Antigua and Barbuda Yacht Charter Guide | Leeward Islands
Planning Your Antigua Luxury Yacht Charter - Places To Visit On Your Antigua and Caribbean Yacht Charter Holiday
About Antigua | Antigua Yacht Charter | English Harbour | St Johns | Barbuda | Getting There | Climate and Weather | History of Antigua | Antigua Race Week | Antigua Cuisine
About Antigua
Antigua is one of the most beautiful island getaways in the Caribbean, and a favorite sailing charter destination. If wind conditions and an exciting sailing itinerary is the thing for you then look no further than Antigua for your next yacht charter! Antigua has a distinctive flair arising from its colonial past as seen in the historic Nelson’s Harbor, the chic but fun Antigua Yacht Club, and the bustling streets of St. John’s, filled with shops and activity.
The island of Antigua, on of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, is fourteen miles long and eleven miles wide. It is the largest of the English speaking Caribbean islands, and is surrounded by coral reefs. Antigua is a favourite amongst sailors due to the consistent trade winds which guarantee some great winds for sailing. The island is well-known amongst the yachting community for its rum-fuelled annual regatta, Antigua Sailing Week. It is part of the island country of Antigua and Barbuda - together these two islands offer unspoiled powdery white sand beaches (365 of them - one for each day of the year!), amazing snorkelling and scuba diving on the reefs, fantastic dining, and all the spectacular sunsets you could wish for. Starting a charter in Antigua does not limit you to one Caribbean island, it also permits you to visit Barbuda, Montserrat or the archipelago of Guadeloupe within your itinerary.Â
Antigua Crewed Motor Yachts
Start your discovery of the Caribbean by chartering a crewed motor yacht from the beautiful island of Antigua. Include other islands in your trip, such as Guadeloupe and Monserrat – a motor yacht is the perfect mode of transport to see as much as possible in the most comfortable and stylish of ways!
Antigua motor yacht charters book now!
Antigua Crewed Sailing Yachts
Enjoy perusing the sparkling shores of Antigua on a crewed sailing yacht, guided by the wind and your own experienced crew to make your exploration of the island as fun and relaxing as possible. Anchor in beautiful bays and dive into azure waters or relax on deck below sunny skies! A crewed sailing yacht is the perfect way to explore the sandy shores of Antigua!Â
Antigua Sailing yacht charters book now!
Antigua Crewed Catamaran Charters
Explore the island of Antigua with the help of an experienced and friendly crew who can reveal to you all the local hotspots and fabulous cuisine while you relax and enjoy the best of the Caribbean climate and culture. Allow the crew to show you the best way to navigate to Barbuda island or to Guadeloupe during your charter!Â
Antigua crewed catamaran charters book now!
Antigua Bareboat Charters
Experience the freedom to discover the island as you want, pausing to snorkel over some particularly colourful coral or picnic on one of the beautiful beaches that surround the island. The consistent trade winds, safe anchorages and unspoilt beaches make Antigua a great location for families and friends! With a bareboat charter, you can plan the trip around your particular wishes to make sure you do everything you've dreamed of while getting to grips with some great sailing and enjoying everything this island has to offer at your own pace.
Antigua bareboat catamaran charters Antigua Bareboat sailing yacht charters
Antigua Yacht Charter
If you're on a Motor Yacht or have time for a long, open water charter on a sailing yacht, you can combine your Antigua stop with other islands such as Monserrat, Guadeloupe, Domininica, Martinique and St Lucia. Or head north to St Kitts and Nevis, Barbuda, Anguilla and the Virgin Islands.
English Harbour
English Harbour, located on the south of the island, is the yachting centre of the Caribbean. There are two adjacent and well sheltered deepwater harbours: English Harbour itself and nearby Falmouth Harbour. It is named so because the British Navy, under Horatio Nelson, established its base of operations for the area during the eighteenth century.
