Power Catamaran School - BVI

Like many of our adventures, this one began over dinner with our good friends Ralph and Kristina at Coltivare in Houston. Over cocktails and great food, the idea of doing a power catamaran charter course came up — something we had talked about for years. Normally, end-of-night conversations like this tend to fizzle out, but to our surprise, the next morning we woke up to a detailed quote from Offshore Sailing School and tentative dates set for February 2025 for their Fast Track to Power Boat Cruising program.

Getting There – Houston to Tortola via Miami

After a few months of planning, we settled on a route. My wife and I would fly to Miami to meet friends for the evening before continuing to the British Virgin Islands. Since both flights were with American Airlines (a departure from our usual United loyalty), we used points to stay at the Hyatt Regency Miami near Brickell. While the location was great, the hotel itself felt pretty dated.

That afternoon and evening in Miami turned into a full-blown food and cocktail tour:

• Pre-drinks and snacks at The Capital Grille

• Killer cocktails at Hutong

• More drinks at Sugar and The Tea Room at EAST Hotel

• Dinner at Komodo

• Nightcaps at Lost Boy Dry Goods

The next morning, we checked a bag with the Hyatt bellhop ($5/day, cash only) containing our Miami clothes for the return trip, and then headed to MIA’s Terminal E using CLEAR and TSA PreCheck for a smooth security experience.

Arrival in the BVI

After landing in Tortola (and paying the $10 environmental tax), we caught a taxi to the Wyndham Tortola. A quick note: taxis in the BVI are not private by default—even if you think you've booked one, drivers often try to pick up additional passengers.

That day was all about relaxing at the Wyndham’s bar and restaurant before the real adventure began.

All Aboard: Bella Fortuna

The next morning, we took a cab to The Moorings BVI, dropped our bags in the lobby, and grabbed drinks and lunch at the pool bar while waiting for Ralph and Kristina. Once our vessel — Bella Fortuna, a 46ft power cat — was ready, we moved aboard, made a provisioning run to Riteway, and took the “rum bus” back to the marina.

Later that day, we took a cab out to Cane Garden Bay to enjoy drinks at Rhythm + Sands, a quick beach stroll, and then headed back to Road Town for a nightcap at Pusser’s Pub before turning in.

Training Begins: Meet Captain Patrick

The next morning, we met our instructor for the week, Captain Patrick Najou — a true character and a fantastic teacher. His style was strict but fair, which made sense as he put it:

“I only have a few days to teach you how to navigate someone else’s $1.4 million boat.”

Each day started with a few hours of classroom-style instruction, followed by practical navigation exercises in the afternoon. We practiced everything from navigating between islands to the ever-exciting task of catching mooring buoys — made all the more challenging by unusually high winds and rough seas that week.

Island Hopping & Highlights

• Saba Rock: Our first major stop. This tiny island with its upscale restaurant and boutique hotel was a dream. The food was excellent, and the sunset was unforgettable. Thanks to Captain Patrick’s use of the BoatyBall app, we scored a reserved mooring right at 7:00 AM. Pro tip: Be quick or you’ll miss your spot (Note, you need to know the name of your boat to use this app, and signing up is really weird so beware).

• Oil Nut Bay & Virgin Gorda: After more buoy practice, we took a Sweet Ice Willie’s yellow taxi tour to The Baths, a must-see natural wonder. We then stayed overnight at the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor and dined at Coco Maya — one of the best meals and sunsets of the trip.

• Cooper Island: After scoping out Norman Island, we spent the night moored at Cooper Island, took the dinghy ashore, and visited the Cooper Island Rum Bar — a must for any rum enthusiast.

• Norman Island: On our return visit, we finally got a break from buoy practice and enjoyed some well-earned relaxation, complete with a double rainbow over the bay.

Final Night – Valentine’s Day & Brandywine

With worsening weather and our departure looming, we returned to The Moorings base for our final night aboard. That evening, we celebrated Valentine’s Day with a seven-course tasting menu at the elegant Brandywine Estate Restaurant — the perfect send-off and a final chance to toast Captain Patrick.

Back to Reality

The next day, we disembarked, caught The Moorings’ shuttle to the airport (mediocre food warning), flew back to Miami, retrieved our stored bag at the Hyatt, changed quickly, and headed out for one more fantastic night. We returned to Sugar for cocktails and capped off the trip with another exceptional meal at Hutong.

Final Thoughts:

This was more than just a boating course — it was an unforgettable Caribbean experience packed with learning, laughter, great friends, and even better sunsets.

Would we do it again? Maybe. While the trip was absolutely memorable and rewarding, it was also a fair amount of work — from safely piloting and navigating a multi-million dollar vessel, to handling daily provisioning, cooking, and managing logistics. Before jumping back into another charter course, we’re also considering a more hands-off approach with small yacht-style cruises like those offered by Windstar or Emerald Yacht Cruises. Sometimes, it’s nice to trade the helm for a cocktail and let someone else do the hard work.