Best Times to Charter in the BVI
BVI Weather, Trade Winds & Sailing Season
Warm water, steady easterly trade winds and short, passing showers make the BVI one of the most forgiving places on earth to sail. Here is exactly what to expect, month by month, and when we love to be on the water.
Our favorite times to charter
After years on these waters, two windows stand out — the shoulder weeks on either side of high season. The weather is gorgeous, the trades are steady, and the anchorages are calmer. If your dates are flexible, start here.
★ Window One
Mid-November – Mid-December
The season reopens as the last of the storm risk fades. Humidity drops, the trades rebuild to a reliable 12–18 kt, and the islands are green and uncrowded before the holiday rush. Some of the best all-round sailing of the year.
★ Window Two
Mid-April – End of May
High season winds down but the weather stays superb — warm, dry-ish and bright, with bath-warm water and lighter, easier breezes. Fewer boats on the moorings, right before the summer heat sets in.
Best time to sail, at a glance
The BVI sails beautifully from late autumn through midsummer; the differences are in crowds, rainfall and how much you keep half an eye on the tropics. Our charter rates are the same year-round — only the Christmas and New Year holiday weeks carry a premium — so you can pick your dates on weather and crowds alone. Here is how the year breaks down.
High season
Driest skies and the most dependable trades (the brisk “Christmas Winds” blow Dec–Feb). Our busiest, most-booked stretch — reserve well ahead.
Shoulder weeks
Our favorite windows: excellent weather, steady wind and thinner crowds on either side of the peak.
Early summer
Hot and lively, with the year’s strongest average wind in July. Warm water and the quietest anchorages of our season — the last sailing before the summer haul-out.
Fleet hauls out
We don’t run charters during the peak of hurricane season — the boats haul out for maintenance and refit, then return fresh for November.
Live BVI wind, radar & satellite
Current conditions over the Sir Francis Drake Channel and the whole island chain. Switch between the live wind field, rain radar and satellite cloud cover — click the marker for the point forecast at any anchorage.
Live wind forecast — Road Town, Tortola (Windguru)
Windguru’s trusted sailor forecast for the heart of the cruising grounds — wind speed, gusts and direction in knots, refreshed continuously.
Month-by-month climate
Historical averages for the islands — air high/low, sea temperature, rainfall and typical trade-wind strength — with a quick sailing note for each month. Starred months (★) fall inside our favorite charter windows.
| Month | Air H / L | Sea | Rain | Avg wind | On the water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82° / 73° | 79° | 2.8″ | 13 kt | Christmas Winds — brisk 15–20+ kt trades. Peak season, cooler and dry. |
| Feb | 84° / 75° | 79° | 2.0″ | 13 kt | Cool, dry, steady trades. Prime, settled sailing. |
| Mar | 86° / 75° | 79° | 2.0″ | 12 kt | Dry and breezy. Spring-break busy on the water. |
| Apr ★ | 88° / 75° | 80° | 2.4″ | 12 kt | Warm, dry, winds easing. Our favorite window opens mid-month. |
| May ★ | 88° / 77° | 81° | 4.1″ | 12 kt | Green season begins — warm water, fewer boats, easy sailing. |
| Jun | 90° / 77° | 82° | 3.0″ | 13 kt | Hurricane season opens; usually settled early in the month. |
| Jul | 91° / 79° | 82° | 3.3″ | 14 kt | Windiest month; hot, with the odd tropical wave. Last of our season before the haul-out. |
| Aug | 91° / 79° | 83° | 4.3″ | 13 kt | Fleet hauls out for hurricane-season maintenance — no charters Aug–Oct. |
| Sep | 90° / 77° | 84° | 5.7″ | 11 kt | Peak storm risk; our boats are out of the water for maintenance. |
| Oct | 88° / 75° | 84° | 5.7″ | 11 kt | Still hauled out; the fleet returns and our season reopens in November. |
| Nov ★ | 86° / 73° | 82° | 5.1″ | 12 kt | Season reopens mid-month; weather settling. Our favorite window. |
| Dec ★ | 84° / 72° | 81° | 3.1″ | 13 kt | Trades rebuild; mid-month kicks off the high season. |
Temperatures in °F; rainfall in inches per month; wind is the average sustained trade-wind speed in knots (gusts and the Dec–Feb “Christmas Winds” run higher). Figures are long-term monthly averages, not a forecast.
Trade winds & sea state
The BVI sits squarely in the belt of the north-east trade winds, which blow from the east almost every day of the year at roughly 10–15 knots. From December through February the trades stiffen into the famous “Christmas Winds,” often 18–25 knots — exhilarating sailing for anyone with a little experience. Late summer and early autumn are the lightest.
Because the islands ring the Sir Francis Drake Channel, most passages are short, protected and within sight of your next anchorage. Seas inside the channel usually run a comfortable 2–4 feet; the open Atlantic side of Anegada and the outer cays gets livelier. It is line-of-sight sailing at its friendliest — a big part of why the BVI is the world’s most popular charter destination.
Hurricane season, honestly
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 to November 30, with the real statistical peak from mid-August to mid-October. That peak is exactly when we take the fleet out of the water: our boats haul out from August through October each year for maintenance and refit, so we do not run charters in those three months.
This means our charter season runs November through July — every boat comes back each November freshly serviced, and our guests stay well clear of the highest-risk weeks. Early-season storm activity in June and July is typically low and always closely monitored. If you are choosing dates, aim anywhere in the November–July window; our two favorite stretches sit comfortably inside it.
What to pack for the weather
It is warm, bright and breezy — pack light, but pack smart for sun and the odd passing shower.
- Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 30+) — the tropical sun is strong
- Wide-brim hat and polarised sunglasses
- Light, quick-dry layers and swimwear
- A light rain shell for brief squalls
- Water shoes or reef sandals
- Rash guard for long days snorkelling
- A light layer for breezy winter evenings
- Dry bag for phones and cameras
Ready to pick your dates?
Tell us when you would like to sail and how many are in your party — our past-crew brokers will match you with the right yacht, captain and chef for the season.