Saba Rock is a small
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
)
, 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 =
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in the
Caribbean, approximately an
acre and a half in size. The island contains a small hotel, restaurant, bar, and gift shop. A dock is available for day visitors and a large mooring field accommodates yachts staying overnight. The resort operates a boat shuttle from Saba Rock to
Bitter End Yacht Club
The Bitter End Yacht Club is a British Virgin Islands resort located in the protected North Sound of Virgin Gorda. Founded in 1969, the resort is only accessible by boat.
The resort was destroyed in 2017 by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria
...
and Leverick Bay Marina.
Geography
It sits entirely within the North Sound of
Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda () is the third-largest island (after Tortola and Anegada) and second-most populous of the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
Geography
Located at about 18 degrees, 48 minutes North, and 64 degrees, 30 minutes West, it covers an area ...
. Saba Rock is among the cluster of serene, scarcely inhabited Islands that form the North Sound of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. The North Sound neighbourhood consists of
Richard Branson's exclusive
Necker Island and the private
Island of Eustatia with the surrounding pristine waters of Eustatia Reef, a snorkeler's paradise.
The island provides habitat for the
crested anole
''Anolis cristatellus'' is a small species of anole, belonging to the Dactyloidae family of reptiles, which is native to Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, with introduced populations in locations around the Caribbean. The ...
(''Anolis cristatellus wileyae'').
History
It was formerly owned and occupied by Bert Kilbride, a marine archaeologist who for many years served as Her Majesty's
Receiver of Wreck
The Receiver of Wreck is an official who administers law dealing with maritime wrecks and salvage in some countries having a British administrative heritage. In the United Kingdom, the Receiver of Wreck is also appointed to retain the possession o ...
in the Territory. It was subsequently sold to the McManus family of Hawaii and now has a small hotel and restaurant on it. Over the years it's developed into a famous stop for the celebrity and yachting crowd. The island is consistently ranked as one of the most popular watering holes in the Caribbean.
In 2017 the island was devastated by
hurricane Irma
Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful Cape Verde hurricane that caused widespread destruction across its path in September 2017. Irma was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record, followed by Maria two ...
. The reconstruction began in 2018. It is planned to reopen spring 21 by latest owner Petr Kellner.
See also
*
Effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands
The effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands were significant in terms of both human and socio-economic impact on the Territory. Hurricane Irma struck the British Virgin Islands as a Category 5 hurricane during the daylight ...
References
External links
Saba Rock official website
Islands of the British Virgin Islands
Private islands of the British Virgin Islands
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