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BVI Course Joining Instructions

Welcome to Sunsail
Thank you for choosing to sail with us. To help you prepare for your course we have put together some useful information and recommend you read it through a couple of weeks before your course commences. Please do not hesitate to call our office if you have any further queries.

Sunsail sales opening hours:
The Sunsail office is open from 0900 to 1900 Monday to Friday and 1000 to 1600 Saturdays and Sundays all year round.

Sunsail base opening hours:
The Sunsail base is open from 0800 to 1700 seven days a week.

Contact numbers:

Reservations     023 9222 2224
Aftersales     023 9222 2894
Base     001 284 495 4740

Base Address
Sunsail Tortola
Wickhams Cay II
Road Town
Tortola
British Virgin Islands
Tel: 00 1 284 495 4740
After hours: 00 1 284 496 6552

Yacht Course Example Itinerary

Flights and transfers
Departures: Friday to Friday from London Gatwick (unless stated otherwise).
Flight times: As issued on your tickets. Flight Duration: approx 8 hours to Antigua with connecting flights on to Beef Island Airport, Tortola.

Transfer: If you are taking Sunsail flights your Sunsail representative will be at Beef Island Airport to welcome you and take you to Hodges Creek Marina on a free coach transfer (approx 10 mins). If you are arranging your own flights please make sure that you have informed the Yachting After Sales Team on 02392 222 894 so they can inform the base.

Embarkation     Friday 1800
Course start     Saturday 0900
Course finish     Wednesday 1700
Disembarkation Friday 1100

Students must arrive the evening prior to their course.

Friday
At 1800hrs you will be introduced to your Skipper, allocated a berth on board your yacht and be given a basic ‘Live on Board’ briefing. After stowing your luggage, the rest of the evening is your own.

If there’s anything else you’d like to know about your yacht, the marina or the islands, please ask your Skipper or a member of the friendly Sunsail team. A full yacht and safety briefing will be given on Saturday morning at the start of your course.

Saturday to Wednesday
During your 5 day course in the BVI you will hopefully, depending on weather conditions stop at some of the most beautiful beaches in the world including the famous Baths at Virgin Gorda and White Bay on the island of Jost Van Dyke.

Each day starts at approx 0900hrs and finishes at approx 1800hrs. The syllabus will be sent to you with your course confirmation paperwork but is also described in the G15 RYA logbook.

Your yacht is already provisioned for the five day course. Breakfast and lunch on board is included everyday. In the evenings all the crew will normally go to enjoy a meal ashore at a local restaurant.

Your course will finish later on one night of the week so that you may experience some night sailing. During the course you will experience a variety of moorings and anchorages.

Wednesday 1700hrs
Your course ends back at Hodges Creek Marina. Crews normally enjoy drinks and dinner together at the end of the course. If you are arranging your own flights you are free to leave after your course finishes.

Thursday (flight inclusive only)
If you are using the First Choice flights this is your free day to relax and explore the island of Tortola, capital of the BVI. Accommodation on Thursday is available on your course boat but you will be expected to disembark by 0900 hrs on Friday.

Some may choose to charter a yacht with their freshly gained Day Skipper qualification or others could join as crew or hire a Skipper for the day. There are endless activities in the BVI from all kinds of watersports including world class windsurfing and scuba diving to jeep rental or a shopping trip to Road Town. We have a dedicated Activity Co-ordinator in the BVI who can help you book any ‘add on’ activities.

Base Facilities

• Shower and toilet facilities
• Laundry facilities (locally)
• Bar and restaurant (seasonal)
• Hodges Creek Hotel
• Selection of shops

Yacht Course Information

What to bring?
• Tickets, money (there is no opportunity to get US dollars before your course begins so you will need to bring a suitable amount with you, credit cards are widely accepted), passport and driving licence if you plan to hire a car.
Clothing - Tortola enjoys very warm temperatures all year BUT be prepared for wet weather conditions and a possible drop in temperature whilst it’s raining. We advise you to pack the following items:
• Shorts, t-shirts, sunglasses, hat, sun cream, light trousers, a fleece, sailing gloves, light waterproofs, deck shoes or non-slip, non-marking trainers, swim wear and beach towel.
• Please only use soft sided folding bags, as there is nowhere to store hard cases.
• PLEASE NOTE You are advised to bring light waterproofs with you.

