Best Sailing Destinations in the USVI
The US Virgin Islands are made up of St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix. Each offers some of the best sailing destinations in the USVI, with beautiful coastline, excellent dive spots, and trade winds that rarely exceed 15 mph.
Top Sailing Spots in St. John
St. John is one of the most tranquil islands in the Caribbean. Over 60 percent of the island is a national park, which helps preserve the beaches, mountains, and coral reefs.
Explore some of our favorite sailing spots in St. John!
Cruz Bay
Cruz Bay is a favorite sailing location for sailors visiting the Virgin Islands National Park. Not only does it have one of the main visitor centers for the park, but there are great restaurants, snorkeling spots, and shopping nearby. It is a very popular sailing location to visit, so you will want to plan ahead if spending the night.
It is also home to Honeymoon Beach, famous for its sun-kissed sands and clear blue waters. We take care of mooring, anchoring, and docking on our beginner and advanced sailing courses. If you plan to sail solo, you can find more information about mooring permits here.
Cinnamon Bay
Sailors dreaming of finding a long stretch of white sands can moor their boat in Cinnamon Bay and enjoy the mile-long beach that is a clear winner in St. John. The waters are calm and shallow, so bring your snorkel gear to this favorite sailing spot.
Lameshur Bay
Another one of the top sailing locations in the Caribbean that we usually include on our USVI itinerary is Lameshur Bay. When sailing in the Virgin Islands, stop here for the excellent snorkeling, picture-perfect beaches, and to learn a little history and culture. It’s home to sugar mill ruins and an old rum distillery right off the coast.
Best Sailing Destinations in St. Thomas
St. Thomas also has several of the best sailing destinations in the US Virgin Islands. Check out these popular locations if you’re planning to sail in the USVI.
Magens Bay
While not quite as famous as Cinnamon Bay Beach, Magens Bay Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Virgin Islands. Magens Bay Watershed Preserve has nature trails and a coconut grove when visitors are finished snorkeling, swimming, or kayaking in the bay. There are also restaurants along the water where you can have lunch or a sunset happy hour.
Christmas Cove
Enjoy the scenic views, jump in for a swim, or find a dive site at this popular sailing destination in the US Virgin Islands. After you work up an appetite, be sure to grab lunch from Pizza Pi, which delivers fresh pies from a dinghy. It’s truly a slice of paradise.
Brewers Bay
Brewers Bay is another hidden gem that we think is a top sailing destination in the USVI. The protected waters are generally calm, so it’s a great place to drop anchor (which is only allowed on the northern edge). It is a popular place to snorkel—with shallow waters, coral reefs, and frequent sea turtle sightings.
St. Croix Sailing Locations
Sailors who want to add nautical miles to their resume will love the long journey to St. Croix. Tucked away to the south of St. John and St. Thomas, our captains and crew know some hidden gems among the top sailing locations in the USVI.
Buck Island Reef National Park
This is a bucket list destination for scuba divers and snorkelers. The elkhorn coral barrier reef and underwater trail offer some of the most incredible wildlife viewing experiences anywhere in the Virgin Islands.
Christiansted
Explore the largest city in St. Croix, where you can visit museums, churches, and cultural landmarks. There is a scenic boardwalk with restaurants and shops to browse through while you are in town.