The deep-water passage between Great Thatch Island and Steele Point is called the Thatch Island Cut, and through this natural channel pass some of the finest yachts in the Caribbean. You are the reviewing stand that towers over this Cut, and many world-class vessels, some under full sail and kicking up a bow wave, will pass 90 feet below you, giving you a fabulous bird's eye view of the sleek machines that navigate these waters.
The 360-degree views from Steele Point are spectacular. The views extend from Soper's Hole Harbor in the east, to Frenchman's Cay and St. John in the south, to Little Thatch, Great Thatch and St. Thomas in the west, and to Tobago and Jost Van Dyke in the north. With the coming and going of yachts and the rising of the sun, your view constantly changes, but it's always beautiful. At the end of the day you may be treated to a gorgeous sunset over St. John and St. Thomas, and your evening views are magnificent.
Although Steele Point offers splendid privacy (clothing optional) in a dramatic, away-from-land- location, you are only a 5-minute drive from the restaurants and shopping at Soper's Hole, while Road Town is a 15-20 minute drive and the airport is 30-40 minutes.

DESIGN. Steele Point Villa consists of two buildings sculptured from and clinging to the steep cliffs of Steele Point. The narrow road that threads the ridgeline out to your villa ends at the parking area, not far from your cliff side pool and sun deck. A stone path leads past the den and living area and into the kitchen. This estate is laced with stone paths that weave through gardens and lead to cliff side dining/reading areas with stunning views. The primary dining deck, which also doubles as a reviewing stand for the boats slicing through Thatch Island Cut just below your dinner table, is just off the kitchen. A half level below the living / dining / kitchen areas is the enclosed den/bedroom, a multifunction room that converts to a 4th bedroom. Stairs lead down the steep cliff to a second building that is almost cantilevered out over the water. This building contains three air conditioned bedrooms that are almost at sea level. If you're a lover of warm Caribbean nights, soft trade winds and the ever-present music of waves lapping at the shore, you'll adore these bedrooms. At night these bedrooms radiate romance. In 2004 another master bedroom (fifth bedroom) will be added on the upper level.

DINING / KITCHEN / LIVING. The primary dining room is actually a covered deck that almost overlooks the Cut and has a to-die-for view of St John, Great Thatch, St. Thomas and Jost Van Dyke. This unique estate has many other alfresco tables for dining or drinks in incredibly scenic spots dispersed throughout the cliffs and rock outcroppings, such as a "lovely spot" for a "gin and tonic."
The kitchen is between the living area and the dining deck and was recently remodeled and modernized. It is now equipped with a Bosh cook top stove, a stainless steel Subzero refrigerator, a dishwasher, microwave, blender, coffeemaker, etc., and a good assortment of cookware and dinnerware. A laundry is located off the kitchen.
One of our favorite indulgences in this house is the Bose speaker system wired throughout the living, dining and kitchen areas. These speakers put out a great sound and the hills (of Tortola) will come alive with the sound of music. You've got no neighbors nearby, so crank it up and imagine that the orchestra is anchored on a barge below your villa. These are some of life's simple pleasures; you've earned them.
The comfortable living area has a marvelous view to the north and has a plasma wide screen TV scheduled for arrival in 2004. The separate den has a cable color TV/VCR, a DVD player, a CD player plus a movie and music collection. There is also a library of books and games and a PC computer with Internet and email access, an answering machine, and a fax machine. A telescope for stargazing or boat watching is also included.

CARIBBEAN VILLAS' VIEW. We (the owners of Caribbean Villas and Resorts) have been managing villas in the Virgin Islands since 1986. We're always on the lookout for distinctive homes, and we have personally reviewed hundreds of villas on St. John and Tortola. We think that this villa - Steele Point - adds a new twist to the definition of a "unique home." Words like exclusive, distinctive, and exceptional - all these apply to Steele Point (the villa and the location). In the US and British Virgin Islands, there's really nothing else quite like this home.
The uniqueness of this home derives primarily from its setting, and its design. Steele Point is set in an exceptionally peaceful, quiet and pristine location at the very end and on the top of a peninsula surrounded by the Caribbean and the Atlantic. This land was always considered to be an unbuildable site, and it took an owner (and an architect) with vision, boldness, and patience to conceive and build this fascinating home.

Steele Point is an 8-acre, privately owned peninsula estate that overlooks spectacular 360 degree ocean views with a dock for swimming, fishing and snorkeling, plus a dock for your yacht or your rental powerboat, a helicopter landing pad, a brilliant design that was featured in Architectural Digest - this is undeniably a fabulous tropical home that is completely unlike other rental villa. This remarkable villa could be (and may be) a setting for a James Bond film. All this, and especially the extraordinary location, makes Steele Point a truly exceptional property that deserves to be one of the incomparable, Ultra Luxury Villas of St. John and Tortola.
This is not, however, a house for everybody. Look again at the view from the water, those buildings just above sea level are the bedrooms. The kitchen, dining and living areas are the buildings on the top of the peninsula, and there's no elevator. Needless to say, this is not an ideal setting for young children, although they would certainly enjoy watching the schools of dolphins, turtles and manta rays that often play in the waters below you.

The same Thatch Island Cut that is the favored route for boats is also the preferred route for yellowtail, grouper, parrotfish, dolphins and other migratory species. The fishing and snorkeling from your dock is excellent, and we suggest that you do both. If you prefer to just watch the dolphins frolic, the pelicans dive for fish, and the sun slowly arc across the Caribbean, then the "alone on a tropical island atmosphere." of this villa is perfect for slowing down to vacation speed.
This is as close to being on a boat as you can get, you see boats go by, you constantly hear the sounds and smell the wonderful fragrance of the sea, and you sort of get the feeling of being at sea, but without the motion.
Sailors and boaters - either with a boat or with just the binnoculars - will love the location of this remarkable home, as will nature lovers, snorkelers and sea explorers. Anyone with a yen to try something really different, something with a splash of adventure and excitement, will enjoy and always remember their vacation at Steele Point.

Other Features worth noting that really set this villa apart from other luxury villas:

• A helicopter landing pad
• A collection of fine art and original sculpture that adorn this property both inside and out.
• The ability to catch fresh grouper or yellowtail from your own dock and grill it 30 minutes later on your own grill, without having to charter a boat. This is a very unique feature in these islands.
• Laundry facilities for guests use

Photo 7 is by Don Hebert.