Nanny Cay’s Buzz - From the hive of activity around its shores, it's evident there’s much going on.  Nanny Cay modestly introduces itself as a working resort and marina, home to 180 berths and two travel lifts capable of hoisting out 50 and 70 tonnes of boat.  But if you don’t need to haul out, you can rent a board and haul ass on the water.  It’s way more than just a marina.  It’s a home, a party,  a workplace, a playground, and a marina.

On any given day with the right conditions the shores burst alive with windsurfers, kite surfers, and IC 24 sailors - whose yelling can be heard from shore.  Nanny Cay has in recent years fast become a water sports centre.  

Here the islands best and up-comers pitch in local arenas, training to go after the bigger fish of international competition.  From all sizes of watercraft, dinghies to 50-foot yachts Nanny Cay attracts some of the best in water sports to come and stake their claim as champions. It’s all about skill, competition and fun out on the Sir Francis Drake Channel.  

In addition the scene is backed up by many teaching establishments right on Nanny Cay’s shore.  Rob Swain's Sailing School operates courses both day sail and offshore as well as navigation from here. Island Surf and Sail has for many years taught windsurfing and surfing from the saltwater lagoon, where on occasion local swimmers compete and train.  The Nanny Cay location and channel access attract a variety of people in business and leisure.  This is where the highly regarded Blue Water Divers and Husky’s salvage tug are based.  What you see offshore at work and play is essentially an extension of the teaching and business establishments based at Nanny Cay.

On its shores several bars and restaurants play host to a vibrant social scene.  With night volleyball and regular barbeques, and parties-a-plenty the nights are full.  There have even been a few weddings on the beach front.  If you need a sandwich: cold beer and a new bikini, you could try the stores on the dock front. On the windward shore a pathway harbours people walking their dogs at sunset.  The new beaches were created when the marina was dredged two years ago.  All of the coral sand lifted was replaced onto its shoreline.  Its eastern shore with trades blowing on shore is the site of the luxury condo development project.  Once coral, these shores are making their own beaches with a Miami style breakwater creating natural sand deposits in small bays.

For pampering there is a salon, spa and gym. Enjoy a haircut; have a work out and a massage; relax with a luxurious hot shower, then if you like pop up to Peg Legs restaurant for a catch of the day.

Charter companies and event organisers find the infrastructure of Nanny Cay vital to their guests.  The hotel provides a convenient stay for short term and offers extended rates. Early arrivals do just fine with the pool and beach on site. Here is a 40 bedroom hotel and two restaurants with a selection of shops and amenities. It has a working yard with two travel lifts capable of hoisting out 50 and 70 tonnes of boat and hosts a set of businesses that can fix and provide most anything nautical.  Charter boats move in the off season from the docks into the yard for repair and refit.

Behind the scenes the sailing industry is hard at work.  Sail makers and repair outfitters Quantum Sails settled at Nanny Cay servicing the marina and its charter companies. BVI Painters and ES Shipwrights operate services for repair and refurbishment in the yard.  Should you want buy a boat BVI Yacht Sales offer brokering services.  Each business tends to complement the other.

Location, diversity and little altercation! The range of businesses using this mid town (pseudo) offshore resort is as vast and dynamic as the many different businesses developing in Tortola.  Yacht Shots photography set out for their daily shooting of passing yachts.  From here and it takes about twenty minutes to get to Norman Island home of the Willy T.   Nanny Cay has positioned itself to accommodate the needs of a wide-ranging clientele.

Proud of its achievements, Nanny Cay continues to move forward. Currently developing its waterfront condo development, Nanny Cay sets out to make itself the model Marina for the Caribbean.  Their vision is to create a community says General Manager Miles Sutherland-Pilch, “It’s fantastic to the see the place grow and evolve into not only a fun resort but the premier marine facility in the Caribbean. It’s amazing to see how far we have come in 6 years and we’re not stopping here. You’ll see continual improvements year by year.”  

Its topography is essentially that of a small coral island that once looked like a spit. Land fill deposits allowed it to develop along with its own salt water lagoon. It absorbs trade winds funnelling between Tortola’s southern shores and Peter Island. Its most exposed southern side has huge blasts of washed up Jurassic stag coral from hurricane battered reefs, yet the thriving development exudes charm, activity and synergy. Its facilities and beaches have allowed for event villages and support base for the BVI Spring Sailing Festival and Regatta, the Oyster Regatta and the Chief Ministers cup to name a few. Its geographic location makes it attractive for learning the ocean too.  While hosting many events and associations Nanny Cay is the proud sponsor and host of the Kids and the Sea (KATS) an organisation dedicated to introducing our children to the water.

Conditions for water sports vary slightly in the BVI and Nanny Cay sailors know the changes all too well. Winds in winter are elevated from the north shore over the hills and create steady fresh winds, whilst in summer the south east trades fly through Dead Man’s Chest lifting up the seas giving the outlook a sun teased array of white horses.  In essence Nanny Cay epitomises flux and a positive outlook, a lifestyle choice of islanders and keeping all resources close at hand.

To be able to go to one spot and enjoy all these facilities is the nature of the island, its experience becoming so much more than itself and transforming each visitor to these shores into a whirlwind of fun, excitement and relaxation. Slow paced or fast, it’s all time on the island where we live and enjoy, Nanny Cay pretty much keeping activity on its toes on and off the water…enjoy and soak it up, good place to do it.

Those working in Nanny Cay call it 'Nanny Land' because really you've got to have a reason to leave it.