Jost Van Dyke - Soggy Dollar Bar

The Painkiller is a well known cocktail to any long time BVI sailor. Unique to the BVI's as it is made with Pusser's Rum the BVI rum, this cocktail can now be found in several BVI island locations including Pusser's Restaurants. At the Pusser's Restaurants, the Painkiller is ordered by number, which relates to the number of shots of rum poured in the cocktail. So be careful of Number 4 as you know what that means!


Jost Van Dyke Sandcastle Hotel - Soggy Dollar Bar

The Painkiller is a combination of dark rum, generally Pusser's Rum, cream of coconut and pineapple and orange juice, all topped with freshly grated Grenadian nutmeg. The exact proportions of each within the Soggy Dollar Bar Painkiller is said to be a secret. If you make it to the Soggy Dollar Bar on your charter, be sure to swim in for an original Painkiller and play a round of the Ring Game, a simple Caribbean bar game found throughout the Caribbean of swinging a ring to catch on a hook. Sounds simple, but can keep you busy for some time while enjoying rounds of Painkillers.

Visit the Northrop and Johnson Website For More Information!

The Bight at Norman Island

The Bight in Norman Island was an oft used hidey hole for real pirate ships, as the pirates could sit aboard their ships positioned well into the island behind the bluffs of The Bight, always ready for surprise attack. Today, on your yacht charter after anchoring in The Bight, just around the corner, are a series of caves said to be the inspiration as the location of the buried treasure, described in Robert Louis Stevenson's famous book Treasure Isle. Easily visited by ships tender, the caves offer a fun afternoon of snorkeling and exploring and always the question of "could it have been"?


Peter Island Resort on Deadman's Bay

Next door to Norman Island is Peter Island with the glorious Deadman's Beach. At the head of Deadman's Bay, Deadman's Beach is a mile-long, crescent-shaped beach with towering coconut palms that overlooks Dead Chest and Salt Islands. It's now part of Peter Island Beach Resort and a private and secluded stretch of pristine beach for resort guests, and visiting yachtsmen anchored in Deadman's Bay.


Peter Island Resort

Just off Deadman's Beach at the side entrance to Deadman's Bay is Dead Chest Island. Dead Chest is the supposed setting for the marooning of mutinous pirates, described in the popular poem by Allison, and then put to music in the 1901 play of "Treasure Island", which was inspired by Stevenson's book. This song is now well known to any school child.

"Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum".

Peter Island Resort's beaches boast protected waters for excellent windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, and other water sports. Little Deadman's Bay and Beach is an extension of its senior and is a preferred spot for world-class snorkeling.
Unlike the pirates of yesteryear, visit their historic haunts, but also enjoy the area through swimming, snorkeling, and exploring rather than hiding treasure, on your yacht charter of the British Virgin Islands

Take advantage of the shoreside services offered at the Bitter End Yacht Club, which include a marina, pool, beach, water sports, restaurants and bars and even a spa. The Clubhouse Steak and Seafood Grille has been a yachting landmark for years. This open air restaurant sports the burgees from hundreds of yachts and yacht clubs from all over the world fluttering gently in the breeze from the numerous paddle fans, evoking a colonial Caribbean feel. The buffet is well known for homemade soups, and breads, and if you have not tried a grilled Caribbean lobster, basted with butter, this is the place for freshly caught lobster barbecue.

North Sound, once home to pirates Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, was a remote quiet anchorage, rarely visited. In the early 60's, a rustic bar and cottages existed clinging to the point of land for adventurous sailors. The Hokins Family arrived, fell in love with the area and have built the resort into what it is today, which while offering resort style accommodations and services, still runs off of generators for electricity and rainwater is collected from rooftop cisterns. Should you choose to stay a few days ashor, beach villas, hillside villas, and even some of the original cottages, upgraded with more modern conveniences could be available, depending on the season.

Salt Island and the Wreck of "RMS Rhone"



The British Royal Mail Steamer, "Rhone" was wrecked off of the shores of Salt Island, in between Salt Island and Norman Island on October 29, 1867, during a hurricane. The Rhone, built in 1865, was considered by the Royal British Navy to be one of two unsinkable ships, the other being The Titanic, with both ships, unfortunately proving the Royal British Navy wrong.

Built at the Millwall Iron Works in Southampton, England, the Rhone was 310 feet long with a 40 foot beam. Sporting two masts, the Rhone was a favorite with passengers, as she sailed along at 14 knots, an almost unheard of speed at that time. Carrying cargo, the Rhone also had lavish passenger staterooms, with 253 first class staterooms, 30 second class cabins, and 30 third class cabins. Just prior to the sinking, the Rhone had come alongside RMS Conway to refuel in Great Harbor on Peter Island. As the skies darkened and the barometer dropped, it was decided that all passengers would be transferred from the Conway to the unsinkable Rhone, and that the Conway would make way to Roadtown Harbor in Tortola and the Rhone would head out to weather the storm at sea.



