Sailing Deadman's Bay and Dead Chest Island
“Fifteen Men on the Dead Man’s Chest ~ Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!”
Peters Island, BVI - featuring Deadman's Bay & Dead Chest Island
Due East of St. John Island of the US Virgin Isles lies the stuff of legends. The Easternmost anchorage on Peter Island is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Virgin Isles. Perfect for snorkeling, sunbathing, or just enjoying the local beach bar & grill, this little paradise is a great day trip while sailing Deadman’s Bay and Dead Chest Island. For snorkelers and scubadivers, just off the bay is lies the remains of the RMS Rhone, a 300 foot vessel resting in 20 to 80 feet of water. Part of the Dead Chest National Park, the RMS Rhone Marine Park is said to be one of the most beautiful dives in the Virgin Isles.
But even more legendary about this beautiful area of Peters Island is the Pirate history and legend that the area has to offer while sailing her shores, including notorious pirates, betrayal, and a bottle of rum.
Explore Pirate Legend as you Sail Deadman's Bay & Dead Chest Island
If you are a fan of pirate lore, this area arguably has more recorded significance in pirate lore than any other areas in the Caribbean. Just east of Peter Island and across Deadman’s Bay is Dead Chest Cay (or Island). Named for its coffin (called a “dead mans chest” by pirates) shaped profile when viewed from the northwest, it is where legend says that the infamous Blackbeard left 15 men stranded with only a bottle of rum. Attempting to swim to Peter Island proved fruitless, and their lifeless bodies later washed up on Deadman’s Beach.
At a much later date, as he was pursuing his love for historical nautical charts, Robert Louis Stevenson researched events in the area and heard the ancient tale. The culmination of this story, as well as the well documented piracy of a huge treasure stashed in a cave in nearby Norman Island, became some of the basis for his famous book, Treasure Island and the infamous pirate shanty “Fifteen Men on the Dead Man’s Chest, Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!”
Beautiful Sailing Through Deadmans Bay & Dead Chest Cay
This area of the British Virgin Isles is one of our absolute favorites. It include the very best things that the Caribbean has to offer – beautiful beaches, breathtaking diving and snorkeling opportunities, local hospitality, and exciting pirate lore. We almost always try to make our way here on our British Virgin Island sailing trips, as we bounce from bay, to beach, to bar across the archipelago. Let us know if you are interested in this cruise, and Island Hoppers Sailing Vacations will be sure to include a memory that will last a lifetime and keep you coming back for more.
