Readers' Choice Awards
BVI's BEST
The votes are in. You saw the properties, visited the resorts, sailed the waters and imbibed all that is the BVI—and then you decided who tops the list. Our list, that is. Over the past two months, we’ve called on you, the reader, to cast your vote for the best in property and yacht and general BVI fun. Our inaugural Readers’ Choice Awards survey was framed to leave the answer up to the participants’ choice—without the confines of multiple-choice answers—and heeded hilarity as we tallied the votes.
Property Polls
Best British Virgin Island goes to Virgin Gorda. The upscale island nudged out Anegada in a tight race. Of course, all Virgin Islands define island living in their own, unique way. One reader prefers Sandy Cay, the only island that can cause dizziness from walking too briskly around its shoreline.
Best Neighbourhood to Live finds readers with a soft spot for Cane Garden Bay, with Shannon Estate close on its heels. CGB’s also a favourite among staffers here, two of whom have called the beachside paradise home.
Best Viewpoint goes to the national park Sage Mountain, the lush peak tops the territory as the highest point. Notably, two voters prefered the view from “the boat’s deck”—and who wouldn’t?
Best New Building results in favour of the towering Commerce House in Road Town, a JOMA property designed by Roger Downing & Partner, which was erected last year. We were a bit surprised by two respondents, who found the new bathrooms at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park the most attractive new fixtures in all the BVI.
Best Historic Building goes to the Old Government House. I can’t help but wonder if our very own Hugh Whistler’s numerous articles on the building helped sway this vote. Two respondents voted for the Old HM Jail, which is reportedly the oldest standing building in Road Town, and a pretty cool but often overlooked landmark off Main Street.
Best National Park goes to The Baths, not arguably the most popular draw to the BVI. The beautiful volcanic boulders that dot the white beach and follow up VG's terrain help to bring the BVI into a paradisaical league of its own.
Best Villa Rental, according to readers, is Golden Pavilion, the stunning luxury villa tucked into Tortola’s east side. One reader lamented, “How do we know? We can’t afford them!”
Best Resort, after two recounts, goes to Rosewood Little Dix Bay, with the Peter Island Resort & Spa a close second. Notably, one reader is a big fan of “Last Resort,” the bar and restaurant that occupies most of Bellamy Cay and is probably the resort most visited by our staff.
Best Resort Pool goes to Scrub Island Resort & Spa, which made a splash among readers who side with the new double-decker pool, waterslide, hot tub and swim up bar.
Best Spa falls into the healing hands over at Rosewood Little Dix Bay. Notably, our pal Nir Zlochover picked up two votes for his no-frills private sessions.
Yacht Polls
Best Marina docks in at Nanny Cay, which offers guests all-encompassing ammenities and accomodations. Leverick Bay and Scrub Island locked in a tie for second place.
Best Beach in the BVI (drumroll please) goes to Tortola's Trunk Bay, with Smugglers Cove a tight second. One reader answered by abstaining, instead insisting “That would be telling” a valuable secret.
Best Hurricane Hole finds the safety of Paraquita Bay on Tortola’s southeast shore. Currently, the ship shelter is packed to the brim during this testing hurricane season, with masts spiking high above the seafront.
Best Yacht Club goes to the folks at Bitter End Yacht Club, the popular and lively Virgin Gorda resort. Other salts of the sailing world sided with the Royal BVI Yacht Club, who nearly nudged the BEYC.
Best Sailor goes to Alec Anderson, the All-American collegiate BVI sailor and Olympic hopeful. But many sailors deserve notable mention, like sailing legend Robin Tattersall, youngster Sam Morrell and the memory of Guy Eldridge, all who received favour among voters.
Best Regatta goes to the big one, BVI Spring Regatta, the famed event that drew in more than 100 boats from all over the world for its 40th celebration this year.
Best Sailing School goes to Nanny Cay’s Rob Swain Sailing School. Our pals at KATS also roped in a small handful of votes for their help to teach the ropes to youngsters.
Best Dive Shop is almost too close to call. But after recounts, Nanny Cay-based Blue Water Divers finishes a fin above VG-based Dive BVI.
Best Day Sail goes to Captain Chris and the crew over on White Squall II. The famous classic schooner topped one of the most varied-response categories on the survey.
The Fun Stuff…
Best Restaurant goes to The Dove. The Tortola restaurant takes the cake for its four-star dining experience. One reader, who may have overdosed on the high-class dining experience answered, “Anything but The Dove.”
Best Full Moon Party was quite literally a coin flip, with two dominant parties to choose from. But Trellis Bay, with its blazing fireballs and lively mocko jumbies, stole the show from the naughty revellers over at the Bomba Shack in Apple Bay. One participant simply prefers “My house.”
Best BVI Cocktail goes to the famous—and sometimes infamous—Painkiller. One jokester will take a “Tennessee Twister” to the beach over a bushwhacker or painkiller.
Best Weekend Getaway goes to Anegada, the sunken British Virgin Island that provides an otherworldly experience. Many also preferred to jump ship from the BVI and head over to Puerto Rico, the US territory about 90 miles west of Tortola that caught second place.
Best Airline to Take You There, another close call, goes to American Airlines who barely topped Fly BVI. One reader insists on flying “Richard Branson’s Jet” on weekend getaways.
Best Local Musician resoundingly goes to Cane Garden Bay’s Quito Rymer, who beat out notables Michael Beans, The Lashing Dogs and even international phenom and Carrot Bay local Iyaz.
Best Local Artist goes to Trellis Bay’s Aragorn Dick-Read, the sculptor extraordinaire who recently blazed a giant ball of fire in China for August’s full moon. One voter, who may or may not be this author’s mothe r, couldn’t help but vote for “Dan O’Connor’s Photography.”
All winners will receive, other than bragging rights, a certificate boasting the fact that they were YOUR choice as the BVI’s best. Additionally, the voter who won our drawing, Peter Clark, will receive a gift certificate for $100 to "Best Restaurant" winner, The Dove.