Money
The local currency is the US Dollar. You will be required to put money in to a kitty to cover mooring fees, which are split amongst the crew. Mooring fees are approximately £30 per person depending on the week’s itinerary. We are unable to change money at the yacht base, but cash machines and money changing facilities are available in Road Town.

Accommodation
• You will be sleeping on board in shared cabins.
• Duvet, sheets, pillow and shower towel are all provided.
• PLEASE NOTE Bring your belongings in a soft holdall as there is little storage on board the yacht.

Catering Arrangements
• Breakfast, lunch and non- alcoholic beverages are provided on board together with one evening meal. You are welcome to purchase locally any extra nibbles you may require, but there are a number of restaurants to dine at every night.
• We do not specifically cater for vegetarian or other dietary needs and we therefore suggest you bring alternative provisions as required.
• Evening meals are at your own expense. Your skipper can recommend good restaurants at each overnight stop.
• Please note that you will be expected to help with the cooking, washing up and general housekeeping of the yacht.

Logbook
• You will require RYA logbook G15 for your course. If you have not already ordered a log book you can purchase one from our office or at the base in Tortola. If you ordered one when you made your booking it will be sent out to you.

Marina Fees
• Mooring/marina fees are NOT included in the course fees. Any costs incurred for berthing will be spilt between the crew. Mooring fees are approximately £30 per person for the course, depending on the week’s itinerary.

Recommended Reading
RYA Practical and/or Theory Course Books. These can be purchased in advance direct from the Aftersales team at the Sunsail Port Solent Office, Tortola base or the RYA.

Qualifications
Successful completion of this course in the BVI will provide you with RYA Competent Crew or Day Skipper Non-Tidal qualification.

Children on courses
• Children aged 13+ - Sunsail welcome your older
children on any of our courses at any time of year as long as they are accompanied by at least one adult. Under 16s can get qualified as Comp Crew, over 16s can become Day Skipper.

Photography
• An essential part of the success of our brochures is using photography that gives clients a true idea of the product, rather than using models. During the course of the season, we have photographers on site at our bases. If a photographer is on site at any time during your course we will advise you on your arrival at the base. If you have strong objections to close up photography of yourself and party, please indicate your feelings to the photographer at the time.

Sunsail – Respecting Destinations
Sunsail remains committed to looking after the environment and supporting the cultures where we operate. Over many years our clients have helped us to ensure that our presence does not negatively impact these areas. Please continue to assist us to leave these areas
‘As good or better than we found them’ i.e.
• Sewerage management. Always use pump out facilities in marinas where available. Otherwise, please avoid discharge in busy anchorages and marinas and prevent contamination to humans and bottom sediments/coral reef inhabitants by pumping out as far as possible offshore.
• Avoid pumping oily bilge water or other hazardous substances into the sea.
• Be litter conscious - never throw rubbish overboard and minimize the use of plastics and non biodegradable products.
• Observe the laws that govern fish catch sizes, and the touching or handling of marine wildlife.
• Keep a safe distance when viewing marine life, approach side on and stopping with propellers in neutral.
• Identify dark water areas as possible important shallow ecosystems.
• Use mooring buoys where available over coral reefs. If anchoring, drop anchors in sand, away from living reefs.
• Take care not to crush and break corals and reef dwellings with body parts, fins and equipment when snorkelling or swimming.
• Avoid purchase of marine ornamental souvenirs and the harvest of endangered fish.

We hope that these notes will help you make the most of your course and your time spent in Tortola. Please read through carefully and visit www.sunsail.co.uk/schools or contact the Aftersales Team on 023 9222 2894 if you have any queries.

We hope that you have a great time and thank you for booking with Sunsail.

Course information is correct at the time of publication, but subject to change without prior notice. Last updated 20.07.07