Rhea BVI to Dominican Republic

Your Sailing Area

BVI to Dominican Republic

A paradise for sailing enthusiasts and sailing beginners, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) offers numerous small, partly uninhabited islands with great bays and beaches. This necklace of volcanic islands consisting of the main islands, Tortola and Virgin Gorda are encircled by the smaller and enchantingly named islands Fallen Jerusalem, Dead Chest, Salt Island Peter, Cooper and Ginger Island. This sailing voyage will take guests from the island of Tortola to the Dominican Republic with a focus on distance sailing. There are no designated stopping points as this will depend on the wind and weather but there are plenty of islands and bays along the way.

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Ocean passages can bring conditions fit for only the boldest adventurers seeking the ultimate challenge. This sailing adventure is perfect for those wanting to experience life on the open water and tuck some sea miles under their belt. The soft, steady up and down of the ship’s hull in the waves, the expanse of the sea, and the gentle creaking of the rigging are the perfect ingredients for a relaxing and at the same time, adventurous holiday experience.

Getting involved

The professional and experienced crew will teach you everything you need to know as you will sail with and become part of the crew, hoisting sails, taking the helm and getting involved with all aspects of sailing a modern classic.

From plotting our route on the chart to cooking together, some celestial navigation skills, hoisting and trimming sails, and rope work and repairs, there is always something for everyone to do while on watch. The rest of the time is free to enjoy the inky black of the night sky, reading a book or three or playing cards together; the ocean gives guests the chance to switch off from the demands of the modern world and fill their souls with vitamin-Sea.

Sailing by the stars

Far from land, miles into the open ocean, you’ll see the night sky as you have never seen it before. The stars light the sky as we sail away from any man-made light pollution creating a truly spectacular sight. Although each boat certainly has all the modern GPS equipment, there will likely be the chance to try your hand at celestial navigation, using the stars to plot your position and guide your route! An age old skill used by sailing ancestors of years gone-by.

Weather

Part of the beauty of an ocean-going adventure is experiencing all the elements. From wind, rain and sun, we will certainly see them all. Whatever comes our way, the crew will use weather radar technology to plan our route as best they can to ensure we cover the most miles as safely as possible. Expect strong winds and big waves, perfect sailing to glassy seas with not a breath of wind and everything in-between.

All voyages for Rhea

Rhea

Guest berths: 26 Rig: Bermudan Ketch

Elegant yacht Rhea offers guests a sailing holiday experience with luxury at the heart of everything she does. She spends her winters sunshine sailing in the Caribbean before moving to the Mediterranean in the Spring.

Like her sister Chronos, Rhea was built and designed in Bodrum, Turkey but is registered in Holland. Luxury yacht Rhea was purpose built as a charter vessel in 2016 and finished in 2017 as a two-masted, 54m staysail ketch.

Rhea was designed by Klaus Röder, who based his designs on the lines of a classic yacht whilst keeping up with the modern day ketch; built for performance sailing and guest comfort. The classic rig of a Bermuda Ketch with a large boom was conceptualised and designed by Klaas Huizinga.

The outline on deck is of teak and mahogany with plenty of space to sun-bath, read a book and enjoy the views. All the sails are electronically retractable, so no need to learn the ropes here! The crew are, however, more than happy for guests to get involved with the operating and sailing of Rhea as much as they would like!

An admiralty ladder provides the perfect place to jump off into crystal clear waters, have a swim or snorkel and climb back aboard with ease. Rhea also offers her guests the options of her water skiing, wake-board, tube riding, banana boat, 2 kayaks, 2 stand up Paddleboards, snorkelling equipment and even a sail dinghy (QubaRS).

The deckhouse offers its very own small bar whilst below decks offers still more space to relax with another dining area, as well as her on-deck dining area. Her private cabins, offering both double and single beds, all have air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.

The professional crew consists of the Skipper, first mate, mechanic, bosun, cook and 4 stewards, so you will most certainly be looked after during your time aboard Rhea.

