Try the street food on your next Horizon sailing charter

Being a bit of a food lover with a passion for travelling, I always try and seek out the more local places to try before the "headline" restaurants that get the 5 stars on Trip Advisor (although they are great too!).  I like to have an authentic experience; especially when I'm visiting a place for the first time.  You can do that here in Antigua, too.

Antigua's street markets are a must on your sailing charter

We like to visit the street stalls that are dotted around the island.  The picture above is Clemie's and it's located near to Carlisle Bay which is your overnight anchorage.  It's a nice walk or a quick taxi ride.  You get such great value for money.  What you will also find is the freshest ingredients.

At this time of year, you can buy an abundance of fresh mango.  Remember to buy a mix of slightly hard so they ripen in the galley and ready to eat. Any stall holder will be able to help you with this if you are not sure.

Fresh mango at this time of year - it's the season!

As well as fresh fruit stalls, you must also try the street food.  You will see stalls with their little blackboards tempting you with jerk chicken, goat water and bull foot soup.  You must try these as they are tasty bowls of food and incredibly good value.  Talk to us when you arrive and we can give you a heads-up where to experience a truly local food experience.

info@antiguahorizon.com

Our Instagram feed - bringing you a taste of Antigua sailing and island life, every day

We are so lucky to live and work on the beautiful island of Antigua.  We're also pretty lucky that the iPhone camera is so good!  So we put these two things together and created an Instagram feed for Horizon Yacht Charters in Antigua.

Every day I see something amazing or funny, or both!  Everything from glorious sailing yachts to a pair of piglets eating grass at the side of the road.

Always on the look out for amazing Antigua sunsets!

Make sure that you follow our feed - we're at

horizonyachtchartersantigua

See you in paradise!

Jackie

The Caribbean sea that won't land in your cocktail - welcome to sailing Antigua!

How do you fancy a calm, blue Caribbean sea that won't land in your freshly made cocktail? If that's the case then need not worry because Antigua is the sailing area for you!

Antigua is located in the heart of the Caribbean and boasts calm seas, blue skies and the blissful trade winds. Our base here at Horizon Yacht Charters is on the west coast of Antigua in Jolly Harbor; in the lee of the island. This comes at a great advantage due to the fact you can sail straight out of Jolly Harbor and sail either north or south along the coast and you will find calm, secluded bays and some great snorkeling. 

Antigua & Barbuda sailing - into the blue



The weather here creates the perfect conditions for calm winds and flat seas. The trade winds float across Antigua; between 15 to 20 knots of warm air across the island - perfect for filling your sails and gently gliding you down the coastline of Antigua, or if you would prefer a little adventure further afield, why not visit Antigua's sister island Barbuda which is just 25 miles north of Antigua. It's about a 4-5 hour sail, so you can set off in the morning and be there in the early afternoon to enjoy some fantastic snorkeling, endless beaches and land tours.

This short hop across the Caribbean seas should be smooth and relaxing as it's a beam reach there and back. Keep an eye out for the local wildlife such as turtles, dolphins and even the odd whale! There is also Green Island if you enjoy a longer sail around the coastline of Antigua, whilst enjoying the calm seas and blissful sunshine. Located on the east side of the island it has the perfect secluded bay, protected by a reef, which will squash any worries about rolling out of your bunk at nights! There are some great snorkeling spots there and a beach that is perfect for lighting up the BBQ and enjoying the view of your very own private yacht!

Local weather report from Windguru

As you can see from Windguru, the weekly weather shows easterly winds of 12-20 knots with the occasional 2 knot change. Otherwise a very calm easterly swell - perfect for sailing in and around Antigua.

There are many different activities that take place on the water here in Antigua. You are more than likely to see the local fishermen who will amaze you as to how far offshore they are. They'll be bobbing up and down slowly whilst enjoying the glorious sunshine and calm seas which allow them to travel that much further for their catch of the day!