English Harbour is often where your Antigua Charter will begin, and offers great provisioning and everything else required for yachting, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants full of fellow sailors and yachtsmen. Be sure to head to Antigua Sailing Club for some sushi!Â
St Johns
St John's is the capital city on Antigua and the commercial centre and chief port on the island. The skyline of St. John's is dominated by towers of St. John's Cathedral. Built in 1845, the church is now in its third incarnation, as earthquakes in 1683 and in 1745 destroyed the previous structures. St. John's is a lively hub for shopping and dining.
For the culturally minded, there is the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda in the old colonial Court House, which displays both Arawak and colonial artefacts and features a life-size replica of an Arawak house and models of sugar plantations.
Barbuda
Barbuda is nearly uninhabited and is home to one of the world’s most significant bird sanctuaries, the Wa'Omoni Frigate Bird Sanctuary. Barbuda also offers charterers unspoiled pink and white sand beaches, fantastic snorkelling, and some of the best diving in the Caribbean. Barbuda is still recovering from the damaged caused by hurricane IRMA however don't let this put you off visiting this beautiful island as its shores and barrier reefs are unspoilt and natural beauty havens.Â
Barbuda's beaches are normally quiet and deserted. The beaches on the southwestern shore stretch for over 10 miles and are protected by barrier reefs that keep the waters calm and clear.
History of Antigua
The first inhabitants of Antigua were Pre-ceramic Amerindians in around 2400 BC. Arawak and Carib Amerindian tribes later populated the islands. The first European explorer to set foot on Antigua was Christopher Columbus, who landed on his second trip in 1493 and named the island Santa Maria de la Antigua after a church in Seville, Spain. The Spanish established the first settlements, which were replaced by English rule in 1632.
Antigua Race Week
Antigua Race Week is one of the most prestigious sailing regattas in the world, with participant competing from all corners of the globe each year. Stretching over 7 days, including 6 days of competitive yacht racing and one rum-fuelled day off Antigua Race Week attracts the world's top racing boats who compete for the prestigious Lord Nelson’s Trophy. But you don't need to be a crew member of a Maxi to compete, bareboat charterers are welcome and Boatbookings is happy to find the appropriate boat for you! We specialise in all types of racing charter for the Antigua Race Week and can put you on a boat to race in any class you may desire. Contact us if you are interested in competing in Antigua Race Week.
Getting To AntiguaÂ
Antigua sits about 300 miles southeast of Puerto Rico and 1300 miles southeast of Miami. VC Bird International Airport, near St Johns, is the main port of entry. Because it is a well-travelled tourist destination, it is well served by both international carriers and local Caribbean carriers. There is a flight from London Heathrow for every day of the week.Â
Climate and Weather
The climate is ideal, with temperatures generally ranging from mid '70s to low 80°F, and the sparkling blue waters have an average temperature of 75°F –making it the perfect destination for yacht charters all year round. The islands are relatively dry throughout the year. Tropical storms and hurricanes may occur between June and November.
Antigua Cuisine
The national dish of Antigua and Barbuda is fungie (pronounced "foon-jee") and pepper pot (a stew of beef, pork, dumplings, spices and vegetables). Fungie is a dish made from cornmeal that is very similar to Polenta. Other local dishes include ducana (a steamed dish made with sweet potato and shredded coconut), seasoned rice, saltfish and lobster. Local sweets include: sugarcake, fudge, raspberry and tamarind stew and peanut brittle.
You can also find other Caribbean specialities, such as Jamaican jerk pork and Roti from Guyana. And a local favorite, pumpkin soup, can be found at the Admiral's Inn in Nelson's Dockyard. Be sure to sample some locally caught Mahi Mahi or pass by local stalls to pick up some freshly caught lobster!Â
Beverages include mauby (a drink made from tree bark and sugar), seamoss (a drink made from seaweed), ginger beer, and a wide variety of local fruit juices. And of course the signature rum-punch!Â
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