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Photo by: Sydney Wilson

The Boat
There are plenty of options when choosing the right sailboat or yacht for your sailing vacation. From a crewed yacht, perfect for the traveler who wants luxury and relaxation to a bareboat charter, where you are the skipper of your own vessel.  If chartering your own sailboat doesn’t fit your budget there are also all-inclusive sailing packages that include a crew, meals and other amenities plus the opportunity to meet other people who have the same passion for adventure and travel.

The Food Provisioning
All of the chartered boats have full kitchens with stoves and refrigerators and enough storage for over a week’s worth of food and beverages. Most of the sailboat charter companies send a provisioning checklist weeks in advance if you would prefer to buy directly and have items delivered to your boat on arrival. Or, if you are adventurous like me and want to save money, you can take a taxi to the closest grocery store near the marina (tip: in the BVI the grocery stores will pick you up free of charge).  My favorite grocery stores in the British Virgin Islands are Bobby’s, Rite Way Food Market and the French Deli, a small French bakery with the best croissants, fresh deli meats and cheeses.

As for water, soda and rum (yes you have to drink rum while in the Caribbean!) you will want to make sure to provision plenty, since liquor or grocery stores are not easy to locate while sailing. (tip: provision at least 3-4 gallon-size containers of water for cooking, plus calculate that each person will consume 5-6 bottles of water per day and 1 bottle of rum).

Amenities
There is no need to “rough it” while on a sailing vacation. The chartered yachts have all the creature comforts you would find at home-a blender, microwave oven, full-size coffee maker and rockin’ stereo system.  You can also request a flat screen TV and wifi internet service if you really need to keep up with what’s happening in the real world (tip: not all of the amenities are included so check with the marina about rental prices and book ahead of your arrival).

You can't forget the water toys! Each sailboat is equipped with snorkeling equipment, floating devices (aka noodles) and a motorized dinghy. You can also rent two-man kayaks, paddleboats and scuba diving gear, all for a reasonable price.

Small Details
I have experienced 4 sailing vacations over the last 7 years and picked up some handy tips along the way. Some you might find silly others useful.

1. Create a sailing itinerary. At least one week prior to leaving for your sailing vacation it would be important to familiarize yourself with the islands you will be navigating around.  Investigate what each island has to offer (beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants) and the distance between them so you can roughly estimate how long it will get from one destination to another. Plus this is a fun way to get excited about your upcoming vacation. Click here to see my itinerary on a google map.
2. Pack lightly and in a duffle bag. The duffle can be easily folded and stored. All you really need are a few swimsuits, shorts and tees, sturdy shoes and plenty of sunscreen.
3. Large safety pins that are color-coded for each traveler. You are only given 1 towel for the entire week and if you don’t want to share this personal item with you’re fellow boat mates, this is a simple way to distinguish one towel from another.
4. Bag of clothespins. These are used to hang the above-mentioned towels and wet clothing/bathing suits on the boat’s railings. (FYI: no washers or dryers on the boats).
5. Monogrammed neoprene coolly cups. Water is a precious commodity on a sailboat and keeping track of it, among a group of people all living in a small space, can be a challenge. That’s why a personalized coolly cup is the perfect solution-simple to pack, keeps your water cold, easy to identify and less waste.
6. Blow-up inner tube. Along with the other water toys onboard this is a must. It’s easy to pack, cheap and loads of fun. You can have inner tube diving contests off the back of the boat, use it as a relaxing floating device or even as a pillow.
7. Small bags of assorted spices. Food costs are much higher in the islands and you cannot always find your favorite spices.  So while planning my menu prior to the trip I create small packages of spice blends in plastic bags that will be packed later.