Read more about what to expect from life on board here

Deck plan

Life on board

Our sailing holidays on board Rhea are ones of luxury, style and comfort while exploring sunshine destinations and unforgettable locations. A purpose built charter vessel, Rhea was designed with the elegant sailing lines of a traditional classic boat but has been paired with all the comforts and luxuries of a modern yacht. 

Authentic Sailing Fun

Sailing with Rhea is certainly one of comfort and relaxation. Think of a boutique, intimate classic sailing experience where nothing is too much trouble. Her dedicated and professional crew are highly trained and well-versed in a smooth sailing operation. 

She has an impressive sail area and her rig is electronically operated with retractable sails so there is no need to “learn the ropes” here! That being said, there are still traditional pin and tails if guests want to have a taste of authentic sailing. 

Although there is less focus on the “hands-on” sailing of Rhea, the Captain and crew offer interesting sailing talks and information briefs for guests during the voyage. Learn about the history of the boat, its sailing terms and even take a tour of the engine room if you fancy! Understanding these elegant classic vessels and feeling their power with the wind is truly an unforgettable experience.

Sleeping and Relaxation

Every space on Rhea is considered with the guests at the forefront of all design. From the spacious saloon, private ensuite cabins clad in tropical wood to the sweeping open decks with plenty of sun lounging spaces – the boat is certainly oozing 5* luxury.

The generously proportioned cabins all have plenty of luggage storage, full size domestic showers and air conditioning units. Versatile beds mean that cabins can be made from a comfy double to a sharing twin and even a three bed family cabin as needed. All bedding, towels and a robe per person are included in the ticket price. Each cabin is named by the winds of the sea and this matches the allocated swim towel set for guests, so if you leave it drying on deck, a member of crew will deliver it back to your cabin when dry. 

Daily cabin service is also part of the offering. A member of the crew will make your bed and freshen up your bathroom every day and if you want a towel change or full cabin clean, just leave the relevant sign on the cabin door! 

Eating and Entertainment

Although the day is punctuated by meal times, you certainly don’t feel like you’re running on a schedule. The relaxed nature of both the boat and the crew give a perfect balance. 

Depending on the voyage location, the daily routine can change and is flexible depending on the wishes of the group. Perhaps sit back and relax as the crew set the sails to another remote anchorage to enjoy a freshly cooked lunch and the on-board water toys! Or spend the morning swimming in a secluded bay or exploring an ancient port city before setting the sails to a new location. 

Start the day with a rich buffet style breakfast, on to a light 2-course lunch at noon, coffee, tea and cake in the afternoon. Finish the day with a freshly cooked 3-course dinner aboard and on the final night of the voyage, enjoy an authentic Captains dinner. For every voyage on Rhea, guests enjoy a meal ashore at their own expense to really immerse themselves in to the local culture and cuisine. Guests tend to go off in their own groups but sometimes the crew can join in if guests are unsure of the best spots!

Depending on the mood of the group, the crew can arrange some light hearted entertainment too – from local musicians over dinner to a friendly on-board music quiz (which is always amusing with international guests!) or even a wine tasting session (at an extra cost).

Water-toys

For those water lovers with a sense of adventure, Rhea has a multitude of water-sport activities and equipment available for guests. Stand-up paddle0boards and adult-size snorkelling equipment is free for guests to use. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, QubaRS dinghy sailing, banana boat and tube riding are all chargeable once on board.

Rhea offers this at a moderate price and suggests an average of 10% of the voyage price to serve as a guide for consumption. The onboard currency is EUROS and guests can open an on-board account which can be paid at the end of your voyage.

