Is it Safe to Sail in the US Virgin Islands?
The U.S. Virgin Islands is generally regarded as a safe place to sail. However, before setting off on your USVI adventure, there are a few things you should know regarding safety in the Virgin Islands.
Safety While Sailing the U.S. Virgin Islands
The safety risk while sailing in the U.S. Virgin Islands is very low. According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s accident statistics, there were only 4 boating accidents in the U.S. Virgin Islands between 2018 and 2022. The largest risk to your safety while sailing in the Virgin Islands is sailing beyond your own knowledge and capacity level. That’s why it’s so important to get certified before sailing on your own.
U.S. Virgin Islands Travel Advisories
When there are safety concerns surrounding visiting a country, many governments around the world will issue travel advisories. However, if you search for travel advisories in the Virgin Islands you’ll be hard pressed to find anything negative about visiting! For example, the Canadian government says to take normal security precautions while visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, the U.S. government has no travel advisories in place for the Virgin Islands and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has no travel health notices in effect.
Common Crimes in the U.S. Virgin Islands
The most common crime affecting tourists in the U.S. Virgin Islands is theft. While property crimes are on the decline according to FBI data, there were still about 2,000 property crimes reported in the Virgin Islands in 2020. This means it’s important to keep your valuables locked up and in safe areas when traveling, as is advised when traveling anywhere.
Which of the U.S. Virgin Islands is the Safest to Visit?
The safest of the U.S. Virgin Islands according to crime statistics is St. John. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit other islands in the USVI. For example, Red Hook, Lindqvist Beach, Hull Bay, and Magen’s Bay are all considered to be very safe on St. Thomas. However, you’ll want to stick to the main tourist areas in Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted while on St. Thomas—just to be on the safe side!
Go Sail Virgin Island’s Safety Track Record
Go Sail Virgin Island’s prides themselves on their safety record. We have never had any injuries during our ASA courses and in the last 10 years, we have had no thefts or stolen property reported by our students. To learn more about what we do to keep our students safe and the places we visit on our cruises, reach out to us online!