Horizon Yacht Charters full-service base location - just for you!

Where else is better to start your charter from than right here in the blissful marina of Jolly Harbor with Horizon Yacht Charters!

The Horizon Office in Jolly Harbor

The Horizon Yacht Charters base is located in the idealistic place called Jolly Harbor. The office is a two minute walk away from all of our yachts so we are never far away and it makes it a lot easier when carrying the luggage down to your chartered boat! Jolly Harbor is also where you will find everything you need to start your sailing vacation, from a supermarket open until 9pm where you can collect your goodies, to a beach front restaurant where you can tip your toes in the ocean whilst sipping on a ice cold beverage.

All of the Horizon Yacht Charters boats are moored right on the doorstep of the amenities that Jolly Harbor Marina has to offer allowing you direct access to all of the bars and restaurants, supermarket and customs offices making your life a whole lot easier. The supermarket is located right across the street from your Horizon boat allowing you to walk around the store with ease, without worrying about getting it all back to the boat as the guys from the store are more than happy to bring your shopping straight to the boat for you for a low amount of US$2! Fill up on the delicious Creole cuisine Antigua has to offer without any stresses!

The supermarket is just a 2 minute walk away from your Horizon yacht!

If you feel like dining ashore rather than cooking on board then you can choose from a selection of different restaurants located just a stones throw away from the Horizon office and your very own private yacht! These restaurants range from Italian to Greek to local cuisine and offer superb quality food. You will also find some great deals such as the 2-4-1 pizza on a Tuesday at Al Porto or some delicious chef specials at Melini's. There is even the option of takeaway if you fancy a relaxed dinner on board whilst watching the world go by. Don't forget to attend Happy Hour at West Point! West Point is home to the Jolly Harbor Yacht club which is why you will find all of the fellow yachties enjoying happy hour prices and discussing the best spots for anchoring and enjoying a good beach BBQ! They will also be organizing the next event, whether it be a fund raiser or just a fun sailing race between friends! From here you can also relax and enjoy the Caribbean atmosphere whilst admiring your very own private Horizon yacht at sunset.

One of the best Italian restaurants in Jolly Harbor - Melini's

Just a 5/10 minute walk away from your very own Horizon yacht is one of Antigua's biggest beaches which boasts blue waters, a white sand beach and a fantastic beach bar and restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner and of course the inevitable happy hour between 4-6! This is also where you will find all of the yachties enjoying their cocktails and local beers! Castaways is the perfect place to watch the sun go down and unwind on your Caribbean vacation.

The view at sunset from Castaways beach bar and restaurant

The view from West Point

There is also a fantastic sports bar 'The Crows Nest' located in Jolly Harbor along the waterfront. It's roughly a 3 minute walk around the boulevard from the Horizon base and they play all of the sports games on their large flat screen TVs, allowing you to sit back, relax and watch the games whilst sipping on a tropical fruit smoothie! If you came on vacation to get away from the buzz of a TV then fear not as there is also a beautiful, crystal clear refreshing pool just a couple of steps away. Cool down in the pool only to climb out and sit back on one of their comfortable pool loungers and receive poolside service! The Crows nest serves breakfast, lunch and dinner too.

The Crows Nest - sports bar, pool and restaurant.

One of the great advantages about the Horizon Yacht Charters base being in Jolly Harbor is it is only a 25 minute taxi ride away from the airport! - The closest marina you will find, offering everything you need, all in one place! Jolly Harbor has a customs office just a few minutes away from the Horizon base in the marina. You can either take a 5/10 minute walk around from the Horizon office or you can motor your boat around for 2 minutes and then moor at the customs dock they have just outside of the office.

Customs office and their dock!

Jolly Harbor is located on the West coast of Antigua, so it is an ideal place to either set sail North or South of the Horizon HQ and find beautiful protected bays, perfect snorkeling spots and amazing beaches to set up your BBQ's and still be in the lee of the island, meaning you will usually be in calm seas and gentle breezes which is perfect for the ultimate relaxing sailing vacation! 

Birds eye view of Jolly Harbor Marina

Once you have experienced fine dining, long walks on the famous Jolly Beach and topped up your provisions, you can set sail feeling calm and relaxed! The team at Horizon Yacht Charters will look forward to hearing your stories once you return and I'm sure you will still have to time enjoy that last cocktail at West Point before you jet off on your next adventure!

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!

Christmas in Antigua!

