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Bellamy Cay is an
island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
in the
British Virgin Islands ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = Territorial song , song = " Oh, Beautiful Virgin Islands" , image_map = File:British Virgin Islands on the globe (Americas centered).svg , map_caption = , mapsize = 290px , image_map2 = Bri ...
, located entirely within Trellis Bay on Beef Island. Formerly called Blanco Islet, this island is named after its most famous resident, "Black Sam" Bellamy, the "prince of pirates".


History

For much of his very short but wildly successful campaign of piracy in 1716 and 1717, Bellamy used this islet, which was named Blanco Islet at the time, as his base of operations, while crew members used the protection of Trellis Bay to maintain their fleet of ships. Bellamy soon learned that from Blanco, as well as from nearby Sprat Point, ships could be seen sailing through the Sir Francis Drake Channel. His favourite prey were Spanish Galleons laden with treasure intended for the exclusive use of the King and Queen of Spain. In the early 1950s the small island was acquired by Władysław (Wladek) Wagner, the "first Polish yachtsman", who left Poland in 1932 to sail around the world and who ended up eventually settling in Trellis Bay, Beef Island Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Wagner built a boatyard and marine railway in addition to most of the buildings now standing on Bellamy Cay, where he ran a small restaurant and hotel. Wagner´s voyage is described in the book By the Sun and Stars. Since the 1970s, the cay has been the home of the restaurant and bar called "The Last Resort", which for many years was owned and operated by Tony Snell, a British
war hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''hero' ...
. Bellamy Cay is near the
Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport , previously known as Beef Island Airport, is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. The airport serves as the gateway to just about all ...
, and is inhabited by the owners and staff of the restaurant. The island remains off the power, water and communications grid of the mainland, producing its own electricity and water through solar, wind and Diesel generators.


See also

*
Samuel Bellamy Captain Samuel Bellamy ( c. 23 February, 1689 – 26 April 1717), later known as "Black Sam" Bellamy, was an English sailor, turned pirate, who operated in the early 18th century. He is best known as the wealthiest pirate in recorded history, an ...
* ''
Whydah Gally ''Whydah Gally'' (commonly known simply as the ''Whydah'') was a fully rigged galley ship that was originally built as a passenger, cargo, and slave ship. On the return leg of her maiden voyage of the triangle trade, ''Whydah Gally'' was capt ...
'' * Piracy in the British Virgin Islands *
List of lighthouses in the British Virgin Islands This is a list of lighthouses in the British Virgin Islands. Light beacons See also * Lists of lighthouses and lightvessels References External links * {{North America topic, List of lighthouses in British Virgin islands Lighthouses ...


References

Islands of the British Virgin Islands Piracy in the Caribbean Pirate dens and locations Lighthouses in the British Virgin Islands {{BritishVirginIslands-geo-stub