a fully equipped bar for serving. Above it floats tent fabric, shading patrons and protecting the boat from the weather.

It’s one of the new additions to the revived property. For the quiet reopening over the past holidays, everything a sailor needs was up and running, including the Quarterdeck Club with a panoramic second-floor lounge, the Watersports Shack, The Buoy Room a salty sailor’s bar , and an expanded provisioning market that also offers prepared foods and a full wine-and-spirits shop. Opening soon are two shore accommodations called Marina Lofts, which extend alluringly over the water, and two more restaurants will be ready to serve by spring. 

Re-imagined to be more closely aligned with Mother Nature, the new resort is both different and the same. “We knew we weren’t going to build an exact replica, but we’ve tried really hard to employ the character, vibe and lifestyle that define the place,” Hokin says. Nothing encapsulates this spirit better than a beach-bar boat that started life as a vehicle for just messing around on the water. 

It’s not the only physical reminder of the past. The major docks survived the storm, and bits of memorabilia salvaged from the debris are displayed among the new buildings—but Reef Sampler is perhaps its most evocative.

“I think a boat is pretty close to a living entity. After 70 years of messing around in boats, I’m absolutely sure boats have lives because they’ve treated me well at times and also have had a few tantrums,” Hokin says with a smile.

To learn more about the re-opening of Bitter End Yacht Club and stay up to date on new updates, visit beyc.com. To see more footage from Bitter End Yacht Club, follow them on YouTube.

The post A New Beginning for Bitter End appeared first on Cruising World.

On a recent windy romp through the British Virgin Islands, I found myself aboard a 45-foot charter cat, caught up in one of those moments that fellow sailors know only too well: All was going perfectly until it wasn’t. One minute we were successfully shaking a reef out of the main in anticipation of a long reach down Sir Francis Drake Channel to the Bight on Norman Island, and the next, the reef lines were incredibly tangled and the flogging sail was stuck in the mast track, unable to go up and unwilling to come down.

Instantly, a relaxing afternoon voyage became a lot like work as I scrambled up onto the cabin top and climbed up mast steps, hanging on with one arm, and clawing frantically with a boat hook in the other to pull down the sail so we could straighten out the mess. A tense few minutes ended well enough, but it was a good reminder of the forces at play when wind—lots of it—meets boat.

The engineers at Harken had similar—though larger-scale—scenarios in mind back in the 1980s when they created the first Battcar System for use on supersize record-chasing multihulls. The solution: affix sections of tracks to the mast and install cars with ball bearings to replace the main’s sail slides. This let the crew manage the enormous spreads of battens and cloth used to drive the powerful cats.

It didn’t take long for sailors aboard other top race boats to see the advantages of being able to safely raise and reef sails from the security of the cockpit, and today, Battcars are basic gear aboard pretty much all of the sailboats taking high-speed laps around the planet—or rounding the buoys in local waters, for that matter.

But what’s good for going fast can also be a welcome addition on cruising boats, where owners want to keep things safe and enjoyable, and where shorthanded crews might encounter a wide range of conditions to which they’ll need to react quickly.

There are other options, of course. Many boats today have in-mast furling, but their mainsails can’t carry battens and therefore have a hollow leach, which means less power. Or they rely on vertical battens that can be troublesome to remove should the sail need to come down in a hurry. In-boom furling is also available, and while these systems allow for full-cut sails with battens, they tend to be expensive, and they too require care when furling. And what do you do if you buy a boat without such systems?

Call me old-fashioned, but a traditional full-batten main not only looks good and performs well, but it also can be dropped easily—so long as you point the bow into the wind. Add a Battcar System, and it can be doused with control or reefed no matter the wind direction, thanks to the ball bearings in the cars that attach it to the mast.

Harken has designed its systems so that retrofitting them is a relatively approachable project for the do-it-yourselfer, and one that will be a lot less costly than buying a new furling mast or boom.

Since their introduction in the 1980s, Harken’s Battcars have evolved, though the basic concept is pretty much the same. Ball-bearing cars are loaded onto a track that runs up the mast. Instead of a boltrope or slugs, the sail is attached to a vertical pin on each car with a loop of webbing sewn onto the luff. On early cars, a cotter pin or ring was used to secure each pin, but current design employs a pushpin that locks itself into place. Older cars also relied on end caps to secure the ball bearings, and if those caps were damaged, the bearings could come loose and quickly disappear overboard. To prevent this, Harken developed captive ball bearings that are locked into place with retaining rings that can’t accidentally come undone.

