Virgin Islands Weather for Sailing

Bottom line, it’s all about the weather in the Virgin Islands. For me, weather is more than just temperature. As a live aboard sailor and charter operator, temperature is just one piece of the weather puzzle. In fact, I’m routinely thrown off guard when stateside friends and family inquire wistfully about the temperature. I never check the forecast for the temperature, because it’s usually 72-85 degrees. Windy nights can get cool, especially in the winter, but it’s all relative. A local will be freezing in a long sleeve shirt and jeans while the visitor next to her sweats in her tank top and shorts. There is a lot to be said for acclimatization.

Wind is probably the most important aspect of weather in St. Thomas and St. John on a day to day basis.  No wind means it’s tough to sail, and that can mean having to use the engine or move very slowly. That’s fine if you’re not comfortable sailing fast and don’t mind the shift in experience. On the opposite extreme, too much wind can mean you sail very fast, the boat will probably heel, and you might get spray in the face. Sounds good to me, but I chose this as a lifestyle. Wind obviously affects how you perceive the temperature as well, and this varies depending how exposed you are to open water and sky. For land lubbers in the islands, a house that “gets good wind” is highly desirable since natural cool air dramatically cuts down on cooling costs. Similarly, boat moorings that are more exposed can sometimes be subject to wakes from other boats, currents, or choppy seas; however, they feel cooler and are less attractive to mosquitoes and “noseeums.”  Boats have the luxury of changing locations when needed, so there is usually a comfortable solution to be found no matter where you choose to stay.    

Another consideration when sailing in the Virgin Islands (or anywhere for that matter) is wind direction. All captains look at the wind direction when setting a course and raising sails and will sometimes have to advise in favor or not in favor of a particular sailing destination depending on where the wind is coming from. The reason for this is that you really cannot sail directly into the wind. Sailing directly down wind is difficult as well. Your sails will luff (flap around), and you won’t go anywhere. Fortunately, wind in the Virgin Islands is pretty darn consistent, and even if it shifts there are plenty of awesome places to sail to and drop the hook. Virgin Islands wind comes straight out of the east. Sail with Liberty is located on the east end of St. Thomas, so at least 90% of the time the view looking forward from our cockpit is that of St. John and Tortola. And, no, no one is complaining. The wind’s direction and speed are very favorable for sailing most of the year, and this is the reason so many sailors convene in this part of the Caribbean.

When you are planning a Caribbean sailing vacation, consider that your best weather will be any time other than in September, when hurricanes and rain try to make up for the rest of the year’s near perfect weather. Also consider where and how long you plan to sail. For example, if you are planning a term charter and wish to go to St. Maarten, check your charts and weather fax and think again. While it is not terribly far from the US Virgin Islands, wind direction makes it a tough landfall on the way there most of the time. Bashing into the wind is not comfortable, and tacking to get there can take awhile. Consider instead a destination in Puerto Rico or the British Virgin Islands. With favorable wind direction and so many islands and anchorages to choose from, you can sail all day or just for a little while as you choose. The east end of St. Thomas (Red Hook area)and St. John’s west end are, to us, just ideal when you are dealing with weather and a desire for accessible places to sail to and drop the anchor for a couple hours or a couple days. Natural physical beauty aside, when considering the weather in St. Thomas and St. John, I can honestly agree with the government marketing people who coined the US Virgin Islands “America’s Paradise.”