VP2VI BVI. From DXNews.com

VP2VI Team will be active from British Virgin Islands, IOTA NA – 023 in April 2025.
Team – members of the Bavarian Contest Club, DA1DX ex DL6FBL, DK9IP, DL8LAS, DM6EE.
Recent DX Spots VP2VI
VP2VI Log searchSearch QSL via DJ4MX, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.
Information from their QRZ page:

The callsign VP2VI was originally assigned to Mr. Robert W. Denniston, W0DX.
Bob was IARU President from 1966 to 1974. In addition to many other accomplishments,
Bob was instrumental in preparing the release of the new WARC bands, which were
finally approved at the World Radio Conference in Geneva in 1979.
After his retirement, Bob lived in the British Virgin Islands until he passed away in 2002.
April 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of IARU – a great opportunity to commemorate
Bob’s achievements. We are very grateful that TRC, the Telecommunications Regulatory
Commission of the B.V.I. has authorized the use of VP2VI for our activity.
Before, in 2016, another group had the honor to operate the callsign VP2VI

https://dxnews.com/vp2vi/

Radio and Antenna Setup:

Five (5) Radio Setups each consisting of:
•Yaesu FT-DX10
•MicroHAM MK-III
•RF-POWER RF2K-S amplifier

Antennas:
•5-band Spiderbeam (10/12/15/17/20m) @10mH
•3-band WARC Spiderbeam (12/17/30m) @10mH
•DXCommander Vertical 12.4 from 10-40m
•Inverted-V for 60m
•Vertical for 80m / Inverted-L for 160m
•Two Beverage-on-Ground (BOG’s) towards Europe and North America / Asia
•4-ele 50 MHz Yagi for terrestrial operation
•VA6AM Triplexers + VA6AM/4O3A High Power Bandpass Filters

Logging with DXLog
FT8 by MSHV software => stay above 1000Hz when calling/working us!

The total weight of our equipment is >400 kg.
It is transported as (paid) excess baggage on the aircraft.

Location and Takeoff:
•Our location is right on the northern shore of the island,
with an unobstructable clear shot over water to all activity centers worldwide.
(The profile picture on the top of this page shows the view from our QTH to Europe.)
•We rely on the public power grid.
•We hope that the local noise situation will be OK.

Our goals:

Following up on our previous DXpeditions 3G0YA (April/May 2024, 140.000 contacts)
and PX0FF (October 2024, 159.000 contacts), we were looking for another good place
to hand out a lot of contacts to the DXers worldwide. We found the British Virgin Islands.

On Club Log, the British Virgin Islands are currently ranking as #114 Most Wanted country
worldwide; #96 from Europe; #38 from Asia and #173 from North America.
According to Club Log the demand is quite equal on Phone, CW and Data.
All of us can manage pile-ups in any mode, however we will only use SSB, CW and FT8 (MSHV).
•The highest demand is in Asia. Direction-wise, Asia lies “behind North Pole”.
We will try to pull out Asian stations whenever there is some propagation on a specific band.
•Contacts with Europe, North America and South America will be easy on all bands.
•We will not forget about our friends in Africa and the VK/ZL area.

British Virgin Islands (BVI)

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a British Overseas Territory consisting of about sixty islands and islets in the Caribbean, near Puerto Rico. Despite being a large cluster of territories, their total area is very small, just over 150 km2. The largest representatives of the archipelago are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. In total, about 25 thousand people live on them. The capital of the British Virgin Islands region is Rhode Town, a city located on Tortola.

A direct flight to the British Virgin Islands departs from St. Petersburg. You can also get here through one of the major Caribbean airports, such as Puerto Rico (most airplanes fly to the British Virgin Islands from San Juan, the flight takes 45 minutes). Such air service operates to the islands of Thomas, Antigua, St. Kitts (or St. Maarten), which are connected to the airport on Tortola. To reach the other islands, tourists will need to use charter or ferry services.

VP2VI. British Virgin Islands DX Pedition Banner.

Natural conditions

The climate of this Caribbean region is tropical, somewhat tempered by the constant trade winds. The difference in average temperature between the winter and summer seasons is not very great and is about 10 degrees C (21-24 C in winter and 29-32 C in summer). Most rainfall here is from September to November, and the hurricane season lasts from June to November.

The British Virgin Islands are predominantly of volcanic origin and are therefore characterized by hilly terrain. The Anegada Limestone stands out in this respect, which is flat and has interesting coral-like rock forms.

The largest of the islands is Tortola. In addition to the green hills, it attracts beautiful white sand beaches.

Virgin Gorda with a truly picturesque name, which translates as “fat maiden” (because of the shape, when viewed from the sea, resembling a woman lying on her side), boasts unusual geological formations called Bani.