Many people travel from all over the world to come to Antigua to learn to sail as it's in the perfect location. There are 3 different sailing schools here who are busy year round teaching novice sailors.  They take advantage of the fact that there are hardly any tides which makes for simpler navigation and the calm winds and flat seas mean you can concentrate purely on sailing and learning!

Antigua's blissful weather conditions apply to children and adults alike. The North American optimist championship is also held here. Over 150 children will be competing to win the title. The boats will race outside of Falmouth hHrbor allowing them to make the most of the calm, blue waters. You'll more than likely see them happily bobbing around, enjoying the thrill of the race - Antigua is enjoyed by all ages!

A calm, relaxing evening at anchor

So if you're looking for the ultimate relaxing sailing vacation where the sun is always shining, the breeze is steady and the seas are calm and invitingly warm, then Antigua is the best sailing area for you.

Sailing catamaran "Aftica"; your boat, your crew, your choice!

Are you curious to sail the the beautiful, blue seas of the Caribbean? Do you wonder what it's like sail from one island to the next? Now you can find out by joining our fun, adventurous and knowledgeable crew aboard catamaran 'Aftica' with Horizon Yacht Charters.

WELCOME TO SAILING "AFTICA"

Catamaran Aftica under sail

Aftica is the name of a beautiful 45 foot 'Leopard' catamaran specializing in 1-3 week crewed sailing trips for people who have a passion for adventure and love nothing more than discovering hidden treasures around the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean - Guadeloupe, Dominica, St Martin, St Bart's, Antigua and beyond. 

All you will need to bring is yourselves and a bathing suit and you will be all set to start your sailing adventure. Aftica comes fully equipped with fresh linens and towels, bathroom supplies and, of course, an amazing crew so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the sailing or, if you prefer, why not take the helm under Captain Paul's tuition?

Sail to Guadeloupe aboard Aftica

Aftica is a unique charter, in that it's all about you joining this amazing team to make sure you have the ultimate sailing vacation.  Cooking, cleaning and being part of the crew is what it's all about! Everybody chips in to make sure the boat stays ship shape. This could be a great opportunity for people who may not have had the chance to be on a sailing yacht before - now they have the chance to experience what life at sea could be like. Or perhaps you are a potential catamaran purchaser and would love to see how one sails first hand, or maybe you are just a passionate sailor looking for a unique adventure.

YOUR CREW

Paul is your Captain on board Aftica and he has an infectious passion for sailing. He has lived on 6 different continents and was previously a professional engineer. He is also an RYA Yachtmaster and an advanced diver. With Paul's extensive knowledge you are sure to be in safe hands whilst learning everything about the Caribbean through the stories they will share with you.

Captain Paul with First Mate Marguerite

Marguerite (Migs) was born in Trinidad and raised in Antigua and is also a Padi Dive instructor as well as an RYA yacht skipper. Like Paul, Migs has also lived abroad in countries such as Asia and in Europe allowing her to share fun and exciting stories about her different experiences. Migs also has a love for sailing, making her the ultimate First Mate and all-round fun and enthusiastic crew.

DINING

You will also have the chance to waken your taste buds in some of the Caribbean's great restaurants. If you would prefer to gaze at the stars whilst eating a home cooked meal on board then that's also an option for you. All of the provisions will be bought together in the store before setting off so you will have the choice of what's on the menu! There is also the opportunity to catch your dinner as you cast your lines to see what bites; whether it's a tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo or even a marlin.

Snorkel and explore the Caribbean's underwater treasures

CRUISING AREA

Whilst on board the beautiful Leopard 45 you have the option of exploring the Caribbean island of Antigua, the home of Aftica, Paul and Migs. Antigua is located in the heart of the Caribbean and boasts 365 beaches, unspoilt bays and calm seas. Alternatively, you could extend your adventure further afield. Aftica and her crew are happy to sail you on a round trip or can offer you a one way trip from one island to the next and, thanks to their extensive knowledge, no island is out of bounds, even Montserrat!  Through Paul and Migs extensive knowledge of the Caribbean you will no doubt be led off the beaten track only to discover places beyond the guide books.

