Teaching the BVI to Sail and Swim
Emma Paull has launched BVI Watersports at Trellis Bay to teach children and adults to kayak, sail, SUP and swim, with a goal that every child in the BVI can enjoy the water safely. The programme offers camps, after-school classes and low-cost lessons while encouraging more local participation in the yachting and marine sector.
Emma Paull, a long-time resident of the British Virgin Islands, is leading a grassroots effort to teach local children to swim and sail through her programme BVI Watersports, based at Trellis Bay on Beef Island, Tortola. Using the beach area attached to Jeremy's Kitchen, which she and her partner took over in 2019, Emma established regular classes for children in 2021 and has since expanded the programme to reach more families across the island.
Emma grew up in the UK where community-run sailing programmes and competitive dinghy racing shaped her skills and passion. After meeting her partner Kawa, who works in the BVI yacht charter industry, she recognised a gap: yachting and related marine jobs are vital to the territory's tourism economy but historically employ few islanders.
Emma's long-term aim is to get more children comfortable on and around the water so they consider marine careers as they grow. The programme is intentionally broad: beyond lessons in sailing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), BVI Watersports emphasises water safety and environmental appreciation.
Children explore salt ponds, snorkel, learn about local wildlife such as conch, starfish and baby turtles, and are encouraged to develop a lasting curiosity about the islands. Emma says this combination of skills and nature education is central to keeping children safe and connected to the marine environment.
BVI Watersports runs 14 weeks of camps during school holidays as well as after-school and weekend classes for ages four to 16. The initiative also hires former students to assist younger groups, creating local employment and coaching pathways. Adult equipment rentals and classes are available, and Emma recently qualified as a swimming instructor and invested in a calm teaching pool in East End to improve consistency in lessons.
The need is urgent: currently about 75% of children in schools near Trellis Bay cannot swim. To address cost barriers, BVI Watersports offers no-cost or low-cost lessons funded by donations. Emma notes the programme's fundraising targets clearly: $20 covers a child for a weekend fun session, $250 covers a one-week camp spot, and $1,000 pays monthly rent for the site.
Local residents who want to support or learn more can contact BVI Watersports by phone at +1 284 343 7406, visit bviwatersports.org or follow @bviwatersports on Instagram. The programme represents a practical investment in community safety, youth opportunity and the future local workforce of the territory.
Primary source: VI Property&Yacht