A pirate ship has been spotted at Norman Island.

It appears that a ship used by the Pirates Of The Caribbean is anchored in the sheltered anchorage of Norman Island called The Bight on this mainly uninhabited jewel in the British Virgin Islands. The truth is better than fact regarding this sighting. It is the world famous pirate ship, the Willie “T”! The Bight is typically the first anchorage one uses when on a week’s charter yacht vacation in the BVI. And, if you don’t have cocktail hour on the Willie “T” you will be missing one of the most unforgettable bars in the Caribbean!

The real name of this pirate ship bar and restaurant is the William Thorton. It is a 98 foot schooner that was transformed into one of the many “hot spots” sailors visit in the Caribbean. The original Willie “T” sank and is now party spot for parrot fish. You will need to make friends immediately with Zeus, the bartender. Just in case you don’t know the rules of bar hopping in the Caribbean, meet the bartender first, tip him BIG before you even order a drink, and you will become the center of any craziness that unfolds for the hours you are there.

Zeus is the main guy to know at the Willie “T”. Zeus also applies Willie “T” tattoos to any willing lady.

There actually was a William Thornton. He was born on May 20, 1759, on Jost Van Dyke, in the British Virgin Islands, and died on March 28, 1828, Washington, D.C. He was educated in Scotland as a physician, but rarely practiced his profession. As an architect, Thornton was self-taught. He also was a painter, and an inventor. William Thornton’s plantation on Tortola was located in the Pleasant Valley area near Nanny Cay.

Other than the floating pirate restaurant and bar, William Thornton’s greatest claim to fame is the design for the United States Capitol Building! His design was submitted after the competition of 1792 had closed, and was approved by President Washington, who praised it for its “grandeur, simplicity and convenience.” A prize of $500 and a city lot was awarded to Thornton on April 5, 1793; he is thus recognized as the first “Architect of the Capitol”. President Washington later appointed Thornton one of the three Commissioners of the Federal District (later the District of Columbia) in charge of laying out the new federal city and overseeing construction of the first government buildings, including the Capitol building of his own design. Don’t you think he would be proud of how his name is now remembered in the Caribbean – the Willie “T”?

The Bight anchorage at Norman Island is believed to be the fabled site of Long John Silver’s treasure trove as described in Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, Treasure Island. There are still treasure seekers combing the island with the off chance that fact and fiction blur together. For the last 30+ years I have anchored at The Bight the only sounds you hear while trying to sleep were goats and the debauchery happening aboard the Willie “T”. This trip I learned that the goats were finally taken off the island – they were originally put on the island by the pirates that used their meat for food on their long voyages. So, the only night time noises left are the revilers on the Willie “T”. Today on the menu is “grog and grub”.

One of the most treasured t-shirts you can get in the Caribbean is the one from the Willie “T.” This is only given to women brave enough to jump off the stern topless. The stern bar is the center of debauchery on deck where body shots are facilitated by ropes and whipped cream, and where the “shotski” is available for synchronized swilling – a water ski modified to hold four shot glasses.

If you are not on a sailing adventure in the BVI and you want to visit the Willie “T” anyway, you can hitch a ride on the Willie “T’s” supply boat, Wet Willie, that leaves Nanny Cay, Tortola daily at 5PM. Leave your watch behind because there is no scheduled return time. It arrives back in Nanny Cay when the last reviler has jumped off the ship.

Because of my many trips to the Willie “T” and because Zeus is one of my favorite bartenders, he gave me his recipe for Zeus Juice. He said it was confidential and if I ever revealed it he would hunt me down and make me pay dearly. Hopefully he won’t read this post because here it is:

Zeus Juice: Mix equal parts pineapple, orange, guava, passion fruit, and mango juice; add a splash of Coco Lopez, a splash of grenadine, and add dark rum according to your taste and according to your goals for the evening. Mix over ice and top with a sprinkle of nutmeg. (Remember to keep this just between you and me.)

Let me know if you got the t-shirt on your next visit to the Willie “T”. Until next time…