Relax, kayak, explore - the choice is yours

YOUR CHARTER, YOUR SCHEDULE, YOUR CHOICE

Aftica also offers 'theme charters' so whether you're a group of divers who are out to seek new and exciting places to explore below the sea or whether you are historians who would love to sail between islands and discover the old ruins of the famous Caribbean rum distilleries - the choice is uniquely yours. 

Kids and Sailing vacations - like peanut butter and jelly in Antigua.

Where do you take the kids on their next vacation?  You only have to look at these pictures of kids having the best time and you know that Antigua offers so much for family sailing; for you and them. With water temperature at a lovely 26 degrees, and all day air temperatures not dropping below 27 or so, your kid's days will be filled with fun and warmth (don't forget the Factor 50!). The west coast of Antigua offers protected bay hopping with beautiful white sand beaches waiting to be explored.  

Connie Smith - only happy when splashing in the sea!

You know how kids can be; hungry one minute, refusing to eat the next.  Sometimes quite tricky when you are staying in a hotel and you can see your holiday dollars disappearing fast!  A sailing holiday is different; you provision the boat, decide what to cook and when, and your kids can eat when they are hungry.  Trust us though; if they are out on the water all day, jumping off the boat, splashing on the beach, they may eat you out of house and boat!

Harry learning to jump into the deep blue!

We love this shot of Harry jumping from our Lagoon 440.  He's a great swimmer and loves everything to do with water.  Can you imagine how early they'll be in bed after all of this energetic activity?!  It's not just about the water and sailing, take them on an island tour with a bit of horse riding thrown in, or take them zip lining through the lush rain forest - as long as they are active, they'll be happy!

Quality time with your kids.

That's not to say you don't deserve the best time, too!  After all, you've handled all of the reservation, packed their favourite toys, kept the kids quiet on the flight, put the dog into kennels and you are exhausted!  Well, imagine yourself with a glass of wine looking at this view!  Enjoy the quiet because next day, you'll be sailing to your next anchorage (a short hop along the coast to keep the kids interested) and you can start all over again.  

Pour a glass of wine, mix a cocktail and relax!  

5 reasons to convince your partner that sailing and romance go hand in hand - bring on Valentine's Day!

Convincing your significant other that a sailing holiday is going to rate way up there on the romantic scale just got a whole lot easier with our 5 great reasons below.  Have a read; you'll thank us for it later.  

Great reason #1:

365 white sand beaches to stretch out on without another soul around.  What could be more romantic than your own secret beach hideaway?  Drop the hook and dive right in (first checking that your anchor is secure, of course!).  Nobody around to view your latest Speedo selection as you take that romantic beach stroll hand in hand, or having to breathe in as you walk by other beach dwellers.

Where is everybody?  Your own romantic hideaway awaits.

Great reason $2:

Sunsets bring out your inner romantic!  There's something special about sitting side by side on the back of the boat watching the sun dip below the horizon; even better if you have a glass of something nice in hand.  After a lovely day on the water in the bright sunshine, it's nice to feel the heat of the day leaving - let the evening begin.

Release your inner romantic in Antigua.

Great reason #3:

Sailing makes you hungry - fact - perhaps it is the salty air, the Caribbean breeze; or the fact that you forgot to provision enough crackers before you set sail.  So where better to treat your lovely to a romantic dinner than a waterfront restaurant in Antigua.  Now this is really piling on the romantic points - The Pillars Restaurant based in historic Nelson's Dockyard is shown below.  Anchor in the Harbour and dinghy in to enjoy fine food, a little wine and an amazing view.

One of the many waterfront restaurants around Antigua.

Great reason #4:

Beautiful boats, designed with the two of you in mind, abound in our Antigua charter fleet.  From our perfectly formed Bavaria 33 to our sprightly Jeanneau 36i's - all calling out to be included in a romantic sailing adventure.