The Conway never made safety in Roadtown Harbor and was caught by the tail end of the storm, foundering off of the south side of Tortola with the loss of all hands.
With all passengers strapped to their beds, as was the norm at that time for safety under hurricane conditions, the Rhone attempted to head out to the open seas. As the Rhone came around between Peter Island and Salt Island the tail end of the storm caught the ship and tossed it onto Black Rock Point. The Rhone split in half, causing cold water to come into contact with the hot boilers, which then exploded sending the rest of the ship to the bottom. Sadly of the 143 passengers on board, plus and unknown number that were transferred on board from the Conway, only 23 crew survived. Many of the dead were buried on nearby Salt Island.

As the waters were shallow, the mast of the Rhone was still to be seen sticking up from the water, until the 1950's when the Royal British Navy deemed the mast and wreck to be a maritime hazard and sunk the ship further into the waters. In 1967, the area was named a National Park and now is one of the best snorkel and dive site to explore a wreck in the Caribbean. As the wreck is still in relatively shallow waters from depths of 20 to 80 feet, much is seen by snorkelers, and the diving is considered relatively easy.

The most popular and well known of all the BVI dive sites, the Royal Mail Steamer "Rhone" was also the setting for the movie "The Deep" with Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bissett. Today she is decorated by a wide variety of corals and is home to several resident barracuda, sea turtles, stingrays, angelfish, yellowtail snappers and other colorful, Caribbean sea life.

Nearby Salt Island lives up to its name as a once thriving location for salt harvesting from the salt ponds. Previously an important source of salt for the Royal British Navy, Salt Island now boasts one inhabitant overseeing the island and once active salt ponds.

The pirate Blackbeard, who real name was Edward Teach, once made his home in Soper's Hole from 1715 to 1718. Called a "Hole" because of the protection offered by the deep cut of the anchorage into the surrounding hills, the harbor allows yachts to anchor with good weather protection. Soper's Hole is a good spot to stop while on charter in the British Virgin Islands as the same protection and calm anchorage that made Soper's Hole attractive to Blackbeard, is attractive to yachtsmen today.

Surrounding the dock area are a series of brightly painted Caribbean style buildings creating a sense of a traditional Caribbean market place. Browse the shops for local artwork, crafts and jewelry made from a stone local to the British Virgin Islands, or stop for a bite to eat at the Pusser's Landing Restaurant and store.
Pusser's Rum was the original rum of the British royal Navy and for over 300 years the seamen on board a Royal Navy ship were issued a "tot" of rum each day with a double tot of rum given just prior to battle. The on board Royal Navy rum was issued each day by the Purser on board, and eventually the Purser's rum became referred to Pusser's rum. In 1970, that tradition was abolished in the British Royal navy and the recipe of the blend of 5 different West Indian rums was sold privately, Pusser's Ltd. was established in Tortola and the same rum served over 300 years to the British Royal Navy was bottled and sold to the public in Tortola starting in 1980.

Pusser's Rum quickly became a favorite of visiting yachtsmen when cruising the British Virgin Islands, which is very fitting as the Royal British Navy Sailors Fund, known commonly as the "Tots Fund" receives a portion of the sale of each bottle. Soon the now infamous drink, the Pusser's Painkiller was born and is now served in a variety of locations in the BVI's, but the best are served at the Pusser's restaurants, including Pusser's Landing Restaurant in Soper's Hole, where the Pusser's Painkiller is ordered by number according to the amount of rum poured in each drink.

Attached to the Pusser's Landing Restaurant is a Pusser's Rum store selling products branded with the Pusser's official label. In addition, Pusser's Rum drink mixes are sold along with Caribbean spices and condiments, for a taste of the British Virgin Islands.

Main Town Quay

Perhaps Foxy's is best known as the spot to celebrate New Year's Eve. Yachtsmen started congregating in Great Harbor several decades ago to ring the new year in at Foxy's. This has now become such a tradition, that it is wise to get to Great Harbor a day in advance for a good spot to anchor. As the New Year draws near, the harbor erupts with activity and the buzz of dinghies heading here and there, throughout the harbor, visiting friends, and ultimately heading ashore for Foxy's, and hailing in the new year, dancing on the beach under the stars.


Foxy

Although Jost measures just four by three miles, the island is rich in history. It's been home to Arawak Indians, Caribs, Dutch, Africans and English. William Thorton, architect of the US Capitol, was born on Jost while John Coakley Lettsome, founder of the London Medical Society, was born on nearby Little Jost.

Great Harbour is sheltered by small mountains and offers moorings. Visitors look forward to meeting the famous Foxy while enjoying a rum punch. In White Bay there is the Soggy Dollar Bar and Gertrude's, both of which offer cool Caribbean cocktails.


