Ever since Hurricane Irma decimated the Bitter End Yacht Club in 2017, efforts to rebuild have been ongoing. It’s not as easy as it sounds, given that the Bitter End is aptly named for being at the edge of the Caribbean islands before the Atlantic Ocean blankets everything. Just getting debris off Virgin Gorda and supplies delivered by boat took years.
In December 2021, the marina reopened for limited service—and now there’s even more reason to celebrate, with the return of maxi racing and the reopening of hotel accommodations on shore.
“It’s been eight years,” says Lauren Hokin, whose family has owned the Bitter End since 1973. “I feel like we have 10 hotel rooms, so that makes us a bona fide boutique resort. It feels a little bit like what we were 50 years ago.”
Another 10 hotel rooms are in the plans, along with a resort pool and spa, probably in the next two years. “We built a really spectacular reception area that’s a big, open-air building with a lounge and check-in area for our guests,” she says. “It’s also a space that we can host private events in.”
Sailors with the first regatta to return got to see it all in March. Hokin says she’s thrilled with the response her team received to all the new construction.
“I was so jazzed to see people genuinely loving the place—the feel, the style, just feeling really at home and having a blast,” she says. “It validated the path that we chose. It was creating a modern interpretation of this place that has been in our family for 50 years, and really staying true to it.”
History Matters
Rebuilding the Bitter End Yacht Club is not for the faint of heart. The place has been a staple of BVI cruising for decades. Boaters have a strong love for this place. Many cruisers would have rebelled if the classic charm had been lost to history. “Before the old place got taken down by a hurricane, when we got rid of the salad bar, there was a revolt,” says managing owner Lauren Hokin. “Change is hard for some people. We get that. Our family cares deeply about this place. It’s part of who we are. You can update the look and feel, and change the way certain things look, but at the end of the day, there’s a spirit and vibe, and I think we managed to maintain that. It’s the thing that counts.”
