The British Virgin Islands have a deep history spanning thousands of years. A beautiful destination for the vacation of a lifetime, the 60 islands are part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are famous for yachting as well as their exceptional beauty. The territory includes four main islands: Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke and more than 30 other smaller islands and islets. This article goes through the rich history of the islands as well as why it’s such a fantastic place to visit for your yachting vacation.
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The Ancient History of the Islands
The first known inhabitants of the BVI were the Arawak Indians, who we know migrated from South America at around 100 BC to 200 AD. They are well known for their Arawakan languages and their diverse cultures. There is, however, evidence that the Amerindians or Indigenous peoples of the Americas had a presence on the islands from as far back as 1500 BC. The more aggressive Carib Indians later displaced the Arawaks in the 15th century. They were well known for their seafaring and warfare, making the BVI an ideal location for them to target and take over.
Early European Exploration
Christopher Columbus was the first European to see the islands in 1493 on his second voyage. He is, in part, the person who named the islands as they are known today, naming them Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes (Saint Ursula and her 11,000 Virgins), which was then shortened to The Virgin Islands. The Spanish laid original claims to the island, but they did not choose to settle in them. The first European settlement was established by the Dutch on Tortola at around 1648. Pirates were also known to frequent the islands as a hideout in the 17th and early 18th centuries.
The English captured Tortola from the Dutch in 1672, which effectively made the islands a British Colony, which they still are today, hence the British Virgin Islands as the final name of the islands. Annexation of Anegada and Virgin Gorda followed, which then established the area as a key area for the British.
The Dark Era of Colonialisation
Colonialisation of the island brought sugar cane plantations, which implemented slavery on the island. Large numbers of enslaved Africans were shipped to the BVI to work in the fields until emancipation, when slavery was banned by the British in 1834. The islands received their own form of civil government in 1773.
After emancipation, this dealt a huge blow to the plantation industry, so the islands started to diversify their businesses. Former slaves acquired land on the island and started boat-building enterprises, fishing and sustenance farming. The Leeward Islands Federation governed the islands formed by the British in 1871. The entity governed a group of islands in the Lesser Antilles, including Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands.
The BVI in the Modern Day
The BVI is today a thriving destination for yachting and vacations, which is the main form of economy for the islands today. Known for their exceptional beauty and usually calm waters, it’s a fantastic vacation for beginners and those who are new to the world of yachting. The BVI became its own separate colony in 1956 and was granted autonomy under a ministerial form of government in 1967, and became a British Overseas Territory. This means that the Island is governed by the King via the proxy of a chosen advisor. The islands’ economy is also generated by overseas financial services.
The BVI has a great location situated in the Caribbean, allowing you to explore a wide range of different islands during your yachting vacation. You can spend your entire vacation exploring the islands or head further out to other areas. Get in touch with our team to arrange for your free quote for your yachting vacation.
