Why We Keep Coming Back to Sail the British Virgin Islands After 40 Years of Cruising | Ep 265
This time on Distant Shores we take you to one of the world’s most popular sailing and bareboat charter destinations, the British Virgin Islands or BVI, where Paul and I have returned again and again throughout 40 years of international cruising. We’ll show you why we love it, why some cruisers don’t, why we think it’s a great place to invite guests aboard who are new to sailing or to show your loved ones the joys of the sailing lifestyle especially if they’re a bit skeptical about your dream to sail off into the sunset. Throughout, we’ll highlight some of our favourite places and the many non-sailing activities to be enjoyed in these beautiful protected islands.
⛵️See Distant Shores IV at the Hiswa te Water Boat Show, September 3-7, 2025 😎
If you are going to be in the Netherlands during the week of September 3-7, 2025 we welcome you aboard Distant Shores IV at stand D38 at the Hiswa te Water Boat Show. This popular in-water boat show is held annually at Batavia Haven on the waterfront in Lelystad. Come and see what an Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat looks like and visit the boat you see in Distant Shores videos.
00:00 Intro
01:14 BVI Sailing Map
01:38 Our first visit to the British Virgin Islands
02:13 Why come back to the BVI?
03:29 BVI sailing conditions year round
03:43 Underwater BVI highlights
04:44 Jost Van Dyke
05:13 The Baths BVI
05:30 Marina Cay Reef BVI underwater
06:47 Sailing Sir Francis Drake Channel
07:26 Anchor Snubber technique Rolling Hitches
09:18 Headsail change to Code Zero
10:04 Halyard System
11:09 How to Flake a Sail
13:42 Sailing Offshore to Anegada
15:21 Anegada Mooring Field
15:43 Reading a Pilot Chart for the British Virgin Islands
16:19 Dolphins at The Bight, Norman Island
17:09 Summarizing the BVI trip
#bvisailing #britishvirginislands #precisionsails
⛵️ Our Boat: Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat with variable-draft swing-keel
https://distantshores.ca/about-us/the-boats/
Yacht Manufacturer: Enksail Yachts / Gebroeders van Enkhuizen Yachtbuilding https://enksail.gebrvanenkhuizen.nl/en/
♥️ Partners:
Celestaire Sextants: https://www.celestaire.com/
Combi Electric Propulsion Systems: https://combi-outboards.com/en
De Vries Sails: https://www.devriessails.nl/
ePropulsion: https://www.epropulsion.com/
Gill Marine: https://www.gillmarine.com/
GN Espace Ocean Chef: https://www.gn-espace.com/product/oceanchef-3-induction-cooker
Highfield Boats: https://www.highfieldboats.com/
Lewmar: https://www.lewmar.com/
Ocean Safety: https://www.oceansafety.com/
Precision Sails: https://www.precisionsailloft.com/
PredictWind: https://www.predictwind.com/
Raymarine: https://www.raymarine.com/
Seldén Mast: https://www.seldenmast.com/
Scanstrut: https://www.scanstrut.com/
Super B Lithium Batteries: https://www.super-b.com/en
🏝️ Sail Away Weeks – Join the Crew!
Get an introduction to the cruising lifestyle by joining Paul and Sheryl for a week or more of sailing adventure aboard their new Enksail Orion 49 on a leg of their current voyage. Experience life on the water sailing to distant shores, build new skills, get onboard consulting in a beautiful location to help plan and budget for your own long-distance voyage in the future. Learn more here:
https://distantshores.ca/sailaway-weeks/upcoming-passages/25-26-schedule/
🎁 Gifts for Sailors!
Own the Whole Distant Shores Collection: All 157 full half-hour episodes of the Distant Shores Sailing Adventure TV series are available as a collectors set as HD downloads (no longer available on DVD) through the Distant Shores website. This is perfect for binge-watching and makes a great gift for the sailor in your life! Info and order here:
https://www.distantshores.ca/sailingdvds/catalog/
⚓️ Join our Community!
Distant Shores videos are made possible by the support of Distant Shores Patrons. Join our community for early ad-free viewing of videos, invitations to meetups and other special events as well as member-only livestreams, tutorials and Q&A’s. We’d love to welcome you aboard!
https://www.youtube.com/distantshorestv
You can also connect with us on:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/distantshorestv
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/distantshorestv
SPONSORSHIP & BUSINESS INQUIRIES: [email protected]
Thank you for watching!