Horizon's Antigua fleet has small but perfectly formed boats. 

Great reason #5:

It's no coincidence that Antigua hosts the Jolly Harbour Valentine's Day Regatta.  Fun days on the water and evenings full of parties and bonhomie!  We're not suggesting you do any racing; that would certainly take some of the romance out of your sails, but it's a great event to enjoy the spectacle, meet other sailors in the bar afterwards and dance the night away to the live music.

Just the two of you.  It's all you need.  

Ready to find your inner romantic sailor?  info@antiguahorizon.com

Life in the slow lane... Antigua is calling your name.

When you need a bit of a retreat from you real world, a cheeky week of sailing in Antigua could be just the escape you need. Sailing is a great hobby to have that takes you away from worrying about this and that.  

Stunning scenery sailing Antigua & Barbuda

Firstly, you are on the ocean - can anyone reach you?!  Even if they can, it's a great excuse to turn off data roaming!  The fact that we give you a local phone for your trip is entirely your business!

Secondly, you are having to concentrate on wind direction, reefs, other boats, unruly crew members - who then has time to think about the next management meeting, did you leave the iron on and other regular life issues?  

You do need to be a fairly good navigator to sail Antigua and Barbuda; there is reef that is marked on the charts (we give you Imray Charts for the duration of your trip) but not marked on the water - so concentration is key! We also give you a one to one chart briefing and help you with your itinerary planning; looking at the weather forecast etc.  

Thirdly, when you have such natural beauty around you - the ocean, the beaches, the palm trees, the goats, it immerses you in a bubble of paradise.  We like to think of it as being off duty and devoting some time to your well being.  

So, when are you coming?  

Enjoying the Antigua tradewinds

Can you hear me now?!

Not everyone can be a concert pianist, but it's fun trying.

It's always fun to push yourself and try something new.  At the tender age of 14 my father took me to private piano lessons.  My father was musical and, as it quickly transpired, I was clearly not!  But I persevered and even managed to bash out a good enough rendition of "She'll be coming round the mountain". So, why is this relevant to learning to sail?

Well, not everyone is going to turn into Sir Ben Ainslie - Olympic medalist extraordinaire - after a week of learning to sail, but you will have a huge amount of fun trying, here in the sunny Caribbean!  

Learning to sail in Antigua

We always see a flurry of inquiries for learning to sail in Antigua each New Year - what a great resolution to make!  So I thought I'd jot down some pointers for those new-to-sailing people out there who know they want to experience sailing, but really don't know what happens on one of our ASA certification sailing courses.

Well firstly, we only offer private, live-aboard courses.  We don't team you up with other people on board.  This means that you arrive in Antigua with your buddy/best friend/husband/wife and you have an entire boat just for you. You don't stay in a hotel or a hammock on the beach, but you sleep on your boat in your own cabin - perfect!  You will be on board with your Instructor for the duration of your course - no classrooms as part of this certification.  Everything happens on board; cooking, learning to sail, jumping into the warm Caribbean sea.  

You step on board at our base in Jolly Harbour Marina and, after a safety briefing and itinerary discussion, you will leave the Marina for your week of sailing adventure.  The courses are structured so that you will experience not only sailing, but also the beauty of Antigua, too.  So yes, there will be time for swimming, snorkelling and exploring ashore.

Your home away from home for the week

You will sail each day to a new anchorage. This means that you have every opportunity to practice your knots, your sail handling and your newly found navigation skills.   It's all about time on the water and getting as much experience under your belt.  Every day will be different, you will experience different conditions - sometimes less wind, sometimes more wind.  All of this is great for you as you are building your knowledge in different situations.  

Your Instructor is there as your friend and teacher.  They have so much experience - probably sailing all over the world and crossing oceans - so use them to ask as many questions as you can think of.  There's no such thing as a bad question here.  

