"The British Virgin Islands" is a stunning photographic portrait by the accomplished photographer, Steve Simonsen, published by 34 Main Street Publishers.

New in 2009, this is the quintessential photographic essay on the BVI. The anchorages, the sailboats, the beaches, the towns, the people, with all of their natural beauty, are artistically presented in this beautiful, 128 page "coffee table" book. This is a truly beautiful keepsake, as well as great gift for your BVI-loving friends.

This volume is the only one of its kind, in print! I know of no other photo books dedicated to the BVI. Although a couple retailers in the US sell this book, 99% of the copies are sold in stores in the BVI (for a the full $39.95 list price).

"The British Virgin Islands"
Photography by: Steve Simonsen
(Hardcover)

Our special low price - $29.95
(suggested retail $39.95)

The book will ship alone for $4.95 via US Priority Mail, but can be combined with other items.

Note: There is no usable, online version. This must be purchased, and viewed in hand, but for $6.95, it's an obvious bargain.

This is my best selling item !

Franko's Maps has produced this one-of-a-kind map showing every notable scuba and snorkeling site in the BVI. This is not just for the diver - it's a must for any BVI visitor, especially for the price. It includes main boating routes, land features, dive shops, 100+ fish and coral ID pictures, anchorages, and much more.

The BVI Dive Association, and numerous other experts and locals, helped edit Franko’s Map to make it the most accurate and useful resource of its kind.

This 26" x 18" map is foldable, and printed on waterproof, rip-proof, plasticized paper, for durable use on your BVI adventure.

Special price - $6.95
(suggested retail $10.00)

If ordered alone, the map will ship for $1.00. With a book order, there's no extra shipping.

** You can read a very detailed description on the publisher's website.

"British Virgin Islands - Sheltered Isles of Sea and Sun"
by: Claudia Colli
ISBN 1405028629

This book, printed in a coated, water resistant paper, covers a little bit on everything. It's a lively and informative guide, replete with many color photographs, which takes a look at the islands' history, culture, geography, flora and fauna, and its people. It explains how visitors can enjoy many leisure activities such as sailing, diving and hiking - from national parks to beaches, from wildlife to arts and crafts, the visitor will find all the information needed to make the most of a trip to the BVI. Claudia Colli is a well-known British Virgin Islands writer, and editor of the BVI Welcome Tourist Guide.

Our price is $13.95 (suggested retail $16.95)

"The Drinking (and eating) Man’s Guide To The BVI"
3rd edition
by: Julian Putley

Well... how do I describe it? It's all about having a great time with food and drink throughout the BVI. It's full of recipes, limericks, cartoons, and humorous anecdotes, as well as being a great guide to wonderful restaurants and watering holes. This third edition has $200+ worth of freebees that will pay for the cost many times over, so you absolutely can't lose. 2-4 "refreshment stops" will cover the cost of the book. I know charter groups where every one of the crew all get a copy, just to use the coupons. This book is incredibly popular, even to moderate drinkers. Written by Julian Putley, a local BVI author, and a great guy.

Special price - $13.95 (suggested retail $14.95)

Cruising Guides
These are the essential cruising guides to the BVI & USVI. Virtually no one cruises without these books. They'll prove immensely useful, in fact, necessary, in charting your courses and planning your anchorages. The main guide includes a decent 27" x 18" nautical chart (2-sided). Because there is lots of good ashore info too, many land vacationers love having this guide.

Completely revised and updated for 2009-2011 edition with full color sketch charts, these guides have been indispensable companions for sailors and visitors to these islands since 1982. Includes a FREE 17" x 27" color planning chart covering the Virgin Islands from St. Thomas to Anegada.

Our special low price is $21.95
(new suggested retail raised to $31.95)

9780944428863

"Virgin Anchorages"
by Nancy & Simon Scott
Cruising Guide Publications, Inc.
ISBN 0-944428-50-9

still the current edition

This is a wonderful companion to the 2009-11 cruising guide to the left, with its terrific aerial photographs of many of the anchorages you're likely to frequent. Chart your courses with confidence. Both books are inexpensive and great volumes to have as "keepsakes", after the trip, as well.

Our Special price $17.95
(suggested retail $24.95)

0944428509

Finally arrived !

