Eco-Friendly Sailing: Sustainable Practices While on Charter

Explore the British Virgin Islands Responsibly with Horizon Yacht Charters

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) offers crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and idyllic sailing conditions to over 1 million people a year. Our Horizon Yacht Charters Crew is lucky enough to call this paradise home, which also means that it’s ours to protect, which is why we are committed to promoting sustainable sailing practices that preserve the beauty of the BVI for future generations. Below are a couple tips you can follow when you’re vacationing in the BVI:

Practice Responsible Sailing

While enjoying your charter, consider implementing the following eco-friendly practices:

• Minimize Waste: Bring a reusable water bottle from home to reduce plastic consumption and keep your drinks ice cold in this Caribbean heat!
• Reduce Emissions: By sailing you’ll already be traveling the BVI more sustainably than those on a power yacht, so well done you! Make sure you really harness the power of the wind power by sailing whenever possible and reduce even more emissions by limiting your generator use and opting for breeze boosters instead, to capture that beautiful BVI breeze rather than using the air conditioning.
• Protect the Seabed: Mooring balls are great! They’re often the safest and easiest way to ensure your yacht stays in one place, they’re also better for the seabed! If you find yourself needing to anchor, make sure you anchor in designated areas discussed in your chart briefing to protect the seabed.​ For more tips specifically around protecting our coral reefs and the seabed, click here.
• Respect Marine Life: Avoid touching or disturbing wildlife, which means no touching of turtles or starfish and never anchoring on coral reefs.
   

Choose Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Protecting yourself from the sun is essential, but it’s equally important to protect our delicate coral reefs. Unfortunately, traditional sunscreens often contain chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have been shown to harm marine life and contribute to coral bleaching. Opt for reef-safe mineral-based sunscreens that use non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as active ingredients which provide effective UV protection without damaging the ecosystem.

Support Local Conservation Efforts

Beyond The Reef is a BVI-based non-profit working to regenerate marine ecosystems through creative projects like artificial coral reefs. They often host events you can take part in like Beach Cleanups, or if you’d like to support financially from your own home, you can donate here and see where your kind donation will be spent here. There are other local efforts you can help us support, which in turn supports the BVI community.

By adopting these sustainable practices and these too, you ensure that the natural beauty of the BVI remains unspoiled for years to come.

To book a yacht to charter in the beautiful BVI, contact us here.