Wanderlust
Welcome to a Wanderlust Sailing Vacation! A luxury, fully crewed boat providing the ultimate charter experience in the perfect locale of the British Virgin Islands. The BVI is the perfect location for any vacation, and there is no better way of seeing the islands than from a spectacular sailing vessel. Yacht Wanderlust is based in Trellis Bay, a small inconspicuous harbor on the East side of Tortola, part of the British Virgin Islands. This harbor is right next to the airport so you can walk out the plane and right into the lap of luxury! Crystal clear, aquamarine waters and sandy white beaches call out and you can answer by stepping aboard the greatest sailing vacation in the Caribbean. You will be met by the crew and from that point on your every wish is their command. A Wanderlust vacation is better than a resort; we offer better service and can travel to any destination of your choice, allowing for such flexible enjoyment, you will remember this holiday forever. Our culinary service in simply unmatched. Our chef, trained by the Culinary Institute of America, produces such delights as to leave you wondering with fascination how each course can be better than the one before! There are a number of things that make Wanderlust number 1! Aside from the excellent service and catering, we offer an array of activities that assure your vacation will be filled with the most fun possible. Here is just a small sample of the many activities offered. WATER SPORTS On board Wanderlust we have an array of water sports for your enjoyment. Kids love tubing and we have two different kinds to choose from. The wilder of the two is the newest U-Tube which offers a truly hair-raising experience and excitement that have people coming back again and again for more! We also have a selection of different skis, from beginner to professional and a powerful 21' Paramount with 225 HP for those high-speed photographic carves. Talking about carves and speed, this boat also throws up a perfect wake that is perfect for wakeboarding! To boot, we have a custom built 7' towing tower so those jumps will be higher and easier than ever before! On board also are a kneeboard and banana. The crew are trained and experienced, able to instruct you in all areas of your performance, from learning new things to fine tuning practiced moves. There are enough toys to fill an entire week of sports and fun, however this is only the beginning, there is far more things Wanderlust offers. SCUBA DIVING Wanderlust's PADI Discover SCUBA program was developed to show what diving is all about. You will experience the exhilaration of breathing underwater. You will observe fascinating aquatic creatures first hand and feel the freedom and peace unique to the aquatic world. You will also learn a little about the simple principles and techniques that make diving safe, fun and easy. By the time you have finished your Discover SCUBA diving adventure you will agree that SCUBA diving is much easier than you imagined. Your instructors are extensively trained professional with credentials issued by PADI, the world's largest and most popular professional SCUBA diving organization. Our PADI instructors are not only excellent divers but experts in teaching diving. On board we carry a full range of diving equipment to gear you up for the water. We also have our own compressor so there is no delay between dives waiting for tanks to fill. Wanderlust also has 4 underwater scooters that make for an exciting diving experience. Hit the button and get towed through the water as if you're flying! SNORKEL TRIPS On board we carry a range of different masks and fins for snorkeling enjoyment. We know the best places around so you can have the most amazing snorkeling experiences. Swim with eagle-rays, play with turtles, look for shells or just enjoy the warm sun on your back as you marvel at the beauties below the water. DINGHY SAILING For those who want to learn more about the principals of sailing, or who just want to get out there under their own power, Wanderlust has its own Laser sailing dinghy. This would be a great tool for teaching your kids how to sail, take them out yourself or leave them in the care of the trusty and experienced crew to develop sailing skills. WINDSURFING For those who love the speed of fast sailing, windsurfing is one of the world's fastest wind-powered craft. There are few things that compare to the thrill of hooking into the harness and leaning into the power of the wind as you skip along crystal waters. On Wanderlust we have 3 windsurfers with full rigs. For those beginners we have a Starboard beginner board that makes is especially easy to learn how to windsurf. KAYAKING If you like the idea of slowly paddling along the shore of a perfect beach or exploring the edges of a new harbor, we have a two-man kayak on board just for you. SAND CASTLES On board we carry a selection of different tools for those who enjoy building sand castles. Send the kids ashore to build a masterpiece that you can look at later with sun-downers. SHELL COLLECTING Whether walking down the beach at sunset looking for shells between your toes or diving down to find hidden treasures we know the best spots in the BVI for the shell collectors