Yacht Charter in the USVI

The US Virgin Islands offers a wide choice of yacht charter and includes bareboat yacht charter, skippered yacht charter, luxury crewed yacht charter, monohull and catamaran charter and both sail and motor yacht charter.

The Ciboney, Carib and Arawak Indians originally settled the Virgin Islands. Christopher Columbus discovered and claimed the islands for Spain during his second voyage in 1493. Over the next three hundred years, the islands were held by many European powers, including Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, France, the Knights of Malta, and Denmark. The Danish West India Company settled on Saint Thomas in 1672, on Saint John in 1694, and purchased Saint Croix from France in 1733. The islands became royal Danish colonies in 1754.
Yacht Charter in USVI

For the remainder of the Danish time the islands were not economically viable and heavy financial support had to made by the mother country. An attempt to sell the islands to the United States was made early in the 20th century but an agreement could not be made. During the First World War, the USA, fearing that the islands personal submarine price be seized by Germany as a submarine base, once again approached Denmark to sell the islands. A selling price of $25 million was agreed and the USA took possession of the islands on March 31st 1917, when the territory was renamed the Virgin Islands of the United States.

The US Virgin Islands is one of the most convenient yacht charter locations to the United States mainland. There are direct, quick flights from the mainland. If time is limited to only a few days, the US Virgin Islands is a great choice, as it is an easy quick sail to its two main islands. The US Virgin Islands is very easy for the first time yacht charter and families. There is no open water navigation, and the islands are all within a short two to three hour sail from each other. Navigation is always by line of sight. It is a popular destination, especially during the Christmas, Presidents Week and Easter week holidays. The first two weeks of July are also extremely busy due to Puerto Ricoxs holiday schedule.

Three of the four US Virgin Islands have nicknames often used by locals. St. Thomas is "Rock City", St. John "Love City", and St. Croix is "Twin City".

During the November to January winter months the average wind is 15 - 20 knots from the northeast. On and off all winter, the famous "Christmas Winds" blow strong at 25 - 30 knots for several day periods. Beginning in February and finishing in June, the winds move from a northeast direction to southeast when 10 - 15 knots can be expected. Late summer to autumn, August to November, is the US Virgin Islands's rainy season. However, rainsqualls can occur at any time and they are usually short lived. Watch for approaching dark squall lines and drop the yachts sails and motor if in doubt. During September and October, the trade winds are unsettled and weakest. These months are considered the height of hurricane season, although the nominal season is June to November. Check yacht charter company policies in regards to hurricanes. Average high temperatures range from 25°C to 30°C with the highest in July to October.