Marina 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 ...
of the
British Virgin Islands
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, 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
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in the
Caribbean.
The island was uninhabited until 1937, when author
Robb White
Robb White III (June 20, 1909 – November 24, 1990) was an American writer of screenplays, television scripts, and adventure novels. Most of the latter had a maritime setting, often the Pacific Navy during World War II. White was best ...
and newly married wife Rosalie “Rodie” Mason settled on the island. Originally having settled on the nearby island of
Tortola
Tortola () is the largest and most populated island of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands that form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. It has a surface area of with a total population of 23,908, with 9,400 residents in ...
, White had found the insect problem to be unbearable, and spent weeks sailing during the day searching for a new island home.
The Whites spent three years on Marina, hacking a cistern out of the rough, rocky land and shipping in enough concrete to build a small, sturdy house. These adventurous years – during which the couple weathered a hurricane, fended off a Nazi skipper, aided Jewish refugees, and survived a surprise visit from White's mother-in-law – are detailed in his memoirs ''In Privateer’s Bay'' (1939), ''Our Virgin Island'' (1953), and ''Two on the Isle'' (1985).
White was recalled to military duty when World War II broke out. At the same time, he and Rodie lost Marina Cay; the British government had never issued them a license to hold the land and now formally refused, stating that White's published writings had misrepresented conditions in the British Virgin Islands.
Eugene Tonkonogy took ownership of the island after he persuaded the British colonial governor to grant him a license. He used the island as a private retreat and also operated it as a tourist resort. Tonkonogy died in 2001.
In the early 2000s
Jose Cuervo
Jose Cuervo is the best-selling brand of tequila,Dana Cimilluca, Paul Sonne and Simon Zekaria“Diageo Ends Its Attempt to Buy Jose Cuervo Tequila,”''Wall Street Journal'', December 11, 2012. selling a fifth of the tequila consumed worldwide. ...
Tequila leased the island, referring to it as Cuervo Nation. The island was used as a promotional tool, hosting promotional events at the island, and using it as a location to host contest winners. Cuervo Nation and Cuervo Man were featured a
John Hodgman
John Kellogg Hodgman (born June 3, 1971) is an American author, actor, and humorist. In addition to his published written works, such as '' The Areas of My Expertise'', ''More Information Than You Require'', and '' That Is All'', he is known for ...
-narrated segment of ''
This American Life
''This American Life'' (''TAL'') is an American monthly hour-long radio program produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media and hosted by Ira Glass. It is broadcast on numerous public radio stations in the United States and internatio ...
'', episode 205 "Plan B". Cuervo Nation and the aforementioned ''This American Life'' segment are referenced in ''Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir'' by
Kambri Crews
Kambri Crews (born June 22, 1971) is an American comedic storyteller based in New York City and author of The New York Times bestseller ''Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir,'' a book about her chaotic childhood with deaf parents. Crews was spotlig ...
, who served as a brand ambassador for Jose Cuervo and was on the island when she got news of her father's arrest for attempted murder.
Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir (Penguin Random House)
/ref>
Before hurricane Irma, Marina Cay was home to Pusser's Restaurant and Villa Rentals; the house Robb and Rodie built served as a reading lounge for the modest tourist complex.
It was totally destroyed from hurricane Irma 2017.
Today there is just a fuel station and a wooden pier for taxi boats.
References
External links
*http://www.b-v-i.com/trellis.htm#Nearby%20Marina%20Cay
*http://pussers.com/our-locations/pussers-marina-cay/
Islands of the British Virgin Islands
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