Christmas is slowly but surely creeping up on us! The supermarkets are playing Christmas songs, town is becoming a mad shopping frenzy and the marina is filling up with decorated boats! 

Morris Bay, Antigua

One of the best things about being in the Caribbean for Christmas is having the option to have your Christmas turkey on the beach! With sand in your toes, salt in your hair and an amazing view of the bright blue seas. Or if you're on one of Horizon Yacht Charters boat then what better way than to anchor off a secluded bay and enjoy the peace and tranquility on your Christmas vacation! There's nothing better than the Christmas atmosphere here in Antigua. The sun is always shining, everyone is happy, and the sweet smells of roast Turkey are coming from almost every kitchen! 

If you plan to be here over the Christmas Festivities then there are plenty of options for you! Perhaps you're on a boat you've chartered from us at Horizon!? You could head over to English and Falmouth Harbor. Nelsons Dockyard marina is a great place to stay as you are in a beautiful secluded lagoon marina which offers all of the facilities you may need over the holidays. There are bars and restaurants just a 5/10 minute walk away! Shops and a beach all within reach. I know this year I will be a 'champagne party' in Falmouth Harbor on Christmas Day around 12 o'clock! It's family day this year so this is a great excuse to go and drink champagne with friends before heading home to eat LOTS of turkey with the family! (Hopefully some apple pie too.. is that a festive desert!?).  

Photo taken by Andre Phillip at Darkwood Beach

Christmas is also a perfect excuse to relax on the beach on your Christmas vacation whilst the sun goes down with a cool, refreshing cocktail in hand! There's normally a 'lime' somewhere that one of our friends has organized. This normally means a lot of inflatables floating around in the sea, packed out coolers and lots of food and music! The most popular beach option for us is Darkwood. The water is always crystal clear and the beach is big enough for the ball games! It is also the perfect spot to sit and watch the sun go down - we've even seen the famous green flash there a couple of times! The sand is perfect for making sandmen.. much warmer than making snowmen.. no gloves needed! Another perfect place would be in Jolly Harbor on the mile long, white sand beach. Perfect if you're on a boat because you can grab a mooring buoy in the marina, dinghy to shore and walk down to South Beach which is where you will find Castaways, the beach bar and restaurant. They always have fantastic music and the bar man Keiron is always making amazing cocktails! 

Castaways - Jolly Harbor, Antigua

Everyone loves giving presents at Christmas as much as opening them! Well, I know I do! St. Johns is Antiguas city and the best place to pick up that silver bracelet for your mum or that standard, 'T-shirt' for your Dad! St. Johns has the shops where you can get both of these things. One of the best jewelry shops is owned by an English lady who makes her own jewelry out of shells. She sells the perfect charm bracelets, earrings and necklaces along with pictures and cute little collectables. You will find Silver Chelles in Heritage Quay behind C&C's wine bar and opposite the delectable home-made ice cream shop (give that a go too it's delicious!). In the main part of Heritage quay is a Sunseekers where you can get that t-shirt for your Dad! They also do board shorts, flip flops and bikinis too as well as anything else you might need for the beach! Right next door there is a jewelry shop where you can get your Pandora Charms and the like! You can't go wrong with those ;) I would also definitely recommend nipping up to Makai too which is a lovely little swimwear shop. The sell big name brands such as San Lorenzo and KC. My favorite shop and definitely worth a look at.

Lone dolphin in Five Island Harbor

If you're on a sailing vacation in the Caribbean then Antigua is the perfect place for sailing and Christmas is the best time for it too! We will have the 'Christmas winds' which normally blow from the East at around 15-20 knots. Turtle spotting is one of the best things to do whilst you're sailing! On the odd, lucky occasion you may even spot dolphins. The last time we saw one was when we were sailing through Five Islands. He was just a dolphin on his own but he stayed with us for a long time! I'm sure this is also the same dolphin who comes past our villa in the mornings to eat the fish in the marina!..

I'm sure that if you're in the Caribbean for Christmas then you will have an amazing time no matter what you do! Enjoy those mince pies with sandy feet, salty hair and wonderful ocean views! Happy Christmas!

Morris Bay - Antigua

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

Learning to sail without oilskins and four layers of clothing - hello Antigua!

I was recently back in the UK during Cowes Classic Week and boy did I know it!  Although I didn't get to race and enjoy the bracing (!) Solent breeze, I was amazed at the amount of clothing the crews were wearing just to keep warm.  The rain certainly didn't help, I'm sure!