What’s included

• All inclusive* (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea)
• All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet), wash and swim towels and bath robe per person
• Full crew plus tuition
• Marina and fuel fees
• All tender trips to and fro the boat
• Lifejacket
• Adult snorkelling equipment
• Stand-up paddle-boards

What’s not included

• Alcohol and soft drinks
• Waterproofs
• *One meal is eaten ashore at the customers own expense
• Any flights
• Transit hotels
• Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
• Travel insurance
• Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
• Crew tips
• Personal expenses
• Water-skiing, wakeboarding and tube riding are all chargeable once on board. > Rhea offers this at a moderate price and suggests an average of 10% of the voyage price to serve as a guide for consumption.

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will be more than 12miles offshore.

*Please note passengers sailing on Chronos, Rhea or Kariós do not require personal accident cover, only health insurance. 

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals* on board are included in the price (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea) *One meal per week is eaten ashore at the customers own expense.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Meat eaters and vegetarians only please.

• Are there any added extras?

  One meal is eaten ashore at the guests expense. Alcohol and soft drinks are not included but can be purchased on board. Water-sports are not included.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  Rhea has 3 Standard Double Cabins Ensuite (11 m²) and 10 Deluxe Double Cabins Ensuite (12-13 m²) all sleeping 2 people.

• Is there a porthole in my cabin?

  Yes, all cabins have portholes.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  All cabins have their own ensuite.

• Are bedding and towels included?

  All bedding, a hand towel, bath towel, swim towel is included per person.

• Is there a hairdryer on board?

  Yes, there is a hair dryer in each cabin.

• Will I be able to wash my clothes?

  No, Rhea does not have laundry on board.

• Is there heating/air conditioning onboard?

  Yes.

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew! There will be an honesty box available at the end of your voyage (as a general guide, a 5-10% tip based on your ticket price)

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English is the common deck language but there will be international guests and crew.

• Is there WIFI on board?

  When within shore range, you should be able to reach 4/5G. Please make sure you have international roaming set up on your data plan. There is chargeable access to Starlink on all voyages. You can buy vouchers once on board if required.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes, there are 2pin EU sockets throughout the boat so please bring an adaptor if needed.

• What is the currency on board?

  Euro's.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes.

• How do I get on and off the boat?

  Rhea is often at anchor so you'll need to be comfortable climbing in and out of the tender dinghy. There is an admiralty ladder and there will always be a crew member to steady.

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  No.

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not!

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

• What water-sports can I do once aboard?

  Rhea has a multitude of water-sport activities and equipment available for guests. Stand-up paddle-boards and adult-size snorkelling equipment is free for guests to use. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, QubaRS dinghy sailing, banana boat and tube riding are all chargeable* once on board. * Free on Deluxe Plus voyages only

• Is there an age limit?

  Yes. Minimum age of 5, and as long as the child can swim.

Travel Planning

From: Trellis Bay, Tortola

To: Santa Barbara, Dominican Republic

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.

GETTING THERE

Trellis Bay, Tortola

BY AIR

Terrance B. Lettsome Airport is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands and it takes just a 2 minute taxi ride to Trellis Bay. Flights go to Terrance B. Lettsome Airport from London Gatwick. Fly from Amsterdam or Paris via St Martin.

STAY IN TRELLIS BAY:

There are plenty of places to stay in Trellis Bay. Try Fort Burt Hotel, More Than Beauty Properties and Abigail’s 2 Bedroom Apartment.

GETTING HOME

St. Barbara di Samaná, Dominican Republic

BY AIR

There are three airports in the Dominican Republic. For the UK fly from Punta Cana International. British Airways and Tui have direct flights from London to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). You can pre-book a taxi or Uber and by road it is 5-6 hours. Buses can take up to 8 hours. There is also an option to enjoy the crossing from Santa Barbara de Samana to Sabana de la Mar by ferry and take a private shuttle or taxi from here to the airport.

Santa Domingo – Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) – There are direct flights from Europe. By car it is 2.5 hours to Samana.

Puerto Plata International Airport (POP) – Flights to Europe and North America.

STAY

There are lots of places to stay in the Samana Bay area or closer to the airport in Punta Cana. Both are popular areas with lots to offer you if you are extending your stay.

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