With its sparkling aquamarine waters, islands with powdery sand beaches and endless tailwinds, the Caribbean offers some of the best sailing in the world. At the heart of Caribbean yachting lies the British Virgin Islands, the sailing capital of the world. Once a strategically important stopover for sailing ships needing to stock up on supplies and later a haven for privateers and pirates, the British Virgin Islands are now one of the world's top tourist destinations. The largest island in the BVI, Tortola, is home to more than 700 charter vessels. Tortola is located roughly in the center of the archipelago that makes up the British Virgin Islands, so it has naturally also become the economic and commercial center of the islands. Even a smaller vessel can reach the more than 60 islands within an 80 nautical mile radius around Tortola; With so many anchorages within easy reach, Tortola is the hub of recreational boating in the BVI. At ten miles long and three miles wide, the main island has just enough room to accommodate three-quarters of the British Virgin Islands' population, most of whom live in Road Town. Located in a protected inlet on Tortola's southern side, Road Town is home to large cruise ships, but most of the ships are private luxury yachts, sloops, and sailboats available for charter. The city's two main industries, tourism and shipping, meet in the many marinas and shops surrounding Road Harbour. Waterfront Drive forms a horseshoe around the water, allowing tour buses to showcase the beauty of the bay and offering restaurants magnificent views of the Caribbean. Road Harbor opens onto the Sir Francis Drake Canal. The geography of the British Virgin Islands creates a protected natural waterway that allows both novice and experienced sailors to...... in the world. Unlike other locations in the BVI that were formed by volcanic activity, Anegada is a low, flat reef with wide inland waterways that have given it the nickname Drowned Island. The Horseshoe Reef wraps around the western tip of the island, making it a world-class destination for divers. The real attraction of the British Virgin Islands, however, remains the best sailing in the world. The annual BVI Spring Regatta highlights the importance of recreational boating for residents and visitors. The regatta lasts three days and invites sailors to take one of four routes to travel from point to point. Each track highlights a different aspect of recreational boating: windward voyage, leeward voyage, design sailing and island circumnavigation. The colorful sails moving through the overseas waters of the Caribbean make the race a pleasure for land-based observers and participants alike.