Harken initially offered three systems—dubbed A, B and C—for boats from 35 feet up to about 60 feet. They’ve since added an AA line for boats down to 21 feet, and custom Battcar systems are available for larger yachts of 100 feet and more.

As a DIY refit project, installing the track appears fairly straightforward. On a smooth extrusion, holes can be drilled and tapped, and the track screwed into place. The ideal time to do this, of course, would be when the mast is down for winter storage, but it can also be done with the mast stepped, and in the case of a mast with a groove, it would require just one trip aloft using what Harken calls ‘Slug Track’ and a compliment of slugs. The required tools are fairly basic: hacksaw, file, drill and a couple of bits, Phillips head screwdriver, putty knife, crescent wrench, Allen wrenches, and a tape measure.

The slotted-mast installation kits include slugs that are fed into the sail slot. Then sections of the track get screwed loosely to the slugs and are pushed up the mast. The final piece of track gets cut to fit, and then an end piece is installed and tightened down. Once that’s done, someone takes a ride up the mast, tightening all the remaining screws as they go.

The system uses three different types of cars: one designed to hold the sail’s headboard, another to accommodate the battens, and intermediate luff cars that go between the batten cars. Installation-kit details are available in Harken’s online catalog. Select the number of cars and track sections you’ll need, install the track, slide on the cars, and you’re good to go. 

To adapt a sail for the system, all that’s required is to have a sailmaker replace the existing slugs with loops of webbing to attach to the Battcars’ pins.

With lazy jacks installed, dousing the main, even when sailing downwind in breezy conditions, means just letting go with the halyard, and reefing can be done from the cockpit, meaning no one has to go forward on deck. Safe and simple, right?   

To learn more about Harken’s Battcar System visit https://bit.ly/HarkenBattcarVideo

The post Tame the Main appeared first on Cruising World.

It’s a reminder of all the many possibilities boating has to offer, but also that on today’s increasingly crowded waterways there has never been a better, more cru-cial time to be a qualified, educated skipper.

For over 100 years, boaters of all experience have learned these skills thanks to America’s Boating Club. A nationwide network of squadrons dedicated to boating safety and education, the non-profit Club boasts over 20,000 members organized into more than 300 clubs across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Is-lands. Many credit the Club for their initial boating education. America’s Boating Club, however, is also a great place for any boater looking to advance their skills, prepare for an exciting challenge like a long-distance cruise, even socialize with fellow boaters and make lasting friends.

America’s Boating Club believes that an educated boater is a better boater. Edu-cated boaters know the rules of the road on the water, understand navigational markers and warning signs, and realize the importance of various safety equip-ment and how to respond in an emergency. Educated boaters are also responsible boaters, aware of both their fellow boaters and the environment, and welcomed into the boating community.

America’s Boating Course is the classic first step in any novice boater’s education and is designed to not only educate but prepare participants to pass their individual state tests and receive a boating safety certificate. That certificate is now a requirement in many states and may even lower insurance costs.

America’s Boating Club is also the premier source for education in a wide variety of other areas, including boat handling, understanding and using nautical charts and/or GPS, proper use of VHF radio and other electronics, even how to navigate rivers, locks and lakes or plan an extended cruise.

Perhaps the best part about America’s Boating Club’s educational programs? Not only are they educational and affordable, they’re also fun! Nearly all courses and seminars are available in multiple formats, from convenient at-home sessions via the internet* to instructor-led sessions in the classroom. Members can also receive practical hands-on training with certified instructors at a vast network of Learning Centers (350 and counting!) Worried about maneuvering in the tight confines of a marina or feel confident anchoring? Or maybe you want to learn the skills to safely take that first cruise. Whatever the need, America’s Boating Club can provide the education in a supportive, non-intimidating environment.

Being a member of America’s Boating Club also means access to benefits that ex-tend beyond education. Members frequently give back to the community through activities like free Vessel Safety Checks, waterway cleanups, and crowd-sourced navigation updates. There are also on-water social opportunities like cruises and raft-ups, as well as community activities and events where you can share your passion for boating with fellow, like-minded members. Other benefits include sig-nificant savings on towing, boating products, boating and non-boating insurance, travel and lodging and more, from leading companies including Sea-Tow, BoatUS, Boat Fix, Wyndham Hotel Group, Avis and Budget, Vistaprint, Office Depot and Of-ficeMax, Hamilton Marine and more.

