Sailing Uma · video

What this video covers

Dan and Kika share four-trip experience in the British Virgin Islands — including a solo Uma passage in 2016, an Epic Odyssey Festival flotilla of 12 catamarans, a voyage with friends on Voyage catamarans, and a two-boat 16-patron charter — to deliver practical BVI cruising advice.0:40 Provisioning in Road Town before leaving the main island is the top priority: grocery prices in the BVIs run two to three times higher than U.S. or European levels, and stores outside Road Town are convenience-store size and even more expensive.1:51 Large groups should use grocery delivery to the boat; charter companies can also recommend onboard cooks.3:06 Mooring balls dominate the best anchorages; fees were tracking toward $1,000 for two boats over a typical trip, making anchoring in permitted areas worth the effort.5:33 The recommended sailing direction is counter-clockwise to minimize upwind work.14:41 Trade winds blow 15–25 knots from the northeast to southeast most of the year, but northern fronts can flip wind 180 degrees, making daily weather checks essential even in trade-wind season.11:53 Staggering a charter start by one or two days relative to the main fleet turnover avoids the bulk of 30–40 boats hitting the same anchorages simultaneously.20:42 Wi-Fi and cell signal are unreliable throughout, especially on the back sides of islands.22:59

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