People learn differently, and our Instructors recognize this.  Some people need to see something first and then they pick it up, others need to make notes.  Whatever works for you, works for us.  

Waterfront dining in Antigua

If, after a week afloat enjoying the Antiguan scenery, you decide to follow up with an Olympic sailing campaign then fantastic, or if you decide that becoming a concert pianist is more suited to you, then that's great too. Either way, sailing is a wonderful hobby that brings people together, makes you forget everything else happening in the world and means you get to see some of the most beautiful parts of the world - all under sail power!

To find out more, contact Jackie at info@antiguahorizon.com 

My three best beaches when sailing Antigua!

By Megan Grant - Customer Services

There are 365 beaches in Antigua & Barbuda, one for every day of the year, so if you're here on a sailing vacation you have plenty of different beaches to discover! Exploring by boat has to be the best way to discover Antigua as you can get to the beaches that cars can't; which means there are tons of beaches that you will have all to yourselves! There are only really three that I spend my time on and have the most relaxing, fun, adventurous time and are perfect if you are on a sail boat. If you're like me and love to explore, then these three beautiful Caribbean beaches are perfect for you! Antigua is one of the best sailing locations in the Caribbean, with the trade winds kicking in for the winter it makes sailing awesome out here! There are plenty of amazing anchorages for your lunch breaks and lots of protected bays for those relaxing overnight stays on board.

Crystal clear waters of the Caribbean sea at Darkwood beach

One of my favorite beaches is Hermitage beach; it's an amazing beach and the water is always your typical Caribbean crystal clear water. I've often seen turtles in the bay and there's an awesome cave hidden in the pink mummy (I call it the pink mummy because it actually looks like a lady lying down). If you decide to come and explore this wonderful beach I would recommend coming for the day! Throw the hook out, dinghy to shore and drink your cocktails on the beach. For those explorers out there, there is a long rock that separates the two beaches and in that rock  is a small cave that's worth heading in to. I've heard there are sometimes some baby nurse sharks in there!.. Watch your toes! The snorkeling is amazing too, you can snorkel right off the beach and along the shore until you reach the rocks on either end. One of the best things about this beach is the luxurious soft sand and the view into Five Island Harbor and the fact that hardly anyone is there! You can also walk around the beach and on to another one which is sometimes good for body surfing and even more snorkeling! 

Darkwood beach bar and restaurant

If you don't fancy preparing lunch on board and wanted a beach with an authentic Antiguan restaurant to cook your goat curry for you, I would definitely say that Darkwood is the best place to anchor. You can dinghy or swim to shore and enjoy the long white sandy beach, snorkel off the rocks and head to the restaurant for lunch. One of my favorite things about this beach is the fact the water is always so clear! You can see the small fish that come and swim around your feet and there's often the local stingray swimming up and down the shore. There are also trees to duck under if you fancy getting out of the sun for a while. I wouldn't recommend anchoring off here overnight though as it can be rolly but it is the perfect spot to relax for the day, have some lunch and enjoy the warm Antiguan sunshine. 

Darkwood Beach

Pinching Bay is my all time favorite beach, ever! It's an amazing lunch stop and there's loads of snorkeling all around the bay and even off the beach. It's beach is perfect with the white sand that your feet just sink into. It's long and beautiful, perfect for those romantic strolls and awesome for exploring. I've found some amazing shells there. When the tide is out it reveals the rocks along the beach which leave amazing rock pools! There is also a small cave on the North side of the bay, it't not huge but it's pretty cool! One of the best things about this beach is that it's only accessible by boat so most of the time you will have the whole beach to yourselves! It's also a perfect spot for those paddleboards too. Landing a dinghy on this beach is made easy because it gets deep pretty quick so there's not too much panic about lifting the outboard up in time! It's also not far from Deep Bay so you can spend the whole day there and then once it's time to go and enjoy a peaceful sunset before dinner you can just head North for twenty minutes and go into Deep Bay for the night or you can head back South and anchor just outside of Jolly Harbor!

