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 Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island
Your captain will lead you through some preparations and basic sailing lessons before you de-dock for a first journey across the Sir Francis Drake Channel. This will be your first chance to get behind the helm and sail the boat along with the rest of your crew. Once you arrive at Cooper Island,  crew members who have signed up to become PADI dive certified will begin the adventure. For anyone who has chosen not to dive, there will be a snorkel led by our staff at Cistern Rock where you may see the first turtle of the program!!! Your first night on the water will be spent enjoying a family style dinner of burritos with the rest of the crew.


Day 3 Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island
After breakfast it will be time for the divers to begin their second day of diving. For those crew members who are not diving, there is a full day of watersports. You will have the chance to try waterskiing, wakeboarding or tubing before heading to the beach for some fun and games. When the divers return, everyone will gather on the beach for a marine biology seminar before dinner. The evening will be spent at Cooper Island Beach Club enjoying virgin drinks and brownies at the bar.


Day 4 Marina Cay
This morning is all about sailing. You and the rest of the crew will take the boat back across the channel, around Beef Island and moor at Marina Cay. After lunch the staff will give a Marine Biology lesson and take you turtle watching. This is a great place to see turtles and even the occasional dolphin. After dinner everyone will head ashore for a boat meeting and a milkshake.
 

Day 5 Trellis Bay, Tortola
After a very short sail over to Trellis Bay you will meet the students from the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP). They are based here on Tortola, and we are lucky to be able to work with them on some very exciting projects. Thismorning is the perfect time to begin our Sandwatch project. After lunch Sail Caribbean divers will take you on the first dive of the trip. Dinner will be short and sweet as excitment will be growing amoung the crew for tonight’s activities. The Trellis Bay fireball party is famous for its giant metal sculptures carved by local artist, Aragorn, which are set on fire. Watch out for the Jumbies too, they can’t resist a good party!


Day 6 Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour, Virgin Gorda
After a dive in the morning you will meet with YEP for some beach games and fun. After lunch you will head towards Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour to perform your first docking! Your captain will go over the skills you will need to do this and everyone will lend a hand to ensure it goes smoothly. Once on the docks there will be time to explore, buy souveniers and maybe even get an ice cream before dinner. The evening will be spent baking up a storm for the “Cake Off”.

Day 7 Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda
Today is all about sailing and exploring the North Sound. You will visit the famous five-star resort, the Bitter End Yacht Club. Whatever you decide to do: waterskiing, wakeboarding, small boat sailing, tubing, hiking or just relaxing on the beach this will be a great day. The Bitter End really do cater for everything, with stores that sell souveneirs and snacks or grab a milkshake at The Pub.

Day 8 Anegada
Today you will set sail early for Anegada, one of the largest reef systems in the world. You will be headed for a very special Community Service project. The project is based around the church and we will get involved with some of the local students to help paint the fence. A little bit of hard work will really pay off though when you head to Loblolly Bay. This is one of the most beautiful beaches you will visit and you will enjoy dinner at The Big Bamboo. After watching the sunset from the beach it will be time to head back to the boats for a well deserved early night.

Day 9 Mountain Point, Virgin Gorda
A late breakfast will give everyone some time to relax before setting off. Today's long sail will give you and your crew the chance to put into practice all that you have learned so far. Mountain Point is a perfect spot for watching the sunset over dinner before a night snorkel.

Day 10 Nanny Cay, Tortola
Today you will sail back across the channel to Tortola but this time you will stop at Nanny Cay. Time for you to put into practice what you learned during the first docking. Another crew member will be at the helm, driving the boat into the dock. Once there you will be taken on a tour of Tortola. The bus will take up to the top of the island and you will see some the places that you have been sailing. Once back to the boat it will be time for showers and dinner. With a newly stocked boat there will be a new menu and lots of new, exciting dishes.

Day 11 Soper’s Hole, Tortola
After a few days off everyone will be happy to see our friends from YEP and today will give you the chance to show them what you have learned. They will be joining you to sail today and you be showing them all about life on board. You will sail down around the south end of Tortola, through the Thatch Island Cut and into one of Black Beard’s hangouts. This was where he would take his ship to hide. Today it is a friendly, lively little harbour and you will have time to explore the shops and restaurants in the afternoon. After dinner on the boat you will head back ashore for a boat meeting over dessert.

Day 12 Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
After sailing to Cane Garden Bay you will head ashore to meet with YEP and complete the second installment of your Sandwatch project. In the afternoon you will visit a glass factory where locals are re-using glass that would otherwise be thrown away. Cane Garden is a busy little bay and in the evening you will head ashore for a a drink and a chance to listen to some music and maybe have a dance.

Day 13 Jost Van Dyke
Today will be a short but beautiful sail. With a stop off at Sandy Cay you really will feel like you have landed on a desert island. This idylic spot is the perfect place to swim, explore and enjoy a picnic lunch before heading to Diamond Cay. This is a beautiful sopt and in the afternoon you will have a chance to snorkel and swim. This is also the perfect spot to take the kayak out. You will also complete a REEFCHECK project.

Day 14 The Bight, Norman Island
Today is Challenge Day, a day for you to show us what you have learned. You and your crew will take control of the boat and sail us to our destination, The Bight. Once there you will go for a dive or a snorkel before dinner. A sunset hike will finish off this challenging but fun day.

Day 15 Village Cay, Tortola
Yesterday gave you a chance to prove what you have learned and now you will continue to take on new challenges. Today it is a docking that lets you show to everyone that you are becoming very capable sailors. Village Cay is located in Road Town and you will have time to explore the shops and restaurants of the town. A well deserved ice cream may be the order of the day. Once you return to the boats your captain will lead you and the YEP students through a Marine Biology seminar.

Day 16 Little Harbour, Peter Island
Today will see you and your crew take a day trip to the YEP base on Tortola. There you will hang out with their students, do some artwork, sample some local cooking and play some sports. In the afternoon there will be a dive to the Wreck of the Rhone! Dinner will be ready when the divers return and the evening will be spent hanging out by the pool with the rest of the crew.

Day 17 Monkey Point, Guana Island
Today you will hike to the highest point on Tortola. The YEP students will join you for this and you will be able to see all around the islands you have been sailing through. In the afternoon you will dedock and head for Monkey Point on Guana Island where there will be time for a snorkel before dinner. A quiet night on board is the perfect way to appreciate this beautiful spot.

Day 18 Savannah Bay, Virgin Gorda
An early start today and you’re off to Savannah Bay. This is a tricky bay to enter and the crew will work together to get the boat anchored for the night. Once you are happy with your anchoring the Bay offers a lot to do. Snorkel the reef and carry out a REEF check before dinner with a difference. You will be grilling ashore tonight and who knows, maybe a sing-song will break out.

Day 19 The Baths & Long Bay Tortola
Today you will wake up at The Baths! This is one of the most spectacular sites in the islands. Once ashore you will have time to explore the rocks and caves of The Baths. Go on a Hike to Devil's Bay and snorkel back. This is a breathtaking snorkel site and afterwards you can prove your bravery by taking the plunge from Jump Rock. After lunch there will be some friendly competition. You will take part in the Sail Caribbean Olympics at Long Bay. YEP will be there to join in the fun and share dinner with us from the grill.

Day 20 Hodges Creek, Tortola
Today you will head back to base and prepare for some fun and games tonight. At the awards ceremony you will celebrate your achievements over the past three weeks. Your last night at Sail Caribbean will give you the chance to hang out with the friends you have made.
 

Day 21 HOME!!!!
Today it is time to say goodbye to the friends you have made and head home with some great memories.