That is not to say there aren't beautiful UK sailing days; I just got unlucky with my timing.  Now, this is all well and good for the likes of Musto and Slam; both doing a roaring trade with new oilskin sales and extra warm neck scarves (I know, I own about four!), it doesn't always offer the 'new to sailing' adventurers the best total experience.

Palm tree-lined beaches await you

Flying back to Antigua's steady temperatures of between 26 and 34 degrees Celsius, I thought I'd encourage more sailors from the UK (and possibly Canada who tend to get quite a short sailing season up there) to come and experience this kind of sailing with us here in Antigua.

The biggest difference, apart from the temperature of the air and sea, is the fact that it is non-tidal here. So, if that's always been a concern of yours, you will love sailing here.  We do get a range of about 12 inches which is nothing to the multiple feet you experience in places such as Chichester Harbour.

Racing in the UK - our craft - note blue sky!

At this time of year, the water temperature is a very pleasant 82 degrees I was told yesterday.  It doesn't quite feel bath-like, but it's certainly very pleasant for a splash around with your noodle and a cold Carib on a Sunday afternoon after a day on the water.

Some of you may have taken courses in the Med where you can get quite flooky wind.  I remember heading out to race a few years ago in Chichester Harbour and it was looking like a perfect Force 3. Well, by the time the hooter went for the start we were hanging on for dear life and pretending to have fun!

Here in Antigua, we tend to get around 15 - 20 knots and always from the East (ish).  It always makes people smile when I print the weather forecast for our charter guests and they see a steady stream of arrows from the right depicting the Easterlies.  Some people, new to the Caribbean, will ask me if the wind is greater in the morning or the evening and I have to say that it doesn't really change.

Sailing our Bavaria 33 "Vixen" from Barbuda to Antigua

I personally think that Antigua offers the best of all worlds if you are considering a 'new to sailing" or "discover sailing" charter experience.  You can choose to stay on the protected west coast which is the Caribbean Sea, you can also work on your passage planning skills by sailing up to our sister island of Barbuda, or you could even explore the coastline with a trip to the East coast of Antigua which takes you into slightly bigger seas at times.

Whatever you decide sailing Antigua, you won't need your cosy neck scarves or oilskins!

How to look like a rock star Charter Captain in the Caribbean; even before you step on board

You've worked hard to find the perfect charter boat, the best sailing location and you've got your crew together.  The excitement is building as your charter gets closer.  Your crew is dreaming of turquoise blue ocean and white sand beaches...

...this is when you might start to experience crew communication overload; how many emails can a Captain handle in one day?!  To stop this happening, here's a simple guide to help you look like the best Charter Captain that ever sailed the Caribbean sea; even before you step on the boat!

Before you arrive at your sailing destination

Have your charter company send you an overview of the facilities at the Marina (showers, restrooms, shopping, customs, fuel dock, bars, happy hours etc).

Sending crew off to a nearby pool will earn you extra points

Make sure your crew know what time the actual boat boarding is.  Some of your crew may arrive before you; make plans for the charter company to store their luggage and find the closest beach/pool for them to relax in before the fun starts.

If you are arriving late when the charter company has left for the evening, make sure you get the codes or coins for the showers - this will earn you many points or rum vouchers with your crew.

It's good to have a cell phone contact at the charter company.  Quite often a winter storm can delay your flight so make sure you can let someone at the base know where you are.

Note what kind of storage space you will have on board and importantly, the size of the fridge - you don't want to order 45 cases of beer only to have no space to store it!  Also ask about a freezer; valuable input into your assigned provisioning team.  We provide coolers for our guests but not all charter companies may do this.  Make a special request in advance.

Find out about the supermarket location and opening times.

Do check on currency; if you are in Antigua we accept Eastern Caribbean dollars and US dollars.  Make sure you know the best currency to have at your next sailing destination.  If you are island hopping, ask about Euro's too if you are thinking of visiting a French island such as Guadeloupe.  Remember banks close on public holidays, so have your money changed in advance so there are no glitches or embarrassing moments in the liquor store.

Do not assume that all charter companies are created equal.  Some will include snorkel equipment and others will not.  Make sure that you can pre-order, have your crew list their requirements and shoe size.  Some snorkel providers are also dive operators so bear in mind they might be out diving if you leave it until you are here - leading to many frustrated crew members huffing and puffing on the dock.