Jost Van Dyke has other offerings. Trace the old trails that connect the island. Explore the overgrown ruins of sugar mills. In the fall and winter, watch whales and dolphins from a hilltop. Or visit the bubbling pot at the East End, where the foaming sea forms a natural Jacuzzi. And you can stop by Foxy's newest watering hole, Foxy's Tabu, on Diamond Cay, at East End. You could walk across to Little Jost or take a boat to Sandy Cay, the perfect castaway island.

The Top of the Baths, which offers a restaurant, bar, pool and gift shops, is on a hill overlooking the area and provides panoramic views of the BVI. The restaurant has an extensive menu with lobster, grilled fish, conch and veggie burgers while the Caribbean Flavor and Caribbean Beachtique are shops with tropical clothes, jewelry, beach gear, island crafts and ship wreck coins.

Spend time exploring the area, with tidal pools of pristine clear waters, and white sand. Snorkeling is great, however more for the marine life, as this is not a coral area. Due to the various inlets and pools created by the landscape marine life is caught here with each tidal change.

If swimming or snorkeling, do pay attention to the safety flags as certain weather can cause currents with heavy undertows in this area. However, there are always the rocks to climb over and the white sandy beaches for sunning, if the water is unsafe.

Norman Island and Deadman's Bay


Peter Island



One big, private island, one small resort and one beautiful beach encapsulate the essence of Peter Island and Deadman's Bay. Peter Island resort is classic Caribbean. The 52-room hotel is the only resort on Peter Island, and its owner will not develop more acreage to insure the exclusivity and secret of the resort's success. Guests find a romantic island with no crowds, noise, themed activities and very few children. What they do find are other couples who dance to live music at night by the pool and relax on the beach by day.

Part of the allure of the setting is its history. Directly to the southwest lies Norman Island, the basis for Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island." Just off Peter Island's glorious Deadman's Beach is Deadman's Island-where a marooning inspired the popular poem: "16 Men and a Deadman's Chest." These are Peter Island's neighbors, and that sense of escaping to an (almost) deserted island never leaves guests' minds.

Deadman's Bay is a mile-long, crescent-shaped beach with towering coconut palms that overlooks Dead Chest and Salt Islands. It's part of Peter Island Beach Resort and thus, a private and secluded stretch of pristine beach for resort guests.

Peter Island Resort's largest and most spectacular beach boasts protected waters for excellent windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, and other water sports. Little Deadman's Bay and Beach is an extension of its senior and is a preferred spot for world-class snorkeling.

Peter Island Resort does have a dock for visiting yachts and dinghies, and welcomes yachtsmen to dine in their restaurants, and as day guests for their water facilities and beaches, for a charge. All can be arranged by your Captain, as reservations are recommended for dining.

Just opened, is a new day spa, with world class treatments, in a world class setting. The spa also accepts visiting yachting guests for treatments with reservations. Make a reservation for a massage or other treatment and then relax on the beach, with a cooling swim.

Peter Island Resort also has a private ferry from a private ferry landing in Tortola. You can either spend time at Peter Island before your charter or after your charter. Either way, you can be picked up by your private charter yacht right at the Peter Island Resort, or dropped at the resort after and take the Peter Island Resort ferry over or back for your plane flight to and from the British Virgin Islands in Tortola.

The William Thornton Floating Restaurant and Bar



The William Thornton, also referred to as "The Willy T" anchored in the Bight of Norman Island in the BVI, is a well loved floating restaurant and bar. In 1989, Mick and Annie Gardner launched the restaurant, mooring their original William Thornton in the Bight of Norman Island. As uninhabited then as it is today, it soon became a popular overnight anchorage for the yachting community. Many charterers and yacht crew recall dining aboard the Willy T, sitting at the large common table, with their feet dangling in the holds below.

The wooden Baltic trader was eventually replaced with the current William Thornton, a steel 100-foot schooner with more room in the galley and restaurant and the large bar area. The new William T. also features a large aft bridge deck where daring souls jump from the safety rails into the water below the stern.

The restaurant was named after William Thorton, who was born on Jost Van Dyke in 1759, and died in 1823 in Washington DC. While trained in Scotland as a physician, Thorton initially had a plantation in Tortola. Thorton found his way to Washington DC and there, as an avid amateur architect, his drawings were chosen from the competition as approved by President George Washington for the design of the US Capital Building in 1793. Besides the $500 prize for the winning design, Thorton also won a lot of land in the newly developing capitol of the United States.
"The Willy T" is reachable only by yacht or dinghy, with rather than a swim up bar, a sail up bar, so those in company on board will also be those that enjoy life on the water.

Visit their web page, you will enjoy it!: William Thornton Website