Fantastic aerial photographs (and guidance text) for most any of the anchorages you'll visit in the Windward and Leeward Islands.

"Windward Anchorages"
Our Special price $19.95
(suggested retail $29.95)

"Leeward Anchorages"
Our Special price $19.95
(suggested retail $29.95)

Brand new versions of the Windward Anchorages and Leeward Anchorages, modeled after the Virgin Anchorages to the left have finally been published, after a very long wait.

The Virgin Anchorages to the left is still the current edition that is shipping - a great partner to the Cruising Guide. The publisher says that the new version will not be out in 2010. My best guess is summer or fall of 2011. Stay tuned.

2009-10 Sailor's Guide to the Windward Islands
ISBN 978-0-944428-85-6
Cruising Guide Publications, Inc.
Our special low price is $21.95
(suggested retail $29.95)

9780944428856

** This includes St. Vincent and the Grenadines

"Corals & Fishes Pocket Guide"
by Idaz & Jerry Greenberg
ISBN 091300829X

This is the fully waterproof edition. It measures 4.5 x 6" and contains 64 pages packed with great pictures and information. I personally think that this book is an essential companion to any BVI snorkeler. It's big enough to read very easily, but small enough to stick in your pocket and take with you. Its waterproof paper makes it safe to leave it lying around the boat, or taking to the beach. Take it ashore and look at it with your kids and friends to talk over lunch about what you just saw on your last dive.

Special price $8.95

If ordered alone, this book will ship for $1.00.

~~ not to scale ~~

"Laminated Fishcard "
from Seahawk Press

This is NOT a book. It's a waterproof, laminated fish ID card. This is popular two-sided guide shows 75 species of the most beautiful and commonly seen fishes of the Tropical Atlantic, arranged by family. This is totally waterproof. In fact, you can take it into the water, and carry it ashore. 9 1/2" X 6 1/4"

Special price $5.95

(Also, a pocket size: 4 1/2" x 6 1/4" - $3.95)

If ordered alone, the cards will ship for $1.00. With a book order, there's no extra shipping.

click to enlarge

"Franko's Fishcard & Divers Guide"

This is an alternative laminated fish ID card. This two-sided, waterproof card is 9" X 6". The map surely doesn't take the place of Franko's diving map at the top of this page, but it's a handy, rugged item and tool, and a great keepsake that makes a gift to crew members.

Special price $5.95

If ordered alone, the cards will ship for $1.00. With a book order, there's no extra shipping.

Placemat. This is a rugged, laminated placemat displaying a nautical chart of the BVI and St. John. (Anegada not shown). Placemats are 11 x 17 inches, two-sided color, with rounded corners. The reverse side shows signal flags and rules of the road whistle signals.

This is a novelty item, but BVI fans love to use them on the boats or at home.

