A Brief History of Sailing in the Virgin Islands
The long and proud history of sailing in the Virgin Islands is central to the region’s identity and has led to its reputation as a premier sailing destination today. Here’s the key facts to know about the history of sailing in the Virgin Islands for history buffs and curious visitors!
Pre-Colombian People
Before Europeans ever arrived on the islands, several groups of indigenous people from South America discovered and settled in the Virgin Islands. They were adept at building and using canoes to travel between the islands for trade, fishing, and travel.
1493: Discovery by Christopher Columbus
On his second voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus landed on St. Croix as the first European explorer to :discover” the Virgin Islands. He named the islands “Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes” which translates to “Saint Ursula and her 11,000 Virgins.” One hundred years after Colombus’s arrival, most of the indigenous people of the Virgin Islands had been wiped out due to disease and fighting.
17th and 18th Centuries: A Hotspot for Piracy
After the discovery of the Americas, the potential agricultural and mineral wealth of the land became evident. Shipments of valuable cargo from the New World to the Old World across the Atlantic made piracy a lucrative opportunity, and the islands of the Caribbean were ideally located for ambushing popular trade routes and for treasure hoarding. Piracy attracted former sailors who were experienced in sailing, navigation, and nautical warfare.
Further, trade wars between European countries over the riches of the Americas during this period encouraged piracy and privateering to thrive. Numerous places around the islands, such as Norman Island and Bellamy Cay, are named after famous pirates.
18th and 19th Centuries: European Settlement and Plantation Development
Eventually, piracy declined in the Virgin Islands and European colonizers covered the land with sugar cane fields and mills to process the crop. The sugar industry was profitable, and sailing played a vital role in its success as the primary means of transportation for sugar, molasses, and rum out of the islands and new settlers and enslaved laborers to the islands. This brought about further colonization as more and more people sought to capitalize on harvesting the abundant natural resources of the New World. You can visit some of these sugar cane plantations on a weeklong liveaboard sailing vacation with Go Sail Virgin Islands. The Annaberg Sugar Plantation near Leinster Bay is a popular spot for Go Sail sailors to stop for snorkeling and a quick hike to see the ruins! Learn more about this National Park site here.
Sailing in the Virgin Islands Today
Now, the Virgin Islands are an idyllic sailing location and a popular vacation spot. Tourism in the Virgin Islands grew significantly after the end of World War II, becoming a crucial part of the economy as sugar production declined due to the growing preference for sugar beets. Many sailors quickly considered the Virgin Islands as the sailing capital of the world which led to the establishment of world-renowned regattas in the area.
The Virgin Islands continue to be a top location for sailing, where vacationers can discover secluded beaches, historical maritime sites, and vibrant underwater ecosystems while enjoying warm weather and steady trade winds. To become part of the rich history of sailing, join Go Sail Virgin Islands on a week-long liveaboard ASA sailing course to explore all the islands have to offer while learning to sail.