In fact, the best savings are found in an America’s Boating Club Value Bundle. In addition to a one-year membership and all the above member benefits, it includes America’s Boating Course Online, a choice of two interest-specific seminars, a one-year subscription to a choice of boating publications and more.

So come on, join the club…and make the most of your boating investment.

*Note: Not all states accept the online version of America’s Boating Course due to the inability to provide a proctored test.

The post Join The Club appeared first on Cruising World.

Our pal Ian Scott, the skipper of the Swan 36 Coco, was in need of some new rigging in order to set sail this season. With the help of our friends at West Marine, Cruising World walks through the steps to re-rig your sailboat. Want to get started on your own project? Make sure to visit the Rigging Shop at your local West Marine or visit their website.

The post How to Re-Rig a Sailboat appeared first on Cruising World.

Highfield Boats, the world’s largest builder of aluminum-hull rigid inflatable boats (RIBS), launches a new design innovation with its GT Console series, which includes the Highfield Classic 340 (11′2″), 360 (11′10″) and 380 (12′10″) GT Console models.

Where Highfield’s slim-line FCT Console deck configuration saves space and weight, and its Sport Console adds luxury amenities, the GT Console version offers the best of both worlds, combining light weight, sporty looks and luxury features. Wet weights for these boats start at just 445 lbs. – including outboard engine, rigging and fuel. Substantially lighter than a comparably sized RIB with a fiberglass hull, they offer better fuel consumption and performance with the same horsepower engine.

Highfield Classic GT Console series RIBS feature:

• Fiberglass helm console with steering wheel
• Dashboard space for a 5″ chartplotter
• Side seat with storage underneath
• Comfortable rear seat with under seat storage area
• Navigation lights
• Bow cushion
• A range of color options including white, black, light gray, dark gray and black.

Known for their high-quality finish and stable, dry ride, Highfield Classic RIBS are designed to serve as tenders to a wide variety of sailboats and motoryachts. Offering a six-person seating capacity, the GT Console series models feature a raised floor that will keep your passengers’ feet and gear dry even in choppy seas. Their light weight make them easy to launch, retrieve and store on board. Yet, thanks to Highfield Boats’ high tensile chromated aluminum hull and full-length keel guard, they are also rugged and seaworthy, allowing you to take them on fun adventures away from the mother yacht, or use them a primary boat.

Standard Equipment:

• ORCA® Hypalon or Valmex® PVC tube
• EVA teak floor• Welded seams (PVC)
• Flush-mount non-return valves
• High tensile chromated & powder-coated aluminum hull
• Raised, self-draining deck
• Integrated transom supports
• Bow locker (fits 6-gal. fuel tank)
• Removable seat
• Welded lifting points
• Towing eyes
• Tow bridle points
• Anti-slip deck
• Heavy-duty rubbing strake
• Full-length keel guard
• Tank strap kit
• Under-seat bag
• Highfield dry bag
• Foot pump, oars, repair kit

Optional Equipment

• Transom storage box
• Boat cover
• Molded bow cleat

The post Highfield Classic GT Console Series appeared first on Cruising World.

The news is good. Travel is coming back. Borders are reopening, and there is a long list of denied celebrations that deserve to be reinstated. With the light finally shining brightly at the end of a dark tunnel, now is the perfect time to get away from the day-to-day so that we can truly honor those noteworthy events that have been put on hold for far too long. Big-time celebrations deserve a big-time venue and there’s no better place to get your celebration on than the British Virgin Islands. Known for perfect sailing conditions, show-stopping beaches and endless secret spots, the British Virgin Islands is just what the doctor ordered now that the world is returning to normal.

Let the wind take you to legendary beach bars at the water’s edge with just the right amount of music and lively atmosphere. Enjoy otherworldly views that show off the natural landscape while visiting seemingly infinite anchorages, harbors and marinas—all of which are prepared to greet you as if you were royalty. Celebrate all of the noteworthy events that have been put on hold for far too long in one of the most beautiful, sought-after destinations: the BVI.

To look at these islands on a map is to understand why beach lovers, sailors, underwater explorers and privacy seekers love this destination: The Sir Francis Drake Channel separates the main island of Tortola from a string of more than 60 islands—some with resorts and some inhabited only by birds and iguanas. This means more coastline, beaches and secluded coves for relaxing. It also means a massive water playground ideal for all kinds of watersports: sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving and more. There’s so much to do for you and yours to have fun and catch up on any missed celebrations—regardless of who you travel with or what you’re celebrating.

