The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are considered one of the prime charter destinations in the world. Why? Because those wishing to learn how to sail can do so by line of sight, meaning they do not need to learn how to use complicated navigation equipment. Most boat owners are familiar with the BVI and love spending time in one of its 60 islands.

Living the BVI lifestyle is now easier than ever. Located in the shores of southern Tortola, Nanny Cay Resort and Marina is home to Nanny Cay Village. A waterside community comprised of eight blocks and a total of thirty-two units, 12 of which have already been sold, Nanny Cay Village overlooks the Sir Francis Drake Channel. The two and three-story homes are a little piece of paradise that is up for grabs. One of the main selling points is the fact that these homes have docks. In a boat-owning culture, this is very important. “It is difficult to find homes with docks,” states Miles Sutherland, Nanny Cay Resort and Marina’s Manager.

Nanny Cay Resort

These classic Caribbean architecture homes are constructed with concrete, ensuring that they will remain safe during the harsh hurricane season. Once inside,
the owner is welcomed by a spacious living area. The décor can be chosen from several available styles: Cottage, Island Elegance or Tropical Modern. In fact, when purchasing one of these units, owners can have an interior decorator shop everything for them for a turn-key move-in day. Everything from the countertops to the color of the appliances to which dishes to use can be chosen to please the owner’s taste. All units boast central air conditioning, private deck, walled courtyard, parking space and mooring space for a 24-foot boat.

An added bonus to purchasing a townhouse in Nanny Cay Village is that owners can rent their properties through the rental program without having to acquire a trade license to do so. “Theoretically, you can own [a townhouse] and it can cost you nothing if you rent it,” states Chris Smith from Coldwell Bankers. Interested buyers will need to apply for a Non Belongers Landholding License at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labor. This permit gives the licenseholder the right to own a specific property and is not transferable. While the process to obtain the license can take up to a year, Smith states that in his seventeen years in the business, not one license has been turned down.

Cameron McColl, Chairman and highest shareholder, is a conservative investor, constructing slowly as the project sells. “Once we have a commitment, then we start building.” In fact, Nanny Cay Village is the only project that has managed to pre-sell in the entire British Virgin Islands, a feat not to be ignored. Having bought Nanny Cay Resort and Marina in 2001 with a group of other investors, the group has invested on the improvement of the facilities at a rate of $1 million a year since its purchase. These investments in infrastructure
have helped improve the facilities in ways that add value, such as dredging the channel leading to the marina, closed captioning TV monitoring system, and 24- hour security.

Other ongoing improvements to the property include the roads and gardening in the resort as well as other cosmetic changes such as replacing the kitchens, bathrooms, beds and some of the furniture in the hotel. Future improvements include updating the website, adding
an online reservation service, rental car reservations, power boat rentals, and reservations for other activities, including swimming with the dolphins, diving, sailing, and kite surfing. “We want to make this as good a resort and marina as we can,” says McColl.

Villa owners can enjoy all of the resort’s benefits, including access to the marina and boatyard. The marina has berths for 180 yachts, a high speed fuel dock, 120/220 volt electricity, luxury shower facilities, water and ice, and garbage disposal. The boatyard, on the other hand, can store up to 260 yachts, two boat lifts, one of which is a wide-body Marine Travelift, capable of lifting and moving 70 tons. Other available services include cradle storage, shipwrights, fiberglass
and Awigrip experts; yacht fitting; technical, electrical, and techanical marine engineering services; yacht surveying; rigging; sail loft; full chandlery; laundry; internet access; provisioning store; and yacht sales.

Phase 1 of Nanny Cay Village, consisting of eight townhouses located in the Pelican and Elizabeth blocks, has been completed. Phase two is currently underway and is expected to be completed by December 2009.■