Welcome to Sealand! Now Open to the general public! During WWII Sealand was known as Fort Rough Sands, a British Fort located 3 miles off the coast. In 1967 Paddy Roy Bates seized this fort from pirate radio broadcasters and in 1970 set Sealand up as its own Nation. Today Sealand stands strong in the English Channel with a new second floor and electrical generator!