Pre order all snorkel equipment for your crew

Keep your lines of communication clear with the charter company - so many times we have been asked for an extra tea towel by 5 different crew members.  Great if you want to do lots of drying up; but does waste time for your crew.  Assign one person for housekeeping items (always check the cork screw and can opener before you leave the dock!).

Be careful about public holidays and Sunday opening times of stores.  We are fortunate in Jolly Harbour that our store is open from 7am to 9pm every day; and is also open on Christmas Day!  This may not be the case elsewhere.

Coffee is crucial on a sailing trip. Do you need to buy coffee filters or is it a stove top pot; there's nothing worse than getting demoted to the worse Charter Captain on Day 2 if the crew can't have coffee for breakfast at your first anchorage.

What power supply does your boat have - what adapters do you need to bring for happy crew mates.

Ask about the iPod aux outlet on the stereo - does it have an outlet and do they provide the cable - frustrating to have to sing every evening and not be able to play your recently purchased "all the classics, steel pan style".

Tell the crew in advance if they are not going to be using hairdryers - get crew hats printed if a "bad hair day" could ruin one of your crew's sailing vacation.

Crew hats will hide the bad hair days

Delegate, delegate and delegate some more

Assign tasks in advance of your arrival.

Make sure you have two people in charge of provisioning; not just the provisioning on the day, but ahead of time so they know what to buy when they are here.  Will you have any vegans or vegetarians on board?  Avoid buying too many sausages for the BBQ if you still want to have those friends at the end of the trip.

Not everyone needs to sit in on the chart briefing, make sure you have your First Mate and other interested parties - give someone the task of making notes so that you and your First Mate have time to listen and ask questions.

Time your boat briefing and provisioning arrival.  The last thing you need is to have your crew fighting over where to store the Oreo's whilst you are listening to the finer points of battery management.

Assign your Head of Finance; someone who is going to make sure that all is fair in love and chartering and is meticulous at keeping notes.

Appoint a Head of Dinghy Management in advance - very important crew job as these are expensive items to lose and charter companies do not look favorably on people who say "pirates came in the night/a pod of dolphins chewed through the line and made off with it".

Appoint your Head of Dinghy Management in advance

Planning your sailing itinerary ahead makes you look like a rock star Charter Captain

What Guide books will you be given upon arrival?  Perhaps buy in advance and review before you arrive at your sailing destination.  Check which charts you will be given and perhaps consider buying in advance so you have a heads-up on where to go and which reef to avoid.  They make great memento's of your trip if you can get them framed.

Chart homework pays dividends before your charter

It's always a good idea to have your charter company recommend a sailing itinerary - for example, we have a number of suggested itineraries on our website and these are hugely valuable in advance of your trip.
Link to sample itineraries for yacht charter

Be mindful of anchorages that do not have restaurants or beach bars.  Think about how many nights you all want to eat on board - work with your charter company to make suggestions for restaurants.

Special occasions; you can't always buy balloons or 60 birthday candles in the islands, so if you are celebrating a special occasion on board, remember to tuck the balloons in your checked luggage.

Special occasions deserve bubbles and balloons

You have now mastered the art of looking like the most organised Rock Star Charter Captain that ever sailed the Caribbean.  Now all that's left to do is cast off those dock lines, head out to the turquoise blue water and have fun!

Happy chartering - courtesy of Horizon Yacht Charters Antigua

A trend for longer term chartering out of Antigua

We're seeing an interesting shift in the amount of time sailors are looking to charter; especially coming through for next year (2013/2014 charter season).  The trend we are seeing is for people to charter for 6 - 8 weeks at a time.  Perhaps we are seeing this trend in Antigua because it is such a central island in the Caribbean for making the longer passages.  With the wind direction from the North-North-East, it's a perfect point of sailing.  We had a charter captain who said to me that "tack is a swear word on their boat"!  I love the fact that sailing is such a great sport that it attracts the out and out racers and the laid-back charter guests who really could not be bothered about the speed log.

Long term chartering brings its own rewards.

We are certainly seeing more people looking to explore "life aboard" and testing the cruising water (excuse the pun) before they make a life decision to buy a yacht in the Caribbean and cruise for several months each year.  We had a couple recently who purchased their first yacht at a Boat Show and were so excited by this that they cancelled a free charter that they had won at a competition.  All credit to them and we wish them many happy years of cruising aboard their very own yacht.