Where to Stay

This mix of islands offers a diversity of accommodations, from secluded to happening, with a focus on everything from wellness to active pursuits. Celebrating a romantic milestone? Rosewood Little Dix Bay on the island of Virgin Gorda offers pampering, yoga and upscale accommodations with outdoor showers, all amid a natural setting that highlights the tropical landscape and bluewater views – the perfect location for a couple looking to get away and just relax.

Looking for a place to bring family together? Oil Nut Bay, reopened since December 2020, caters to families and multigeneration travelers with villas, chefs for hire, a marina and more than 400 acres of wild space. Every resort offers plenty to do to fill any vacation, but one of the highlights of the British Virgin Islands is how easy it is to island hop.

BVI by Boat

For those with sailing experience, the BVI is unique in offering a handful of charter companies that allow DIY captains—with proof of credentials—to take the helm and experience complete freedom. With a mix of resort marinas, coves with mooring balls, as well as anchor-ready sandy patches, these islands let you define escapism for you and yours, whether you want a week packed with restaurants, beach bars and spas, or complete solitude. Those who want to be treated to meals can moor off of spots such as the Cooper Island Beach Club, known for its just-caught seafood, homemade ice creams and on-site microbrewery. There’s also Sugarcane located on an elevated hilltop on Virgin Gorda, where cocktail hour comes with epic views, followed by a massive menu tempting with pizzas, mahimahi tacos and whole lobsters.

For those without full sailing credentials, you can enjoy the same freedom to move from island to island by booking a crewed charter vacation, complete with a dedicated captain and first mate/chef to cater to your group’s tastes and schedule. That could look like spa-style breakfasts at 6 a.m. or a full spread with French toast and eggs Benedict at noon, as well as a vegan Mediterranean dinner, or charcuterie boards at sunset followed by grilled lobster. That’s the beauty of the BVI: With more than 40 years as the sailing capital of the Caribbean, this destination has it dialed-in when it comes to letting travelers define their perfect cruising getaway.

What to Do

For land- and sea-based travelers, one of the don’t-miss scenic attractions is the Baths, a collection of basalt boulders nestled together to create grottoes and tunnels, as well as overlooks ideal for photos.

Jost Van Dyke, off the backside of the main island of Tortola, is beloved as much for its gently sloping white-sand beach as it is for the lineup of open-air bars, including White Bay’s Soggy Dollar Bar and Hendo’s Hideout.

Take a short boat ride around the point into Great Harbour for a chance encounter with Foxy – the namesake of the beloved Foxy’s Beach Bar – or a pizza baked to perfection at Corsairs Beach Bar.

Come for the day to enjoy the famous Painkiller—a mix of coconut, pineapple and orange juices with rum and nutmeg—while lounging beachside. This island is also home to Ocean Spa BVI, the Caribbean’s only floating spa, where you can get a massage right on the ocean.

In between it all are endless hidden spots as well as off-the-beaten-path attractions and tours. The island of Anegada—the farthest island from Tortola—is not one that every BVI traveler visits. Those who do can take part in the unique experience of choosing your own lobster and having it grilled to order.

The Anegada Beach Club delivers island-style glamping with its luxury thatched-roof cottages complete with hammocks and outdoor tubs, allowing guests to commune with nature in the utmost comfort. This outpost isle is also a perfect choice for bonefishing, horseback riding and kitesurfing.

For those in your group who like to reach secret spots on foot, tour operator Hike BVI offers guided walks through the best of the islands’ wild spaces, from bat caves to jungle hilltop overlooks. It’s a fun and active way to make memories that can happen only here.

Those who scuba dive will certainly experience many of the hidden gems this destination is famous for—and perhaps discover a few of their own. The RMS Rhone is often considered the Caribbean’s most famous wreck dive. The steamer sunk in an 1867 hurricane and is now split into two halves off Salt Island. Dive it to encounter green turtles, moray eels and nurse sharks, and, inside the hull, glittering schools of glassfish.

Beyond the Rhone, the BVI offers an ever-growing list of dive sites, including “Sharkplaneo” – you read that right! After the devastating hurricanes in 2017, the group behind the sinking of the famous “Kodiak Queen” art reef took on the task of transforming out-of-commission airplanes into half-airplane/half-shark dive sites. Why, you ask? The hope is that these new dive sites will turn some heads, but also raise awareness of the importance and necessity of sharks in our waters.