2010 BVI Calendars
~~~ Sold Out for 2010 ~~~

"Chesapeake Bay Ports of Call & Anchorages"
by: Thomas A. Henschel

More than 40 ports of call and anchorages are depicted in full page, crystal clear, color aerial photos in this essential companion to your preferred Chesapeake cruising guide. This resource graphically depicts recommended anchorages, navigational information, landmarks, entrance and exit routes, restaurants, attractions, and marinas. It is so beautiful, that it truly makes a great coffee table keepsake of one of the most beautiful cruising grounds in the country.

Why do I have a Chesapeake cruising resource here? Because it's an area every sailor should experience!

Special price - $24.95 (suggested retail $29.95)
Limited quantity available

Click to see guide unfolded (one side)
$5.95

"Caribbean Birds"
(A Pocket Traveller Guide)
This reference guide is a wonderful resource for beginners and experts alike. It illustrates and describes nearly 150 birds for clear identification, including water birds, near shore birds, parrots, perching birds, birds of prey, and more. At $5.95, it should be part of every island visitor's collection.

This 8 1/2" high guide unfolds to 22", and conveniently back to 4" wide, for easy pocket storage. It is heavily laminated for durability and protection against the elements.

 

$5.95

"Weather"
(A Pocket Traveller Guide)

A beginners primer to weather - clouds, storms, weather patterns, and more. Same durable construction as bird and star guides to the right.

............
$5.95 each

"The Southern Night Sky"
(A Pocket Traveller Guide)

This is a chart to prominent stars and southern constellations (winter and summer skies) optimally viewed from between latitudes of 15 and 25 degrees south, but folks like to get this for the Caribbean since some southern constellations are visible, from the islands. This glows in the dark, so finding the Southern Cross "for the first time," shouldn't be too hard.

"The Night Sky"
(A Pocket Traveller Guide)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These two guides and the ones to the left measure 8 1/2" high, and unfold to 22", and conveniently back to 4" wide, for easy pocket storage. They are heavily laminated for durability and protection against the elements.

Click to enlarge
$9.95
($11.95 list price)
25 1/2" x 37 3/4"

The "St. John Virgin Islands National Park Trail Map" is the most comprehensive recreational and topographical map for Virgin Islands National Park. It shows all of the hiking trails and coral reefs on St. John, complete with full descriptions and directions.

One of the primary reasons BVI sailors go to St. John is to walk the absolutely beautiful trails on this beautiful island. -- heavily coated to be waterproof & tear resistant.

4 1/4" x 9 1/4" folded
25 1/2" x 37 3/4" fully opened

• US & British Virgin Islands
• Bahamas

Bahamas
Borch Map


Click to see guide unfolded (one side)
$8.95
($10.95 list price)
opens up to 39" x 19.5"

 

Payment Terms & Shipping Costs
personal check ** money order ** certified check ** PayPal ** (sorry no credit cards)

To order: It's simple. You can just email me your order (or questions) to monk@madriver.com, and I will reply with a confirmation, so that you are sure of the shipping date and total costs. Most orders will ship out immediately from Vermont. You can also just mail your order with a check to the address below. If you do, please include your email address, so I can let you know that I received your check, and that your order is shipping out. It's really best to email first - and I'll get your order right out!

You can pay via PayPal, but it must be a transfer from your checking account or existing PayPal funds - NOT credit card. Email me, if you'd like to use PayPal. It's easy - all that you need to give PayPal is my email address. Unfortunately, PayPal now charges an extra 3% (minimum of $1.50) for their transactions, which we would have to add to the order.

This is a small and personal enterprise, so please feel comfortable about shooting me an email to set up an order. Most folks do, and are pleased with the quick response.

Frank Burkle
3193 Horse Farm Rd.
Weybridge, VT 05753
802-238-1616

Shipping Costs

All orders shipped US Mail (not UPS or Fedex). Please make sure you give me an address that takes Mail delivery.

Books (Media) shipping costs: $4.00 for one book by itself (only $3.00, if that book is the Drinking Man's Guide, or Claudia Colli's BVI book). $5.00 for 2 books. $7.00 for 3. $8.00 for 4 books, $9.95 for 5-6 books. There is no extra shipping charge for the Laminated Fishcard, the BVI Calendar, or a map, when it's purchased with a book order.

I keep the shipping as reasonable as possible, so just email me your desired order (and any questions), and I'll confirm your total cost, with shipping. Costs are a best estimate because some books are considerably heavier than others. Also, sometimes it's worth an extra buck or so to expedite with a Priority Flat rate. I will always advise you of the best way to ship when I confirm your order.

Sometimes, the shipping cost will actually be less than the above, if I can maximize what I squeeze into a flat rate Priority Mail package. Just email me, and I'll give you the scoop.

Oval BVI decal shipping: No charge.

Maps, Pocket Traveller Guides, laminated fishcards: $1.00 mailed alone - usually no shipping when mailed with a book order.

Flag-related-products: $2.00 any quantity, $.50 with any book order. If it's just one or two small items like a patch or lapel pin, that I can fit into an chubby envelope, just add $1.00.

Laminate placemat chart shipping: 1-4 placemats for $3.00, 4-8 placemats for $6.00, but... when ordered with 2 or more books, I'll reduce the shipping. Email for a quote. (Sorry, for the confusion, but I just want to be fair.)

Note: Since this is not a big money-making proposition, please make sure your check is good, your mailing address is clear, and I have your email address to confirm shipment. Feel free to confirm a mailed order/check with an email to me.

Confused? Just email me your order, and I'll let you know what the shipping cost will be. It's that simple.