A Legacy Written in Sails

Celebrating the British Virgin Islands as the Sailing Capital of the World™

Each morning, when the first light stretches across the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the sea whispers a truth sailors have always known: the British Virgin Islands are not just a destination, but a sailing destiny.

And now, that truth has been written into history.

With the official registration of three trademarks, our islands have secured what the winds and waves have long proclaimed:

• The British Virgin Islands – Sailing Capital of the World™

• British Virgin Islands – The Undisputed Sailing Capital of the Caribbean™

• The British Virgin Islands – Sailing Capital of the Caribbean™

This recognition is both a legal milestone and a cultural affirmation — a way of putting into words what generations of sailors have always known.

For decades, yachts have traced our waters, families have discovered the magic of island-hopping, and legends have been born on regatta courses that wind between emerald hills. Now, the world has a phrase that captures what we have always felt: this is the sailing heart of the Caribbean, and perhaps of the world.

Born of Wind and Water

The story of sailing here is older than the trademarks, older even than the regattas. It is written in the rhythm of the trade winds, in the generosity of our bays, and in the stories of pioneers like Peter Haycraft and Albie Stewart, who helped shape the BVI Spring Regatta into one of the Caribbean’s most beloved festivals.

From 1972’s modest two-day gathering to today’s international spectacle, the Spring Regatta has been more than a competition. It has been a living testament to what happens when sea, skill, and spirit converge. It has also been the spark that keeps our identity aflame — proof that these islands were designed for sailing.

A Mainstay at the Heart of the Story

At Cane Garden Bay Beach Hotel, we do not stand apart from this narrative — we are part of its chorus, and for many, part of its tradition. For many travellers, we have been a mainstay in their BVI journey: a familiar harbour to return to, a constant presence amid the changing tides of each new adventure.

Each spring, our beachfront becomes a front-row seat to history and heritage in motion. Guests awaken to sails dotting the horizon, to laughter that drifts ashore long after the races have ended, to evenings where the sea itself seems to sing.

And year after year, many of those same guests find their way back to us — because here, their stories are remembered, their rhythms are recognised, and their connection to the islands feels complete.

We are not simply a hotel; we are a companion to the journey.

For sailors, we are a harbour of rest. For dreamers, we are the place where a literary love of the sea finds its living proof. And for every guest, we are a reminder that staying here is not just about luxury and comfort — it is about belonging to something timeless.

Sailing Capital Meets Tropical Elegance

What does it mean to stay in the Sailing Capital of the World™?

It means more than watching regattas or chartering yachts. It means tasting the salt air over a breakfast of locally brewed coffee. It means joining stories around a table at Rhythm & Sands, our sister restaurant, where music and maritime spirit mingle in equal measure.

It means leaning over a balcony rail and seeing, not just an ocean view, but the stage where centuries of sailing tradition continue to play.

Here, the trademarks are not just legal seals — they are lived experiences infused with tropical elegance. They are the laughter in the bay, the precision of a tack, the stillness of a swimmer floating in turquoise water, the courage of those who chase the horizon.

An Invitation That Sails Beyond Time

To our past and present guests, and to those who will one day arrive with the wind at their back: thank you. Thank you for carrying the spirit of adventure, for lending your stories to our shores, and for reminding us that hospitality is most meaningful when it is shared in rhythm with the sea.

The BVI has always been the Sailing Capital. Now, the world knows it by name. And here, at Cane Garden Bay Beach Hotel, we invite you to live it by heart.

Smooth seas. Steady winds. And a standing invitation — to stay, to sail, and to belong.