There’s so much to discover and fall in love with that the British Virgin Islands quickly feel like a second home. Go and take it all in—from a cocktail on the white-sand beach to the Zen of sailing such calm waters—and you’ll know what locals mean when they say “BVI Love”: that feeling of perfect, blissed-out relaxation. After a year of uncertainty and postponements, we can’t think of a better place to celebrate getting back on track. So, whatever you’re celebrating, add the British Virgin Islands to your must-visit short list.

For those making immediate plans to visit, know that those who are not vaccinated can quarantine comfortably at their resort or aboard their yacht, while vaccinated travelers only need to present proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test taken within 5-days of arrival in the BVI.

For more information on the reopening of the BVI and to start planning your next getaway, visit their website.

The post Now’s the Right Time to Revisit the BVI appeared first on Cruising World.

The editors at Cruising World have teamed up with the experts at Imtra to bring you advice on how to keep your boat in Bristol condition and get the most from your hours spent out on the water. For more great tips, see Smoother Sailing with Imtra »

A switch is an electrical device that controls the flow of electricity.  In its simplest form it has two terminals that are connected by “Contacts” to energize the circuit or disconnected to de-energize the circuit.  Thus, the options for a simple switch are ON or OFF.

Circuits

The term “Circuit” comes from the Latin “Circuitous,” meaning “a going around.”  For electricity to perform any useful work, the electrons must flow from the source of power, around the circuit, and back to the source of power.  Following this flow of electrical current can help us understand how the circuit works.

Open vs Closed

In describing switches, we often use the terms “Open” and “Closed.”  If the circuit is open, the current cannot flow.  Thus, a switch in the open position is OFF.  Similarly, a closed switch is ON.  Some of the more complicated switches can have contacts that are “Normally Open” or “Normally Closed.”  This identifies the position of the contacts when the switch is in the unpowered or resting state.

Momentary and Pushbutton

While many switches have a lever or rocker that “snaps” into position, others are spring-loaded to return to the resting state.  For clarification, these are called “Momentary Switch.”  Another common term for these switches is “Pushbutton.”

Latching Switch

Another type of switch is a “Latching Switch.”  These have some internal means for holding them in the ON position until “unlatched.”  This feature is typically found on more complex switches.

Current and Ratings

When a switch is closed, it will carry the current around the circuit.  Thus, the terminals and contacts must be rated to carry the current and voltage expected in the circuit.  Note that both ratings, current and voltage, are important when selecting switches for your specific application.

Combining switches

In many applications, we want a switch to do more than just turn a circuit ON or OFF.  We can combine multiple switches in one device to accomplish this.

Poles

The term “Pole” refers to the number of “moving” contacts” that are built into the device.  A single pole switch has one moving contact.  Note that this contact may be used to close a single circuit or close one of two circuits.

Throws

The term “Throw” refers to number of directions the switch can be operated.  With a single throw switch, you turn the switch ON by moving it in one direction.  A double-throw switch may be moved in both directions.  In one direction it will close one circuit, in the other direction, it will close another circuit.  Note that a double-throw switch may or may not have a center OFF position.

The simplest switch, a single pole (1P), single throw (1T) switch, can open or close a single circuit.  A 2P1T switch is two 1P 1T switches in a single device activated by a single lever.  It will close or open two separate circuits simultaneously.

A 1P2T switch can close one of two circuits at a time using a common moving contact.  This is often used to choose between one circuit or the other.  A 2P2T switch is two 2P1T switches in a single device activated by a single lever.

Multiple Switch Locations

To control lights from multiple locations, such as multiple doors into a room, we use combinations of switches.  For two locations, we use two 1P2T, no center position switches; one at each location.

For three locations, we add a 2P2T, no center position switch, with the terminals of the two poles wired together to form a “reversing switch.”   For additional­ locations, we add one reversing switch for each additional switching location.

3-way/4-way vs 2-way/Reversing

In most of the world, the 1P2T, no center position switch, used to control a lighting circuit from two positions, is referred to as a “2-way” switch.  Much like the use of Fahrenheit instead of Celcius, the United States does not follow this convention, instead calling them “3-way switches.”  Likewise, the 2P2T, reversing switch is called a “4-way” switch in the US.   The reversing switch may also be called a “crossover” or “intermediate switch.”

Universal Switching Symbols

Looking for a switch? Checkout our offering of Vimar switching products here. Now sure which Vimar switch you need? Here’s our Vimar Switching Guide:

For more information, visit imtra.com »

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