Caribbean / Tortola – The Island of the Turtle Dove
Surrounded by smaller islands, Tortola presents itself as an exciting mix of old colonial times with modern touristic facilites, with lots of good weather and shorelines that seem especially designed for sailing. There are few places that rival with such a good offer and this popularity shows in the large numbers of boats that are moored in the local marinas.
Sea & Coast
The largest of the British Virgin Islands, Tortola is also the most populated and the capital island of the country with Road Town as its capital city. In case any of you Yacht Charter regulars out there are wondering what the name stands for, it’s believed that Christopher Columbus chose it as a translation of “land of the Turtle Dove”. In reality, the name is derived from the Dutch Ter Tholen.
The relief of the island is mountainous like much of the rest of the archipelago. The highest peak is Mount Sage which rises 530m above sea level. The southern coast is made up of jagged mountains that are covered in frangipani and ginger. The northern coast on the other hand is made up of low lands (banana and mango plantations can be found here) that end with white sandy beaches which are always full of Yacht Charter holidaymakers.
The central Mount Sage also acts as a nature reserve, being covered in lush tropical vegetation and harboring some interesting animal species as well. Hiking up here is worth the trip, so Yacht Charter groups come here often to get the full view of the island. Also, tourists might notice that Tortola does retain some sings of the old days of the sugar cane plantations and rum distilleries.
As far as the climate goes, it’s typical of the Caribbean with pleasant temperatures in the mid 20s and even in the 30s on the Celsius scale with cool nights generated by the trade winds. Rainfall is abundant, especially between June and November when Yacht Charter sailors should stay away or risk a bad holiday.
Culture & History
From the Ciboney, the Arawak and the Carib peoples until the Europeans, the island has seen its fair share of cultures that came and went. There was also a short period in between the first explorers mapped the island and the first settlers actually came here, that Tortola was a haven for pirates, some as famous as Bluebeard and Captain Kidd, as Yacht Charter tourists who visit here today find out with amazement.
The British however had the most impact, changing the island and its inhabitants into profit with extensive sugar cane plantations. This went on from the 17th century up until the early 18th century when slavery was abolished. That’s when most of the British populace left the island but Tortola still retains a strong link with Britain up to this day.
Road Town is the biggest city on the island and the biggest commercial center, thus a magnet for Yacht Charter shoppers. You’ll encounter modern buildings but also those colonial remnants, which are popular with tourists. You’ll find this city on the south shore of the island by a deep bay, full of Yacht Charter boats.
Seamanship & Experience
Like most of the other Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, you’ll find the Tortola island to be very approachable, with lots of deep bays which not only provide safe anchorage for your Yacht Charter crew, but are also very beautiful.
Line of sight navigation and small tides that never exceed 30cm make the island especially sought by skippers and Yacht Charter sailing enthusiasts. The prevailing winds from June to October blow from the southeast with a force of up to 10-15 knots and from November to May from the northeast with a force of up to 20 knots.