The island of Jost Van Dyke is the smallest, but here tourists can observe large marine mammals – we are talking, of course, about cetaceans and dolphins.

Other islands of the archipelago offer tourists tranquility, secluded beaches and richness of nature, in particular national parks, which are an oasis for feathered inhabitants of the BVI. Other exotic fauna includes iguanas and turtles.

A little about the history of the archipelago

The Virgin Islands were originally inhabited by the Arawak Indian tribe, then by the Caribs. However, at the time of the arrival of Europeans here, the archipelago was considered uninhabited. The first white man to set foot on these lands was Columbus, who gave them the name Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes (St. Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins). But the Spanish did not establish settlements here, the Virgin Islands were of much greater interest to the English, French, Dutch, Dutch, Danes and, of course, pirates.

The first colonizers of these territories are considered to be the Dutch, who were eventually displaced by the British. The islands were of strategic importance to Britain, and soon sugar cane cultivation and the importation of African slaves began. Socio-economic changes in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries led to greater independence from the British crown, although the archipelago continued to be considered part of the British crown.

British Virgin Islands. Author – Jaromir GM.

Vacation and sightseeing

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) in the Caribbean Sea impress with their sea-colored waters, sun-drenched harbors and sandy beaches. They offer tourists fantastic conditions for sunbathing and relaxing in a true paradise, and are also an attraction for sailors (famous regattas are often organized here). The abundance of land and sheltered coves allows you to dive back in time for a moment in these waters. The British Virgin Islands boast a high standard of living, which also contributes to the diversity of tourist offerings.

Tortola is the largest island of the BVI, delighting with its tropical climate, laid-back Caribbean atmosphere of a perpetual party, fantastic cuisine combining spicy spices and sweetness of fruits. The sights of Tortola are only a foretaste of what awaits the tourist on the other islands of the archipelago, where everyone can choose the most beautiful wild beach at his discretion. A yacht cruise along the shores of the island will allow you to discover places inaccessible to view if you choose another way of traveling.

Tortola has a vibrant nightlife scene that is worth diving into as soon as you arrive. The famous full moon parties are a great opportunity to party and experience the local flavor.

Anegada is an island whose white beaches are the perfect place to relax and whose lobster tastes are unlike any other in the world. Diving at Horseshoe Reef (near Anegada), which stretches for several kilometers and is one of the longest coral reefs in the world, is sure to please those who like to dive in crystal clear waters.

Petra Island is a great place for swimming, sunbathing and diving. During a beach party here you should try freshly caught fish grilled by local chefs.

The shipwrecked salt island is also an excellent hangout for divers.

Cooper’s Island is good for sampling Caribbean cuisine to the sound of Caribbean music.

Virgin Gorda is the place where the Bani Reserve is located. Here the tourist will be especially interesting to wade through the natural labyrinth created by huge granite rocks. In Spanish Town it is worth staying overnight – it is a great opportunity to spend the evening sipping rum to live music.

The Dog Islands are a group of five uninhabited islets named after the first sailors. When they heard barking, they thought it was dogs, when in fact it was seals. The Dog Islands are the perfect place to maximize relaxation and enjoy the almost pristine Caribbean nature.

Jost Van Dyke is a great place for partygoers, as the streets of Great Harbor’s administrative center are bustling with nightclubs.

On Norman Island, anchor in Treasure Bay to explore the caves by swimming, diving or pontooning.

British Virgin Islands. Author – verplanck.

Entertainment and cuisine

Although most of us associate the Virgin Islands with untouched landscapes, it is here that you can easily find interesting evening entertainment. At nightfall, bars, discos, clubs and restaurants with live music actively beckon tourists. In addition, the islands often host festivals, concerts and celebrations. One of them is St. Ursula’s Day, which is celebrated on October 22 and is a public holiday. During this celebration, there are parades everywhere, live music, people dancing and having fun in the street. Other entertainment includes horse races and maritime regattas.

Food lovers have nothing to fear. The influence of British cuisine on the culinary art of this region has been moderate, and the chefs will surely be able to treat you to something original. Tourists are offered a huge choice of places where local and international cuisine is prepared. Typical dishes include mushrooms, corn porridge, which is most often served with fish, and callaloo soup. In addition, local chefs experiment with flavors, serving salmon with mango, for example, and dishes flavored with popular Indian spices. For drinks in the Virgin Islands, local rum is a must-try.

Accommodation

Staying in the British Virgin Islands – the pleasure is not cheap, but it is more than paid for by the quality of rest. Tourists here can choose where to spend their time: on a private island or in a luxury resort. Apartments and villas for rent also have their own charm, although it is possible that in small gesthouses and in places with a somewhat “worse” location economical people will be able to find cheaper offers.

VP2VI. Where are British Virgin Islands located. Map.