2 day, overnight tour - ready to explore Barbuda by private sailing yacht?

A private, overnight sailing trip - tailored just for you.

Why not take a two-day, private sailing charter with a great Skipper to the beautiful island of Barbuda.  Set sail from our base in Jolly Harbour on your first day and experience a wonderful sail along the coast west of Antigua and on to Barbuda. The sail takes around 5 hours; if you are lucky, you may see turtles, dolphins or even whales on your trip!

Barbuda is simply stunning - a 'Robinson Crusoe' coral island with a population of just 1,300 people.  You will anchor at one of two beautiful beaches. Low Bay boasts 11 miles of unbroken pink/white sand beach and Cocopoint is to the south with a white, powdery sandy beach - both ideal for beach-combing. 

Yachts at anchor at Low Bay (photo credit Greg Scott)

When you are safely at anchor, the day is yours!  A perfect time to dive into the crystal clear water and cool off, or perhaps take a guided tour to the peaceful frigate bird sanctuary in the large lagoon behind the bay.  There is also great snorkelling and your Skipper will show you the best spots. 

Take a tour of the frigate bird sanctuary in the lagoon

Starting from our base in Jolly Harbour Marina, you will step on board at 10am on your first day.  There is a large supermarket right here so you can pick up everything you will need for your trip.  There is a full galley on board: refrigerator, stove, coffee maker - a home from home!  Alternatively, send us your shopping list and we will make sure everything is stowed on board for your arrival. Your Skipper will advise you on what to bring and where to stow.  

We have a fleet of 14 yachts and Catamarans to choose from (subject to availability) - depending on how many people you will be on your tour, and how many cabins you will need, we will recommend the most suitable yachts for you.

What do you need to bring?

Bring along your swimwear, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat and a change of clothes - that's it! We provide all linens and towels on board.  Your snorkel equipment is also provided, plus a hammock and swim noodles.  

The pink sand at sunset in Barbuda - beautiful!

There is a charcoal BBQ on board so that you can cook on board and dine under the stars for your first night dinner. Watch a wonderful sunset from your yacht whilst you sip a rum cocktail!

Sunsets and diving.

 

Next morning, we lift the anchor and sail to Coco Point on the south of Barbuda for more exploring, swimming, relaxing; the choice is yours.  You then have another great sail back to Antigua!  Your 2 day, private tour will finish at 4pm on day 2 in Jolly Harbour Marina.  

This trip offers a great way to see Antigua's coastline and Barbuda's natural beauty, plus it gives you a flavour of life on board your very own private yacht.  

Of course, we can sail where the wind takes us, so if you wanted to explore the North Sound area of Antigua, or perhaps stay closer to home on the west coast, we would be more than happy to set sail with you!

If this sounds interesting, please call us on +1 (268) 562 4725 or email Jackie at info@antiguahorizon.com.  We can then check boat availability and provide full pricing based on the number in your group.

Happy sailing!

http://horizonyachtcharters.com/antigua-barbuda/

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!

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.

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!

The perfect yacht charter destination for couples - Antigua

When you work hard all year long you really need your vacation time to matter.  Quite often that means connecting back with loved ones and enjoying your down time together away from the school run, the pressure of work and the stress of simply commuting.  For some, it's just being in a warm, tropical environment and we certainly have that year-round in Antigua.

If you are looking for the perfect destination in which to do that, we are a little biased but we believe Antigua & Barbuda rates up there with the best that the Caribbean has to offer.

Unspoilt anchorages of Antigua & Barbuda

We also made the conscious decision to provide a smaller fleet of boats to those people who would prefer to cruise the Caribbean with just their significant other, or perhaps another couple.  For example, we have our 2-cabin, 2014 Bavaria 33 available for charter to one or two couples.  Take a look here:

Bavaria 33 perfect for 2 couples

We are also pleased to be able to offer our 2 cabin Jeanneau 36i "Sandpiper" available for bareboat charter from mid February 2015.  With two double cabins, this is also perfect for one or two couples looking to spend quality time far from the crowds.  We also now have the 3 cabin, 36i version available from November 2014.

Jeanneau 36i new for Antigua fleet February 2015

So what makes Antigua & Barbuda the perfect cruising destination for couples who enjoy sailing?  For couples looking for seclusion, Antigua and Barbuda offers a myriad of unspoilt anchorages, coves and bays.  Places where you can drop the hook, dive into the water and not have another boat around you.  There are also a number of wonderful places to eat right on the beach - either a long, lazy lunch or perhaps something more romantic for dinner.

Seclusion when you want it - Jacqui O's Beach Restaurant

Enjoy Jacqui O's Beach Bar and Restaurant on the peaceful west coast of Antigua.  Fine dining served with the laid back charm of the Caribbean.

Sheer Rocks for a romantic dinner

Once you've totally destressed and you're ready to join civilisation again, why not sail to the south of Antigua and enjoy the many bars and restaurants on offer down there - everything from sushi at Club Sushi to high-end lobster and fries at Hamilton's in the Dockyard.

If this sounds like heaven on earth to you, give us a call or drop us an email.

Horizon Yacht Charters (Antigua)
Toll free:  +1 (866) 439 1089
Tel:  +1 (268) 562 4725
Skype:  jackieashford1
Email:  info@antiguahorizon.com

Sailing and pumpkin pie - book a Thanksgiving charter in Antigua

With the US Open out of the way and the NFL kicking off for another season (go 49ers!), you know it's time to look ahead and book your Thanksgiving vacation.  Here in Antigua you can choose to take part in the Thanksgiving activities with all the traditional touches, or you can choose to simply sail away.

Simply sail away this Thanksgiving in Antigua

For those traditionalists amongst you, our local supermarket stocks all the trimmings you will need for your Thanksgiving dinner; from turkeys of all sizes to green beans and crispy onions, it's all here for you.  For those that like to buck the trend, why not spend the Holiday in Barbuda feasting on a beach-side lobster lunch?  Whichever way you look at it, you won't go hungry.

Lobster for Thanksgiving dinner

The weather here in Antigua and Barbuda is tropical - so you will always feel wonderfully warm.  You will not need to pack much - everywhere is Caribbean casual.  The breeze tends to be around 15 to 20 knots so perfect conditions for boating and yes, the water is really this blue!

The blue water of Antigua - who's ready?

Get in touch if you are ready for an Antigua boat charter this Thanksgiving.  Who knows, this could be you...