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Families in Paradise

The British Virgin Islands Experience

By Mary Orme

Why you should choose the British Virgin Islands for your learning adventure . . .

If you're in search of a summer sailing getaway with the kids, where the snorkeling's so easy, even the little ones can do it –and most of the time "dress for dinner" means putting on a clean T-shirt, then head to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) with the kids this year. This collection of 60 lush, volcanic islands and uninhabited cays that stretch more than 40 nautical miles will leave you in awe.

Beautiful islands, friendly islanders

The three largest islands in the BVI are Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. The largest is Tortola, which means "land of the turtle doves," with a population of 24,000 people and home to the capital of Road Town.

Fewer than 4,000 people inhabit Virgin Gorda, and only 200 islanders reside on Jost Van Dyke, a favorite of bareboat sailors. Offshore Sailing School prepares you for "bareboat chartering" (sailing the boat yourself, without a captain) by taking courses aboard boats managed by The Moorings Yacht Charters.

Between two stretches of islands, the Sir Francis Drake Channel provides very safe passage for sailing. With so many bays and secluded coves, the British Virgin Islands have long been known as the "sailor's capital of the world" due to steady tradewinds and the fact that the islands are so close together and well-protected. Often you are just an hour or two between anchorages.

Part of the charm of these islands arises from their relative lack of mass tourism. Without mega-size hotels, the British Virgin Islands offer a slice of Caribbean life as it used to be when tallships plied these waters, and the next adventure was wherever the wind blew.

Is this really where Captain Kidd sailed?

Ever sing "Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum" on a long family car ride? Legend has it that the song refers to the notorious swashbuckler Blackbeard, who marooned 15 of his fellow pirates on the BVI's Deadman's Bay with just one sword and a single bottle of rum.

Supposedly, Captain Kidd sailed the BVI, and Robert Louis Stevenson based his novel, Treasure Island on the BVI's Norman Island. Offshore will send you a copy upon request of this classic (as long as supplies lasts) to take along and read while taking your course! It's sure to be on your son's or daughter's "required reading" list at some point, and what a refreshing change – picking up a book in your spare time, rather than a movie or video game.

One of the best reasons to learn in this magical place

But probably one of the best reasons that learning to sail in the BVI is such a great family experience is Mike Huffer, Offshore Sailing School's BVI Base Manager and Sailing Instructor, who has been sailing from the age of 9. Mike loves kids. As a teenager, he learned to race sailboats at Culver Military Academy. He cruised the Atlantic coast of Florida while living in the Port Canaveral area before heading to the Midwest, where he resumed racing small boats including Thistles, Highlanders and J Boats.

Mike joined Offshore as an instructor in 2001. He holds a USCG Masters License and is a US Sailing Certified Instructor in Basic Keelboat, Cruising, Coastal Navigation and Powerboat. He has instructed numerous times as a racing instructor during Offshore/North U. Race Weeks and coached the Emory Goizuetta Leadership program too.

Family programs at up to 60% off!

Getting out on the water under sail in the British Virgin Islands with Offshore Sailing School, whether for a day outing, a 5-day Learn to Sail course, a 9-day Fast Track to Cruising® course or 5-day Live Aboard Cruising course, sailing and learning here is an essential BVI experience. Great family discounts are available on the Learn to Sail and Live Aboard Cruising courses. And there are two special weeks set aside for family learn and cruise flotillas where you and your kids can learn with other families at the same time.

You'll sail to good snorkeling and diving spots, as well as to off-the-beaten path inlets with slivers of white sandy beach. And with Offshore's sensational summer specials of up to 60%, there's no reason not to start sailing now. You'll be back. Again and again.

Want more information about the BVI and taking a course with Offshore?

Whether you come alone and share your experience with new found friends in the same course, or bring a loved one, or the whole family – Offshore Sailing School will give you the experience of lifetime. With comprehensive instruction every day, you'll be prepared for taking one of those beautiful Moorings catamarans or monohulls out as your own skipper after the course.

See the boats to the right? the two smaller ones are the Colgate 26s you'll learn on if you take the Learn to Sail course. You'll also start out on these lively, fun day sailers on the first two days of the Fast Track to Cruising course. The big boat behind with two hulls is a 46' catamaran you can jump to for the next five days of Fast Track. Check out our sailing courses and learn more.

Oh, by the way . . . when you explore ashore you'll find the most beautiful flowers you've ever seen and many an Offshore student has plucked one to place in her hair. And, when you've picked up a mooring in a beautiful cove, there's still some time to jump in the water and snorkel over a reef to see some of the most colorful fish in this hemisphere.