All of Antigua's beaches are amazing and there are plenty more I haven't explored yet! But these are by far the top 3! In the meantime I'm going to explore some more of Antigua's beautiful beaches, here in the Caribbean!

We welcome the Orana 44 to our fleet!

We have recently welcomed 'Jioia 2' to our Caribbean fleet here in Antigua! She is a beautiful Orana 44'. With 3 double cabins, 2 single cabins and 3 heads she is the perfect Catamaran for you and your family.

Jioia 2 - The Orana 44!

Jioia is a 44 foot catamaran with a fridge, freezer and air conditioning making her perfect for those family adventures around Antigua. However if you wanted to go out into the beautiful blue Caribbean seas to go in search of Antigua's neighboring islands, Jioia will look after you perfectly. Her 3 double cabins are pure comfort with their light, open, airy spaces. Jioia also has 2 single cabins forward for those mischievous teenagers who like explore. They also have full access to the A/C so are just as light and airy as the double cabins! The large saloon offers you double doors out onto her spacious cockpit with a big saloon table surrounded with comfortable seats to sit back, relax and enjoy the views from, or alternatively, you can take a wander up onto her enormous fore deck and look out from her comfy trampolines with a yummy cocktail in hand and watch those delightful blue seas pass you by. Don't forget to turtle watch!

Another delicious sunset from Jioia's foredeck!

All in all if you're looking for that relaxing vacation with permanent ice in your drinks and the ultimate comfort Jioia is the Catamaran for you! With her spacious decks she is the perfect sailing boat to accommodate your kayaks, paddleboards and hammocks! Don't forget your snorkel gear either! Chartering a boat like Jioia will allow you to get in close to the shore to explore all of Antigua's underwater marine life! From shipwrecks to coral reefs, Antigua has it all!

If you're interested in chartering Jioia 2 don't hesitate to get in touch, either by phone or email and we will be happy to assist you!

Horizon Yacht Charters (Antigua)
Toll free:  +1 (866) 439 1089
Tel:  +1 (268) 562 4725
Skype:  jackieashford1

Our sailors supporting local donkeys in Antigua

At the beginning of each charter season we select an Antigua based charity for our very generous guest donations.  Most guests are happy to donate US$20 per charter towards the charity of our choice.  This year, we have decided to support the brilliant work of THE DONKEY SANCTUARY; part of the Antigua & Barbuda Humane Society.

Well cared for donkeys

I took a quick trip out to meet Carol, the Shelter Manager, and importantly to meet the real stars of the show - the donkeys!  They are located just outside of the village Bethesda - the countryside of Antigua.

There are a staggering 160 donkeys living at the Sanctuary, and each of them have names!  I was lucky enough to meet the rock star of all donkeys "Stevie".  Stevie is a blind donkey but his senses are so heightened he knows exactly when a new jenny (female donkey) comes to town!

Stevie the rock star donkey

The Sanctuary is set on around 35 acres of breezy land with it's own souvenir shop and donkey wall of fame - just a 20 minute ride from Jolly Harbour Marina and our base.  There is also an infirmary for those donkeys who need special love and attention.  As I was there during the hottest part of the day, some of the chaps were liming under the trees.  They don't seem to mind the sun but they get quite cross when it rains, apparently!

Chilling out under the shade of the trees

I was fortunate enough to see some young donkeys, too.  Donkeys live to the ripe old age of 50 - I believe this is twice as long as a horse.  They have a full medical check when they arrive and their teeth are the clue to their age and general health.  Donations go towards the vet bills, feed etc.

Relax - it's donkey land in Antigua!

If you are on charter with us in Antigua, I would encourage anyone with a love of animals to visit The Sanctuary here in Antigua; it's heartwarming to have a donkey lean up against you so that he gets a scratch of the head and a kind word.  Make it part of your island tour next time you are cruising Antigua.