Sheryl and Paul
This time on Distant Shores we take you to one of the world's most popular sailing and bareboat charter destinations, the British Virgin Islands or BVI, where Paul and I have returned again and again throughout 40 years of international cruising. We'll show you why we love it, why some cruisers don't, why we think it's a great place to invite guests aboard who are new to sailing or to show your loved ones the joys of the sailing lifestyle especially if they're a bit skeptical about your dream to sail off into the sunset. Throughout, we'll highlight some of our favourite places and the many non-sailing activities to be enjoyed in these beautiful protected islands.
⛵️See Distant Shores IV at the Hiswa te Water Boat Show, September 3-7, 2025 😎
If you are going to be in the Netherlands during the week of September 3-7, 2025 we welcome you aboard Distant Shores IV at stand D38 at the Hiswa te Water Boat Show. This popular in-water boat show is held annually at Batavia Haven on the waterfront in Lelystad. Come and see what an Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat looks like and visit the boat you see in Distant Shores videos.
00:00 Intro
01:14 BVI Sailing Map
01:38 Our first visit to the British Virgin Islands
02:13 Why come back to the BVI?
03:29 BVI sailing conditions year round
03:43 Underwater BVI highlights
04:44 Jost Van Dyke
05:13 The Baths BVI
05:30 Marina Cay Reef BVI underwater
06:47 Sailing Sir Francis Drake Channel
07:26 Anchor Snubber technique Rolling Hitches
09:18 Headsail change to Code Zero
10:04 Halyard System
11:09 How to Flake a Sail
13:42 Sailing Offshore to Anegada
15:21 Anegada Mooring Field
15:43 Reading a Pilot Chart for the British Virgin Islands
16:19 Dolphins at The Bight, Norman Island
17:09 Summarizing the BVI trip
#bvisailing #britishvirginislands #precisionsails
⛵️ Our Boat: Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat with variable-draft swing-keel
https://distantshores.ca/about-us/the-boats/
Yacht Manufacturer: Enksail Yachts / Gebroeders van Enkhuizen Yachtbuilding https://enksail.gebrvanenkhuizen.nl/en/
♥️ Partners:
Celestaire Sextants: https://www.celestaire.com/
Combi Electric Propulsion Systems: https://combi-outboards.com/en
De Vries Sails: https://www.devriessails.nl/
ePropulsion: https://www.epropulsion.com/
Gill Marine: https://www.gillmarine.com/
GN Espace Ocean Chef: https://www.gn-espace.com/product/oceanchef-3-induction-cooker
Highfield Boats: https://www.highfieldboats.com/
Lewmar: https://www.lewmar.com/
Ocean Safety: https://www.oceansafety.com/
Precision Sails: https://www.precisionsailloft.com/
PredictWind: https://www.predictwind.com/
Raymarine: https://www.raymarine.com/
Seldén Mast: https://www.seldenmast.com/
Scanstrut: https://www.scanstrut.com/
Super B Lithium Batteries: https://www.super-b.com/en
🏝️ Sail Away Weeks - Join the Crew!
Get an introduction to the cruising lifestyle by joining Paul and Sheryl for a week or more of sailing adventure aboard their new Enksail Orion 49 on a leg of their current voyage. Experience life on the water sailing to distant shores, build new skills, get onboard consulting in a beautiful location to help plan and budget for your own long-distance voyage in the future. Learn more here:
https://distantshores.ca/sailaway-weeks/upcoming-passages/25-26-schedule/
🎁 Gifts for Sailors!
Own the Whole Distant Shores Collection: All 157 full half-hour episodes of the Distant Shores Sailing Adventure TV series are available as a collectors set as HD downloads (no longer available on DVD) through the Distant Shores website. This is perfect for binge-watching and makes a great gift for the sailor in your life! Info and order here:
https://www.distantshores.ca/sailingdvds/catalog/
⚓️ Join our Community!
