VP2VRX BVI. From DXNews.com

VP2VRX Team will be active from Tortola Island, IOTA NA – 023, British Virgin Islands, in CQ WW DX SSB Contest, 25 – 26 October 2025.
Team – N4XTT, W3MLJ, KC1KUG, K4BEN.
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VP2VRX Log searchSearch QSL via N4XTT, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.
Before and after contest they will be active as VP2V/N4XTT, VP2V/W3MLJ, VP2V/KC1KUG, VP2V/K4BEN.

The British Virgin Islands – a cozy haven for pirates of all times

The British Virgin Islands are the northeastern part of the Antilles archipelago and are located on the border of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Their neighbors, apart from the Lesser Antilles, are also the Spanish and US Virgin Islands, which are de facto owned by the United States.

British Virgin Islands. Author – John Jackson.

The story of the Virgin of Tolstoy and her Little Sisters: from the Arawaks to the British

The British Virgin Islands were settled before our era. At that time, they were inhabited by representatives of the Arawak Indian tribe. In the 15th century, the territory was conquered by the Caribs. At the same time, the Virgin Islands were discovered by Europeans.

In 1493, Christopher Columbus spotted one of the islands.

Perhaps it was due to his long stay at sea, but the contours of the relief reminded the famous navigator of the outline of a female figure. Therefore, the island he discovered was named Virgin Gorda, which meant “fat virgin.” Over time, the name Virgin Islands (shortened version) became established for the entire archipelago.

The full name sounds like Saint Ursula surrounded by 11,000 virgins. Therefore, the official flag and coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands depict Saint Ursula in white robes with a burning lamp in her hand. Around her are 11 more lamps, symbolizing the virgins. In addition to the coat of arms, the blue background of the flag also features the flag of Great Britain, which is no less eloquent than the name of the territory itself, testifying to its current affiliation.

It is noteworthy that the Spanish, who were the first to discover these islands, did not consider them very interesting in terms of development. However, they still declared them their property. Just in case. But other European maritime powers began to show interest in these patches of land. The British, French, and Dutch visited the Virgin Islands—in short, practically everyone who fought for dominance at sea. At one time, there was even an entire island colonized by settlers from Denmark. And, of course, the islands’ location in the Caribbean Sea could not go unnoticed by pirates. But the once warlike Caribs were unlucky — they were almost completely wiped out by the European settlers.

The first serious attempt to settle the largest island, Tortola, was made by the Dutch in the mid-17th century. However, the English, who replaced them some 30 years later, were more successful in this regard. They settled not only Tortola, but also the neighboring islands of Virgin Gorda and Anegada. The rest of the story is quite typical for that region and time: sugar cane plantations and black slaves working on them. After the abolition of slavery in the 1830s, slaves from Africa were replaced by free workers from Portugal and India.

In 1967, the British Virgin Islands gained the status of a British overseas colony with internal self-government. The government is represented by an Executive Council headed by a governor who reports to the UK. Eight years earlier, the US dollar became the official local currency.

Tortola Island, British Virgin Islands. Author – MisterQque.

Tortola – the starting point for exploring the British Virgin Islands

Tortola is not only the largest of the British Virgin Islands, but also the most densely populated. About 90% of the territory’s population is concentrated here. The island was also named by the Spanish, who called it “Tortola,” meaning “land of doves.”

The capital, Road Town, is located in the southern part of the island.

Among the architectural attractions are the Post Office, built in the 18th century, the Anglican Church of St. Philip, and the former governor’s residence, now a museum. The oldest building is Fort Carlotte (also known as Fort Berth after its reconstruction by the British). The structure was originally built by buccaneers who lived on the island in the 17th century. A century later, the British, who had established themselves here, rebuilt it and named it after William Bert, governor of the Leeward Islands. Another century later, Fort Bert became a grim prison, and it is with this unfortunate reputation that it has survived to the present day. There are two hills in the city, both of which have the same name, Fort Hill. Both hills are also home to fortresses built in the 17th century.

The O’Neill Botanical Gardens, with their exotic flowers, artificial lake, and small waterfall, will also delight visitors to the island. Equally beautiful is the Queen Elizabeth II Garden, where you can even have a picnic.

There are also many attractions in the vicinity of Road Town, both man-made and natural. You can also charter a yacht here to explore other islands and islets.

British Virgin Islands. Author – verplanck.

Anegada – the final resting place of two hundred pirate ships

The coral atoll of Anegada, whose name translates as “sunken island,” is the second largest island in the British Virgin Islands.

It is essentially one large nature reserve. However, it attracts tourists not only with its natural attractions, but also with its curious historical heritage in the form of sunken ships. During the heyday of Caribbean pirates, up to 200 ships of various tonnages found their final resting place in the vicinity of Anegada. Perhaps pirate treasures are still there…

The main settlement of Anegada Harbor is a small provincial town where life flows quietly and measuredly. It is home to the Anegada Museum, which has an interesting exhibition of items found on sunken ships. There are also burial mounds on the island where the former owners of the islands, the Arawak Indians, are laid to rest.

Virgin Gorda – The Fat Virgin, tempting with its pools

Virgin Gorda is the third largest and second most populated island in the British Virgin Islands. It attracts tourists primarily with its famous baths, created naturally by the tides, as well as the last dry mountain forest in the Caribbean Sea.

The main town on Virgin Gorda is Spanish Town. The island is pretty unplanned, and there aren’t many man-made attractions. The only things to see are the ruins of an old fort built by the Spanish and some abandoned copper mines that have been turned into historical parks.

Large crowds of tourists gather in the south of Devil’s Bay, where the famous Bates are located. This area is visible from afar thanks to the chaotic pile of huge volcanic boulders. The impact of mountain streams and ocean waters has led to the formation of huge caves and natural pools filled with seawater. Here you can not only swim, but also wander to your heart’s content among the stone labyrinths.

The Little Sisters are a real treasure trove of Caribbean nature

South of Tortola are a bunch of small islands that are also part of the British Virgin Islands.

They are collectively known as the Little Sisters, and each has its own unique charm. Norman Island, for example, is famous as a “pirate island” and is considered the prototype for Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous “Treasure Island.” Necker Island is famous for being purchased in its entirety in the last century by the flamboyant billionaire Richard Branson. He developed it, building a state-of-the-art hotel complex. Now Necker Island attracts world celebrities like a magnet. Salt Island is home to a long-standing British tradition: every year, a sack of sea salt is collected here and sent to the Queen of Great Britain as a kind of tribute. And in its coastal waters lies the sunken frigate “Rhon,” a favorite of underwater explorers. It is relatively young, having sunk in the second half of the 19th century.

Offshore companies and crime – are they incompatible?

The British Virgin Islands also have a reputation as an offshore zone. Around 700,000 large and small companies are registered here, which is almost 30 times the total population of the state. It takes just one day to set up a company here.

Equally interesting is the fact that, despite its turbulent pirate past, the British Virgin Islands is considered one of the safest places on the planet in terms of crime. Therefore, tourists in this tropical paradise can simply enjoy their vacation and admire the surrounding views.

VP2VRX. Where is Tortola Island located. Map.