Peter Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peter Island is located in the British Virgin Islands, about 5.2 miles south west (195 degrees true) from Road Harbor, (Road Town) Tortola, is part of the BVI archipelago that makes up the Francis Drake Channel.

Peter Island is often a stop for sailors spending some vacation time in the British Virgin Islands with popular anchorages at Great Harbour, Little Harbor and Sprat Bay. Sailors often spend the day swimming and snorkeling Deadman's Bay although it is not a good anchorage overnight during the winter months.

The official site of Peter Island can be found here. Currently owned by JVA Enterprises, the history of the island can be found here.

The island was named after Pieter Adriensen (nicknamed "the Commander") who was the brother Abraham Adriensen, Patron of Tortola under the Dutch West India Company in the early 17th century. Pieter Adriensen and Joost van Dyk built a fort and slave pens at Great Harbour on Peter Island to facilitate privateering and the nascent trade in slaves from Angola.