in the group. PHOTOGRAPHY For those with a photographic eye we have an underwater camera as well as high quality digital camera for pictures on the surface. Record your memories to take home on CD ROM. BEACH BBQ We have a regular spot for the ideal classy beach BBQ. Not lacking for food quality we have an array of lobster and lamb, turkey and ribs. A veritable buffet of delight! VOLLEY BALL How about an afternoon of exercise and fun? We have volleyball equipment on board to set a game at the location of your choice. ISLAND TOURS Tortola has a rain-forest at its peak and many neighboring islands have interesting hikes and walks for those with the desire for exploration. PERSONAL MASSAGES If you prefer to lie back and be entirely pampered we offer massages. A professional masseuse comes out specially to attend to your needs. A crewed charter offers a higher level of service, and on yacht Wanderlust, that level of service is taken to the highest. Our superb line of activities can only be matched by our fantastic service. The yacht wanderlust is perfect for business or company trips, perfect for family gatherings, perfect for you.	BA TRAVEL	The British Virgin Islands are a magical Caribbean archipelago of more than forty islands and cays. They seem to have been created expressly for the pleasures of yachting and water sports. Located about 60 miles east of Puerto Rico; volcanic in origin, the BVI's feature rugged mountain peaks rising from the blue Caribbean Sea with unusual names such as Great Dog, Fallen Jerusalem, Prickly Pear and Pelican Island. The islands, many of them uninhabited and attainable only by yacht, offer solitude and a simplicity of living unknown to most people. The islands' peculiar names were first given by Columbus in 1493. He named the scattered islands as a group in honor of St. Ursula and her 11,000 virgins who, according to history were murdered by the pagan Huns in the 13th century. Rich in sailing lore the Sir Francis Drake Channel, named for that fabled round-the-world voyager and privateer, constitutes an "inland sea" in the middle of the Caribbean. Sheltered by the surrounding islands, the channel, with its calm seas and easterly trade winds, has become a favorite cruising ground with yachtsmen from around the world. Here are some of the many islands you would be visiting. ANAGADA Anegada is the destination for those who want to be by themselves. It is the only coral island of the entire chain (the others being volcanic) and has the third largest barrier reef in the world. On old charts it was called "the drowned island" in fact Anegada in Spanish means sunken island. At its highest point, it is only 28 feet above sea level. The area has long been a source of confusion to sailors, who were unaware of the shifting currents. More than three hundred ships have been wrecked off this sleepy island. The north shore is one non stop beach along which you can walk for miles without encountering a soul. On the south side there are quaint restaurants where, if you have a hankering for fresh lobster, you may feast on a catch by prior arrangement. The sail to and from Anegada is a sailors delight. COOPER ISLAND: The Beach Club is the main attraction here, nestled in between the palm trees on Manchioneel Bay. It has a relaxed atmosphere and is one of the popular haunts for visiting yachtsmen. It is an ideal spot to go ashore and stretch your legs after a busy day of diving on the wreck of the Rhone. Another attraction here is the abundance of dive sites and great snorkeling opportunities. Many believe that it has some of the best snorkeling in the islands. JOST JAN DYKE: Jost Van Dyke (named after a Dutch pirate) is the Western most island in the BVI. Its highest peak rises to 1,070 feet giving an all embracing vista of the harbors of this serene wonderland. The largest settlement is at Great Harbor, which is famous for Foxy's beach bar, one of the most popular spots in the world for New Year's Eve. SANDY CAY: Sandy Cay is one of the smallest islands to the west of Tortola. With its natural botanical gardens, sweeping panoramic views and long white beaches, is a tiny pearl in the ocean. Laurence Rockerfeller donated the island to the British Government as a national park, with the proviso that it stay in its native state. SANDY SPIT: Aside from being everyone's idea of the perfect tropical island, Sandy Spit has good snorkeling and is a fair anchorage and is every photographers' fantasy. NORMAN ISLAND: A seafaring uncle once described Norman Island and its treasure caves, so graphically to Robert Louis Stevenson that he was inspired to write "Treasure Island". Many years later Brian Henson, son of the late Jim Henson, directed the filming the Muppet version of "Treasure Island" after having sailed the islands with his family on Wanderlust. The other main attraction here is the notorious William Thornton, a floating bar restaurant in the guise of a pirate ship. PETER ISLAND: Lying between Tortola and Norman Island, is Peter Island. Like Norman Island, Peter has several anchorages for varying interests. Deadman's Bay on the North Side and White Bay to the South offer two of the prettiest palm fringed beached in the islands. Great Harbor is a calm secluded