We’ve all heard of the legends of piracy and the “golden age” of scallywags in the 1690s to 1730s, but did you know that many of the most famous legends of piracy operated in the BVI? This article covers the legacy of pirates and why they are an essential tourist attraction on the islands 300+ years later. It’s not quite Pirates of the Caribbean, but it’s close by!
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| Era/Figure | Famous Figures and Locations | The BVI Connection |
| Late 16th Century | Sir Francis Drake (Privateer/Explorer) | The Sir Francis Drake Channel is named after him. He mustered a large English fleet in Virgin Gorda’s North Sound (now Drake’s Anchorage) in 1595 before sailing to attack the Spanish. |
| Early 17th Century | Joost van Dyke (Dutch Pirate/Privateer) | The island of Jost Van Dyke is named after him. He was one of the BVI’s earliest settlers, establishing a post on Tortola before retreating to his namesake island to continue his raids. |
| The Golden Age (1690–1730) | Edward “Blackbeard” Teach (Pirate) | Dead Chest Island is forever linked to his legend. Folklore claims he marooned 15 mutinous men there with only a bottle of rum, inspiring the famous shanty, “Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest…” |
| The Golden Age (1690–1730) | “Black Sam” Bellamy (Pirate) | Known as the “Prince of Pirates.” Bellamy Cay (now home to The Last Resort) in Trellis Bay is named after him and was a known pirate hangout where he used to ambush vessels in the Drake Channel. |
| The Golden Age (1690–1730) | “Calico Jack” Rackham (Pirate) | He and his infamous female crew members, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, operated in the waters of the BVI. The islands provided numerous hidden coves for them to resupply and stage raids. |
| 1750 | The Wreck of the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe | After a mutiny, a portion of the Spanish galleon’s valuable treasure was reportedly brought to and buried on Norman Island by pirates. Much of the silver was later recovered, solidifying the island’s legendary status. |
| General Legend | Norman Island (Named after a buccaneer) | Widely believed to be the real-life inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. The island’s sea caves, known as the “Treasure Caves,” are still popular charter stops today. |
| Colonial Response | Fort George & Fort Charlotte (British Forts) | Built throughout the 18th century on Tortola to defend the capital and the Sir Francis Drake Channel from pirate raids and foreign invasion. |
The Romantic and Rose-Tinted History of Piracy on the BVI
When you visit the BVI, you will notice the many coves and islets that are beautiful features on the islands, which were also perfect ambush positions for pirate hideouts. Spanish Treasure fleets were targeted, and ships of the gold treasury flotilla, such as Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, were plundered for their vast amounts of silver and stashed in pirate hideouts. The loot from this ship was stashed in Norman Island until the British sent a warship to recover the booty. The world has a romanticised view of piracy in media and art, and the BVI was a hotspot for it, with some of the most famous historical figures operating there.
The Pirate Legends Operating Out of the BVI
Think of all of the famous pirates that you have heard of, and they probably visited or were operating from the BVI. Blackbeard is easily the most famous, and the legend of Dead Chest Island is still renowned today. Located half a mile northeast (0.4 miles at 27 degrees true) of Deadman’s Bay on Peter Island, British Virgin Islands, it’s a legendary pirate story that was more than likely created by Robert Louis Stevenson in Treasure Island.
Calico Jack and his famous all-female crew operated exclusively out of the BVI to target plunder and to launch raids on the Caribbean. Jack used Soper’s Hole as his base of operations in the 18th century, and it’s one of the picturesque anchorages in the British Virgin Islands.
“Black Sam” Bellamy, or the “Prince of Pirates”, as he was also known, Bellamy Cay in Trellis Bay is named after him, and it was renowned as his hangout, which would be used to attack ships in the Drake Channel.
We Can’t Go Without Mentioning Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean filmed at many locations over the years, but some scenes were shot in the BVI. Many of the scenes were filmed in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, but in the BVI, Sandy Cay will be an area fans will recognise as a filming location for the iconic franchise.
What Are the Best Places to Visit Today?
Norman Island – jam-packed with snorkelling locations and bars with pirate themes.
Jost Van Dyke – A historic pirate island with pirate-themed bars and locations.
Anegada – Shipwrecks such as the Jolly Roger flag at Setting Point to see authentic pirate wrecks.
