
Anegada
| Cooper
Island | Jost
Van Dyke,Sandy Cay,Sandy Spit |
Norman
Island |
Peter
Island | Salt
Island | Tortola
| Virgin
Gorda
Tortola, the turtle dove, is the
largest island despite its mere 21 square
miles. The capital of the BVI's is Road Town,
with its numerous marinas, hotels, thriving
ships chandleries and boatyards, it is a
buzz with social activity.
It is six miles from Road Town to
West End. There you will find a protected
harbor, bordered by typically flamboyant
architecture, known as Sopers Hole. This is
one of the hot spots for shopping, dining and
entertainment for the yachting community. It
is also an ideal place to anchor when going to
the infamous Bomba's Shack full moon party
(see 1999 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
Edition).
The peaks of Sage Mountain dominate the west
side of the island. The area is a natural rain
forest which is preserved as a national park
for the enjoyment of hikers and future
generations. The lookout platform at the
summit affords a superb panoramic view.
On the
largely undeveloped north side of the islands
there are many natural and historical sites of
beauty and interest.
Cane Garden Bay, the subject of many
postcards has a white palm fringed beach
stretching the entire length of the bay. The
Callwood Rum Distillery is housed there in a
musty stone building dating back to slavery.
Arundel rum in old and new bottles line the
shelves. Also to be seen are the copper
boiling vats, the old still and the cane
crusher.
Brewers Bay is without question one of the
most beautiful anchorages in the Virgin
Islands. Fortunately it is seldom used by
visiting yachtsmen owing to the extensive
coral formations which make access to the
anchorage difficult for the novice. While the
snorkeling here is excellent, time should also
be taken to explore ashore. For those
interested in taking a short walk, there are
the ruins of Tortola's only remaining windmill
on the slopes of Mount Healthy. The entire
north shore is scattered with numerous beaches
and coves, many of which are unknown to the
visiting yachtsman. |