Crisis? What crisis?

Uber-cool Steele Point has just announced that they've opened a new guest house. Blackbeard's Hideaway - a two-bedroom villa which features a fully equipped kitchen, open living and dining area, large pool deck and outdoor dining areas is open for business. And according to the availability calendar already has bookings.

Off-season weekly rates run at $4,125 U.S. while high-season will set you back $5,500. Larger groups can still book the stunning Steele Point house or the smaller Gestalt.

Affordable yachting

If you love luxury yachts but hate the high price tag they carry then fractional ownership may be for you.

Tortola-based The Moorings offers an affordable (relatively speaking) deal which can get you on board your own private luxury yacht for less than half a mil.

For $430,000 you can buy a one-tenth ownership of the yacht pictured here to the left. It entitles you to four weeks on board including a captain and chef.

After five years the yacht is sold and proceeds are divided.

How great is that?

BVI Posh

A new magazine covering all things Caribbean has just launched with an event in the Caribbean American community in Brooklyn, NY.

The fledgling mag was born of the mind of Founder, Publisher and Editor Janette Brin who was born in St. Thomas (USVI) and raised in Tortola (BVI).

According to the press release, "POSH Magazine will feature articles on personal growth, social and political issues affecting the Caribbean region and its people globally coupled with profiles of celebrities and rising stars of the community."

It's too early to tell whether the magazine will deliver on all these claims but the website is pretty swish.

Lambert: The killer beach?

The folks over at Jaunted are asking people to list 2007's killer beaches. Places in paradise that should come with a warning label or danger sign. Low and behold - Lambert beach made the list.

"This half-moon-shaped strand lures in sun and surf lovers with its easily-accessible yet rarely crowded location. Once suckered in like bees to honey, swimmers find themselves facing a formidable undertow. Ocean currents are stronger than any swimmers we happen to know, so make sure you take a gander at the conditions before splashing in to cool off," writes Jaunted user Pbb.

Well that's one way of getting on the map. Personally I've seen some pretty strong undertow all over the BVI -- notably at Brewer's Bay and Josiah's.

FT does the BVI

The respected U.K. newspaper, the Financial Times, just published a special report on the BVI (subscriber only) that's a must-read for addicts like me.

The report deals mainly with the offshore business dealings of the tiny jursidiction as well as the business of upscale tourism and the island's attempts to balance development with environmental responsibility.