Distant Shores videos are made possible by the support of Distant Shores Patrons. Join our community for early ad-free viewing of videos, invitations to meetups and other special events as well as member-only livestreams, tutorials and Q&A's. We'd love to welcome you aboard!
https://www.youtube.com/distantshorestv
You can also connect with us on:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/distantshorestv
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/distantshorestv
SPONSORSHIP & BUSINESS INQUIRIES: [email protected]
Thank you for watching!
Sheryl and Paul
Distant Shores TV
The Distant Shores sailing adventure travel TV series follows the global sailing adventures of award-winning travel documentary filmmakers and sailing authors, Paul and Sheryl Shard. The TV series celebrates the sailing lifestyle and features the world's top nautical destinations as well as shore-side attractions. Sail off into the sunset with Paul and Sheryl and leave your cares behind... (130 x 30-minute episodes)
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Note of Recognition for Distant Shores TV
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Distant Shores TV and other creators invests in crafting each and every video. Their passion for delivering exceptional content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore any sponsorships and partnerships highlighted in the video description of "Why We Keep Coming Back to Sail the British Virgin Islands After 40 Years of Cruising | Ep 265", or directly on YouTube. By considering their offerings or purchasing services and items, you not only support Distant Shores TV but also the brands and collaborators they're associated with.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Distant Shores TV or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
Distant Shores TV Lastest Videos
Ep 267 | Offshore Sailing Turks & Caicos to the Bahamas
This time on Distant Shores we set sail from the Turks and Caicos Islands heading for the Bahamas, where we explore some of the remote Family Islands on our way to George Town, a crossroad for cruising sailors and home of the National Family Island Regatta...
Dodging Coral Heads on the Caicos Bank
This time on Distant Shores we take you on a 3-day offshore passage from the British Virgin Islands to the Turks and Caicos Islands passing the Navidad and Silver Banks along the way. After making landfall at South Caicos, where we sample the local cuisine...
Why We Keep Coming Back to Sail the British Virgin Islands After 40 Years of Cruising | Ep 265
This time on Distant Shores we take you to one of the world's most popular sailing and bareboat charter destinations, the British Virgin Islands or BVI, where Paul and I have returned again and again throughout 40 years of international cruising. We'll sho...
Caribbean Sailing! Antigua to British Virgin Islands + Range Test Electric Outboard
This time on Distant Shores we get the boat tuned up for a winter of sailing in the Caribbean. With guest crew onboard learning the ropes, we island-hop from Antigua to Saint Martin, push our ePropulsion electric outboard to it's limit with a range check a...
From Troubles to Tranquility using REGEN! Transatlantic Crossing Part 3 | Ep 263
We complete our 10th transatlantic crossing with beautiful downwind sailing and magical moonlit nights having travelled over 2000 miles to the Caribbean following some challenging days at sea. Using our hybrid electric regen to keep the batteries topped up...
This Shouldn’t Have Happened! Transatlantic Passage Part 2 | Ep 262
In Part 2 of our transatlantic crossing from Cape Verde to Antigua aboard our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat, Distant Shores IV, we continue to have great weather for beautiful downwind sailing but are suddenly up against a series of equipment brea...
Big Seas! Transatlantic Crossing | Ep 261
This time on Distant Shores we're in the Cape Verde Islands off the African Coast and setting our sails for the Caribbean over 2000 miles away. There are many other vessels getting ready to cross the Atlantic Ocean and we see some of these on the crossing....
Cooking on Passage: Sailing from the Canary Islands to Cape Verde | Ep 260
Come along for a 6-day offshore passage as we sail between the mid-Atlantic islands of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands and Saõ Vicente in the Cape Verde islands, passing the Sahara Desert as we go. We are joined by crew members, Keith and Stephan, and have l...
Sailing Offshore to the Canary Islands
This time on Distant Shores we deal with currents on the 600 mile passage offshore to the Canary Islands from Portugal. We then sail from Lanzarote to Gran Canaria for the start of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) and prepare for the big one - a 3000 ...
Our Favourite sailing destination! Come explore the Exuma Islands of the Bahamas with us!
We're heading back to our favourite sailing destination - the Exuma islands of the Bahamas. We've opened up two new Sailaway Weeks in the Bahamas in April. If you need a break from it all check this out.
