Sailing, Watersports & Cultural Exchange Itinerary
Here's a taste of what life might be like when you join us on Tango Sailing, Watersports & Cultural Exchange for an adventure you will never forget! At our summer community service camps you'll learn to sail, enjoy watersports and explore the British Virgin Islands above and below the waterline. During the week, you'll team up with students from Tortola's Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) and spend half days working on marine biology based community service projects such as Reef Checks and Sandwatch studies. The rest of your time will be spent sailing, exploring the islands and enjoying watersports and social activities.
Note this is a sample itinerary. Actual program itineraries will vary based on project needs, weather, and BVI holidays, so as to create the best experience for our students.
Day 1 Road Town, Tortola
Get acquainted with our beautiful home base; meet your Captain and everyone on your program. You'll get fitted for snorkel gear and have your first boat meeting over delicious lasagna, to set the course for the rest of your adventures to come.
Day 2 The Bight, Norman Island
Your captain will lead you through some preparations and basic sailing lessons at the dock, before you de-dock for a first sail across the Sir Francis Drake Channel. You'll become familiar with the parts of the boat, and take a turn behind the helm as you head toward Norman Island. At The Bight you will perform a swim test and have an introductory snorkel. You'll also experience cooking your first dinner on board which is always a great experiment! After dinner, your mate will give a Leave No Trace seminar on the importance of using environmentally friendly products on board while in the Caribbean.
Day 3 The Indians/Cane Garden Bay
In the morning you'll snorkel or dive the Indians and practice fish and invertebrate identification before you head towards Cane Garden Bay! You'll spend the afternoon on the beach getting to know your new friends from YEP. Learn all about the Marine Biology projects that you, your crew, and your partners from YEP will be performing. A representative from the BVI Department of Conservation and Fisheries will speak to you about the importance of these projects to the overall Ecology of the BVI. Enjoy an ice cream social at night!
Day 4 Soper's Hole, Tortola
Head towards Soper's Hole to perform your first docking! Your captain will go over docking skills en route and everyone will lend a hand as you pull your 43 foot home into docks. YEP will be waiting for you when you arrive. Together, you'll perform a Sandwatch study of Smuggler's Cove. Then, get ready for some fun! You'll get a chance to put your developing big-boat sailing skills to practice on a smaller, more responsive, J-24.
Day 5 Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island
Sail through Little Thatch cut back to the Sir Francis Drake Channel and pick up a mooring ball at palm tree spotted Cooper Island. YEP students will join you this afternoon for a great lunch. You'll snorkel together on two great reefs and continue practicing your fish and invertebrate identification skills for Reef Check. Then, take some time to kayak and enjoy some smoothies on the beach. You'll even have the chance to go on an exciting night snorkel where you will discover the marine life that only comes out at night. Don't forget to swing your arms to see the phosphorescence light up the water around you!
Day 6 Marina Cay
After a morning of sailing, arrive at the beautiful Marina Cay, a tiny island dotted with bungalows and the famous Pusser's restaurant! You'll spend the afternoon in the water exploring the vibrant sea life of the BVI. You'll discuss the role of development on an endangered reef with YEP and local scientists. Your captain and mate even help your crew tag a sea turtle! After dinner, enjoy homemade milkshakes atop Marina Cay and enjoy the 360-degree views of the surrounding islands.
Day 7 Trellis Bay, Tortola
You'll take your new YEP friends sailing out in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. It's amazing how much you've learned in so short a time! After you've arrived at Trellis, you'll hit the beach to perform an important Sandwatch study together. After you wash up on board the boat, you'll head back to shore to enjoy Sail Caribbean's famous Fireball Party. Let loose with your new friends from your boat and Tortola and dance to local music by the famous copper fire balls, try the incredible local foods, and see the exciting show the Moco-Jumbee stilt dancers put on for you!
Day 8 Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda
Today's a day just you and your crew to practice your sailing techniques and explore the North Sound. Visit the famous five-star resort, the Bitter End Yacht Club. Sail small boats, go waterskiing, wakeboarding and tubing. Then, relax on the beach or browse through the shops for souvenirs. What a reward for all your hard work! Head back to boats for Chili Cookoff, a time-honored Sail Caribbean tradition. At night, we'll head back to shore for a movie at the Bitter End Yacht Club's outdoor living room.
Day 9 The Baths/Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island
Wake up to the beauty of The Baths. You and your friends will test your sense of adventure as you dive off Jump Rock and explore the many tunnels and passageways created by the massive boulders that surround you. Then navigate your way back to Cooper Island. This is your chance to try scuba diving with a Discover Scuba course, or if you're already certified, go on an exciting 2-tank dive. At night, we'll head ashore to enjoy smoothies and each other's company under the stars.
Day 10 Village Cay, Tortola
After two days off, you're ready to get back into your marine science projects! YEP students come to meet you at Cooper in the morning. Together, you complete a Sandwatch project and Reef Check survey. Then, practice knot tying and learn about Bernoulli's Principle as you head across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to the capital of the British Virgin Islands. After a successful docking, you'll have plenty of time for shopping and exploring town. Go hiking through the rainforest to the highest peak in the BVI and enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of all of the surrounding islands.
Day 11 Monkey Point, Guana Island
After an amazing sail along Tortola where you practice tacking and jibing techniques, you'll arrive at beautiful Monkey Point. There, your Tortolan friends are waiting and scientists studying the tropical species on the island will discuss their research with us. You'll eat mangoes right off of the trees and sample coconut juice. Then you can hike, snorkel, participate in several water sports, and watch the beautiful sunset over the Caribbean Sea A quiet night on board will be perfect after a long day full of hard work and lots of fun!
Day 12 Long Bay, Tortola
The sight of our final Reef Check and Sandwatch survey, as well as a perfect beach for the Sail Caribbean Olympics – let the festivities begin! Events such as the kayak pull, dizzy fender relay, and bury your captain create a little friendly competition between you and YEP students. This day always proves to be full of laughs and memories. You'll spend the evening on board talking about all of the great experiences you have had.
Day 13 Road Town, Tortola
Celebrate your last sail with your crew by showing each other everything that you have learned and accomplished. Take one last turn at the helm, prepare your crew for one last docking, and look forward to a night full of memories. You'll anchor off Buck Island before coming in to docks and work with your crew to do one last cleaning of the boat. At night, enjoy a final social event with YEP with great local foods, music, and fun activities. Awards will be given out, students and staff will perform skits, and surprises will be sure to pop up all evening!
Day 14 Fond farewells as you head back home, with airplane letters in hand, ready to tell your family about all of your amazing adventures!