Sailing & Yacht Charters

Antigua is one of the great sailing capitals of the Caribbean, and chartering a yacht here puts the whole island within reach of your own keel. Steady easterly trade winds of roughly 10 to 20 knots, dozens of protected bays, and short hops between anchorages make it ideal for both first-time charterers and seasoned sailors. The main bases are English Harbour and neighbouring Falmouth on the south coast, plus Jolly Harbour on the west.

You can charter in three broad ways: bareboat (you skipper it yourself, with a recognised sailing qualification), skippered, or fully crewed with a captain and cook. Monohulls and catamarans of roughly 35 to 60 feet are the common sizes. A classic week-long itinerary loops the island, overnighting in spots such as Green Island, Nonsuch Bay and the dramatic cliffs around Galleon Beach at the mouth of English Harbour.

The sailing heritage runs deep. Nelson's Dockyard, the working Georgian naval dockyard at the head of English Harbour, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the spiritual home of Antiguan yachting. Each spring the harbours fill for Antigua Sailing Week, one of the world's premier regattas, and the preceding Classic Yacht Regatta.

For a fixed-price taster without committing to a full charter, many visitors book a catamaran day cruise instead. Either way, finish the day at Shirley Heights above the harbour, where the Sunday sunset party looks down over the same anchorage the British fleet once used.