BISCAY Crossing! Avoiding BAD WEATHER and ORCA Whales | Ep. 258
Crossing the Bay of Biscay is a navigational hurdle when sailing south from the UK to Portugal. We begin this episode in France, in the charming port of Camaret-sur-Mer, waiting for good weather and preparing for the 2-3 day crossing. The Biscay crossing s...
Going Electric – TEST DRIVE ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 ELECTRIC Outboard Motor | Ep 257
This week on Distant Shores, we take you to the Solent in the United Kingdom where where we test drive our new ePropulsion electric outboard motor, learn how EPIRB's work and how they help enable a rescue if you have to abandon ship, navigate the River Ham...
Hand-Over! Welcome to Our New Boat! The Adventure Begins | Ep 256
This time on Distant Shores we take delivery of our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat and set sail for new adventures! We take delivery of Distant Shores IV at the Dutch town of Makkum where the boat was built, then head out through the sea-lock into ...
First Voyage! Crossing the North Sea to the UK from the Netherlands | EP 255
We do an extended sea trial aboard our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat, Distant Shores IV. Sailing from Makkum in the Netherlands, we do an overnight crossing of the North Sea, dodging gas works, oil platforms and shipping lanes, then deal with shoa...
SAILMAKER on Board! – Trimming SAILS Enksail Orion 49 ALUMINUM Sailboat | Ep 254
We continue sea trials with our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat and go for a sail with the sailmaker on board who gives us professional advice on how to best use our new sails. 00:00 Show Introduction 00:29 Marcel de Jong, UK De Vries Sails sailm...
First SAIL and Boat TOUR! Enksail Orion 49 ALUMINUM Sailboat | EP 253
We move aboard our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat and take the boat out for her first sail! Join us for a boat tour as we see the transformation from a build site to a beautiful sailing vessel flying across sparkling seas. 00:00 Intro 00:32 Moving...
SEA TRIALS Begin! Aluminum SAILBOAT Enksail Orion 49 | EP 252
This time on Distant Shores we take our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat on her first sea trial to test out the engine and systems, the 3 rudder configuration and swing keel. 00:00 Opening 01:04 Electronic Engine Start 01:46 Leaving the Dock 02:3...
Commissioning & Decommissioning – What’s Up with our New ALUMINUM Sailboat? | EP 251
Just as we're about to start sea trials, a few more items need troubleshooting on our new Enksail Orion 49 sailboat, all part of the commissioning process of a newly-built custom aluminum cruising boat. We also participate in a nationwide ceremony honourin...
SAILS On! STORM Staysail for HEAVY Weather | EP 250
Commissioning of our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat continues in the Netherlands! In this episode, the team from De Vries Sails/UK Sails arrives to bend on the boat’s brand new suit of sails. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions of the sai...
Live Chat with Paul and Sheryl aboard Distant Shores IV
We are about to begin another season of sailing adventure! Tune in for a live chat and Q&A aboard Distant Shores IV, our Enksail Orion 49 sailboat, to learn about the tropical destinations we’ll be sailing to this winter and how you can join us on a...
Commissioning a New Sailboat | Enksail Orion 49
We’ve just launched our new sailboat! What happens now? This week we begin the process of commissioning our new Orion 49 sailboat with the team at Enksail Yachts in the Netherlands - testing systems, troubleshooting problems, filling and pressurizing tan...
Christening our New Sailboat! Launch Party & Open Day Boat Tours
After launching our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat, we host a Launch Party and Open Boat Event where we christen the boat and hold a traditional ceremony to bless the builders and crew. Tour Distant Shores IV along with international guests includi...
LAUNCHING Distant Shores IV ! New SAILING Adventures are About to Begin!
It’s been months of anticipation and finally the day has arrived - the launch of Distant Shores IV, our brand new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat! Share our excitement at the moment of “splash”, then at the raising of the mast where we perform a t...
How to Stay Married While Choosing Boat Upholstery!
As the launch of our new Enksail Orion 49 sailboat approaches, we have to decide on the colours and upholstery for a comfortable yacht interior, so in this week’s video we do a humorous deep dive into boat upholstery, cushions, and fabrics. For the fir...
Something AWESOME is coming!
Be the FIRST to know⛵
Sign up for exclusive updates and be the first to hear when we go live!
Get sneak peeks, exciting announcement, and special content straight to your inbox!
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.