There are more and more people who sail south from Antigua to explore Guadeloupe, Iles des Saintes and Dominica, and change their crew as they head south.  I think this is because it can be liberating with just the two of you, at one with the ocean, leaning to live together on board and work together as a seamless team, but it is also fun to have friends fly in to perhaps share some of the running costs (and a case of beer or two).

Dominica as part of your long term charter - magical.

The people who charter bareboat with us long term tend to be the couples who are keen on fishing, cooking and even baking on board.  We've recently provided a set of baking equipment to a charter guest who liked to bake her own bread, cookies and deserts for the crew ( we can vouch for her fatless pound cake - vegan-style).

Seek out fishing competitions and the local guys to buy fresh fish for BBQ

Perhaps this is a long term dream for many of you, but more and more are realising their long term chartering dreams right now.  You'd be in good company.

Experience the best of Greek sailing; right here in Antigua.

Welcome to Akropolis Greek Taverna - right here in Antigua in the heart of the Caribbean.

When people arrive to charter from our base in Antigua, one of the first things they ask (after "Where's the nearest bar?"!) is "Where shall we eat this evening?".  There are quite a few places to choose from right here in Jolly Harbour Marina and just a walk from our docks; everything from 2 for 1 Pizza evening at Al Porto with live music, to seafood specials at Melini's and now, a new addition to the dining family - Akropolis Greek Taverna.

It's set in a quirky location without any sea view but that doesn't seem to deter people.  It's located literally just across from the Marina entrance on the first floor.  Note the Christmas lights (year round, of course!) as you walk along and you've found the restaurant on the balcony.  Quirky is probably the word I would use to sum up this dining experience.   You are greeted by Marcello who is actually a carpenter/wood expert by trade.  He can remember what most guests will drink even before you can utter "chilled Pinot Grigio".

If you are not hugged by owner/chef "Mama Greek" in the first 30 minutes of your arrival, then she is probably in the kitchen creating delicious dishes such as slow-cooked lamb shank or pork souvlaki.  But rest assured, she will be out to see you before you head back to the boat- possibly pressing a tub of home made hummus in your hand as a little something for the next day.

You can also just pre-order bits and pieces to take away and have on your cruise.  Imagine authentic taramasalata on pitta bread and olives at sunset, overlooking a stunning Antigua sunset!  Below is their very garlicky tzatziki dip; perfect accompaniment to rum cocktails, or any cocktails for that matter.

Pre-order delicious dips for a healthy sunset party!

Let us know if you want us to pre-order any dips for you and we'll have them on board for your arrival.  Better still, book in to Akropolis for dinner; enjoy two main courses and they will give Horizon Yacht Charters guests a complimentary bottle of sparkly Pinot Grigio.  How lovely is that?

A taste of the Greek islands - right here in Antigua!

For pre-orders, email us at info@antiguahorizon.com

www.horizonyachtcharters.com

Follow the herd; and then sail Antigua & Barbuda

There's something magical about being at an anchorage with just you, a good book and the lapping of the water on the side of the hull.  For many, the lure of the beach bars is a thing of the past as they are increasingly finding that a little bit of peace and quiet is good for the soul.

There are so many hidden gems like that when you sail Antigua & Barbuda that it's hard to know where to start.  For me, Great Bird Island in the North Sound is a special place.  I love watching the birds fishing and the wading birds standing like statues pretending to be invisible to their prey.

Where is everybody?  North Sound Antigua and a myriad of offshore island to explore.  

For the perfect sailing vacation, a trip around the south west and south east of Antigua should not be missed.  Many people are surprised how long it takes to sail along the interesting coastline of Antigua and enjoy the change of pace from cove to cove.  For some reason the perception is that Antigua is a much smaller island than it actually is!

A beautiful spot on the east coast of Antigua is Nonsuch Bay and Green Island.  Green Island is an uninhabited island that is perfect for a beach lunch. If you have any energy, you could try your hand at kite surfing as you will be on the Atlantic side of the island with great breeze but perfectly protected by the reef.

Nonsuch Bay, east coast of Antigua - home to Green Island

From Nonsuch Bay, you head out the way you went in and sail north up to Barbuda.  Call ahead to Uncle Roddy to make sure he has plenty of fresh lobster to serve you when you arrive.  That and a cold beer to stay hydrated!

Uncle Roddy preparing delicious lobster lunch

Low Bay, Barbuda - 11 miles of paradise awaits

When you sail Antigua & Barbuda you certainly feel like you are part of something special.  You'll be mixing with the locals and learning more about their culture and way of life.  I think that's what travel is all about; that and getting away from the herd.

