With its dazzling turquoise waters, islands with fine sand beaches and endless favorable winds, the Caribbean offers the best sailing in the world. At the heart of Caribbean boating lies the British Virgin Islands, the sailing capital of the world. Once a strategically important stopover for sailing ships in need of refueling and later a refuge for privateers and pirates, the British Virgin Islands are today one of the world's top tourist destinations. The BVI's largest island, Tortola, hosts more than 700 charter boats. vessels. Tortola lies roughly in the center of the archipelago that makes up the British Virgin Islands, so it has naturally become the economic and commercial center of the islands. Even a smaller vessel can reach more than 60 islands within an 80 nautical mile radius of Tortola; With so many anchorages within easy reach, Tortola is the boating hub of the British Virgin Islands. At ten miles long and three miles wide, the main island has just enough space to house three-quarters of the population of the British Virgin Islands, most of whom live in Road Ville. Nestled in a protected cove on the south side of Tortola, Road Town hosts large cruise ships, but the majority of vessels are private luxury yachts, sloops and sailboats available for charter. The city's two main industries, tourism and shipping, meet at the many marinas and shops that surround Road Harbor. Waterfront Drive forms a horseshoe around the water, allowing tour buses to showcase the beauty of the bay and providing restaurants with magnificent views of the Caribbean. Road Harbor opens onto the Sir Francis Drake Channel. The geography of the British Virgin Islands creates a protected natural waterway that allows novices and seasoned sailors alike to enjoy...... middle of paper ......and some of the best sailing boats in the world. Unlike other islands in the British Virgin Islands formed by volcanic activity, Anegada is a low, flat reef with extensive inland waterways that gave it its nickname the Drowned Island. Horseshoe Reef surrounds the western tip of the island, making the island a world-class destination for divers. The real attraction of the British Virgin Islands, however, remains the best boating in the world. The annual BVI Spring Regatta highlights the importance of boating for residents and visitors. The regatta lasts three days and invites sailors to take one of four tracks to travel from point to point. Each track highlights a different aspect of boating: sailing upwind, sailing downwind, designer sailing and circumnavigating the island. Colorful sails moving through the overseas waters of the Caribbean make the regatta a delight for land-based observers and participants alike..