anchorage which is ideal for water sports. The prestigious Peter Island Yacht Club is located between Great Harbor and Deadman's Bay. Deadman's Bay looks out on a small island, Dead Chest. Teach, the pirate also called Blackbeard, evidently marooned some of his men on Dead Chest to teach them discipline or survival. They were given only a single cutlass and a bottle of rum. Legend has it that this is the origin of the song "Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum." Legend also has it that the fifteen men killed each other. SALT ISLAND: In former times Salt Island supplied the salt for the British Navy's Caribbean fleet from its salt ponds. Although belonging to the crown the island and its salt ponds were operated by the local populace. Even today its occupants harvest the salt; you will find it for sale both on the island and in local stores. Each year they pay their token tithe to the queen - one sack of salt. A great tragedy occurred in 1867 on the rocks of Salt Island, when the Royal Mail Ship Rhone sank in a storm, taking 125 persons with her. Its remains are extensive and have become a fascinating underwater habitat for marine life. It is part of the national park system and is rated the most popular wreck dive in the Caribbean by numerous dive publications. TORTOLA: Tortola, the turtle dove, is the largest island despite its mere 21 square miles. The capital of the BVI's is Road Town, with its numerous marinas, hotels, thriving ships chandleries and boatyards, it is a buzz with social activity. It is six miles from Road Town to West End. There you will find a protected harbor, bordered by typically flamboyant architecture, known as Sopers Hole. This is one of the hot spots for shopping, dining and entertainment for the yachting community. It is also an ideal place to anchor when going to the infamous Bomba's Shack full moon party (see 1999 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition). The peaks of Sage Mountain dominate the west side of the island. The area is a natural rain forest which is preserved as a national park for the enjoyment of hikers and future generations. The lookout platform at the summit affords a superb panoramic view. On the largely undeveloped north side of the islands there are many natural and historical sites of beauty and interest. Cane Garden Bay, the subject of many postcards has a white palm fringed beach stretching the entire length of the bay. The Callwood Rum Distillery is housed there in a musty stone building dating back to slavery. Arundel rum in old and new bottles line the shelves. Also to be seen are the copper boiling vats, the old still and the cane crusher. Brewers Bay is without question one of the most beautiful anchorages in the Virgin Islands. Fortunately it is seldom used by visiting yachtsmen owing to the extensive coral formations which make access to the anchorage difficult for the novice. While the snorkeling here is excellent, time should also be taken to explore ashore. For those interested in taking a short walk, there are the ruins of Tortola's only remaining windmill on the slopes of Mount Healthy. The entire north shore is scattered with numerous beaches and coves, many of which are unknown to the visiting yachtsman. VIRGIN GORDA: Virgin Gorda, the fat virgin, is the second largest and perhaps one of the most interesting of the British Virgins. The island was once the capital and is now the home of Little Dix Bay, the luxury resort built by Laurence Rockerfeller. The island is approximately 10 miles long with high peaks in the northern and central areas. All land over 1,000 feet high on Virgin Gorda has been designated National Parks land to preserve its natural beauty. Spanish Town, the original capital, is still the major settlement on the island. Although opinions vary it is commonly thought that Spanish Town is so called for the number of Spanish settlers, who came to work in the copper mines in the early 16th century. The mines were still working until 1867, and the ruins at Copper Mine Point are still visible today. Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor is located in Spanish Town and is the hub of shopping and boating activity on the south end of the island. There is an active night life and you can take your pick of entertainments, from steel bands through to night clubs. The Baths, are a batholithic formation of enormous smooth granite boulders creating deep caverns and vaulted rooms. They are washed by the tides and floored with warm natural pools. One can wander, climb and crawl amongst the rocks for hours, sometimes becoming quite lost. The Baths are thought to have evolved when a layer of molten granite was forced gradually to the earth's surface, solidifying as it moved. Those parts of the rock that were less solid were affected by the harshness of the sea and weather and eventually fell away from the harder segments, thus leaving the irregularly curved passages and smoothly pocked walls. Many of the boulders, encrusted with coral, rise up out of the sea, creating a paradise for both snorkelers and sea life. In short, the British Virgin Islands are a paradise of hidden treasures. On Wanderlust we help you find the treasure you search for in a vacation.