Follow your own herd and sail Antigua & Barbuda.  We have a last minute yacht open for a Thanksgiving Week sailing charter so do get in touch.

Horizon Yacht Charters
Email: info@antiguahorizon.com
Tel:  +1 (268) 562 4725
Skype:  jackieashford1

Santa undertakes his summer sleigh maintenance for his arrival in Antigua this December!

There's something exciting about heading off to a beautiful, warm climate for the Holidays and, for cruising sailors, there's something very special about spending Christmas and New Year in Antigua.  There's such a festive atmosphere around the island at that time; lots of parties, events and, of course, some brilliant sailing!  It's the Caribbean island that many liveaboards and long term cruisers gravitate towards at this time as part of their cruising traditions.

Time your trip just right and you will discover Santa arriving by helicopter in Jolly Harbour much to the delight of the screaming kids down below who can barely keep still for the excitement.  It was a real pleasure to watch the spectacle last year and I was able to take some photographs as a nice memory.

Sailing and Santa in Antigua

You will find many events taking place around the island; often involving the local Antiguan school children who have heaps of talent and clearly enjoy performing in front of a crowd.

Great performances around Antigua for music lovers

But it's not just about the parties and the events.  It's also great sailing for many bareboat guests who choose to cruise Antigua & Barbuda at this time.  At this time of year, you would experience around 15 - 20 knots of breeze and seas of around 5 - 7 feet.  Perfect sailing conditions for our fleet of SAILING monohulls and Catamarans from 40 - 50 feet.  You will always find a deserted beach (there are 365 in Antigua & Barbuda!) to drop the hook, explore and relax.  Santa has chosen his favourite beach already!

Darkwood Beach, Antigua - where else for the Holidays?

For the party sailors, join in the fun at Nelson's Dockyard on Christmas Day.  This is where pretty much the whole island congregates in English Harbour to celebrate the festivities.  You will find dinghies full of champagne and cold local beer, traditional rum punch stalls and, of course, music and great BBQ.

Celebrate in style in Antigua

Party time at English Harbour

Christmas Day in the Dockyard

The New Year celebrations and fireworks are simply brilliant here on Antigua.  With all of the mega yachts and super yachts 'dressed' for the occasion, it's a special time to make those sailing resolutions for 2013.  Join us this Christmas for a Holiday charter experience like no other.  This is where we'll be!

Life's a sunset... when sailing Antigua

Hazy conditions create interesting photographs

I think I am addicted to sunsets.  Since living in Antigua, I think I've taken more pictures of sunsets than you can shake a stick at.  I wonder what it is about sunsets that are so compelling?

Many of our sailing guests comment that it's like a punctuation mark after a great day of sailing and before the cocktails are made!  Now, that's what I call a great sailing vacation!  Others say that it's like a  new day is coming and there is hope to achieve what you want.

When you sail with us, or take a learn to sail course, it is likely that you will see plenty of sunsets from the west coast anchorages, but you will experience a different angle from the top of Shirley Heights, for example.  For those cruisers who are not familiar with Antigua, Shirley Heights is the weekly jump-up overlooking English Harbour and beyond.  It's a great tradition here on Antigua and one that should not be missed.  Enjoy a brilliant steel band who will play anything from jazz, to modern to classical on their steel pans.  The rum punch is not bad either!  The trick is to get there before sunset!

Sunset from Shirley Heights, Antigua

From the west coast of Antigua, you might be anchored at an overnight anchorage at Hermitage Bay.  This is an excellent anchorage for sunsets (and swimming, cocktails, beach combing....).  This sunset below was taken from the south beach on Morris Bay just along the coast from Hermitage Bay.

Sunset from South Beach, Antigua

Sunset is also a time for romance!.  We were sent these two brilliant photographs by charter guests this past season.

Special time at sunset, Antigua

View from a guests' charter yacht - happy sailing vacation!

Last night, we were asked by friends on their charter yacht "Jabberwocky", to take their photograph at sunset.  At this time of year, with some Sahara dust in the air and low clouds, you are never quite sure what effect you are going to get.

Jabberwocky charter yacht sailing back into harbour

I think the one thing that sunsets do is to make you appreciate the beauty around you.  We are certainly blessed to be able to see so many shapes and colours of sunsets in our back yard.  Next time you come bareboat sailing or crewed sailing with us in Antigua, take a pic and we'll compare notes!

Horizon Yacht Charters
info@antiguahorizon.com