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?!

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

Year round paradise here in Antigua and Barbuda

One of the many questions guests ask us when they arrive (when they quickly learn that I am not originally from Antigua!) is "where do you go in the summer?".  That's a curious question because people assume that we leave the island and live somewhere else.  That's not to say if someone offered me a penthouse in Manhattan or a condo in Colorado that I wouldn't jump at it, but we do actually charter right up to the first few days of August each year, and then open again October 1.

We love the summer here.  From a sailing perspective, the weather continues to be wonderful - right now we have 10 to 15 knots, bright sunshine, and if my temperature gauge did not deceive me yesterday, it reached a heady 100 degrees in the sun.  Perfect for swimming but don't forget your sunscreen!

It's certainly not a crowded time of year for sailors:

Uncrowded Antigua and Barbuda - summer sailing

For those looking for nightlife and action at every anchorage, you won't find casino's and nightclubs, but you will, in most anchorages, find a nice restaurant where the welcome is as warm as the sun and the beer suitably cold.  Whether you choose bareboat or a crewed charter, you can decide how many nights you want to dine onboard.

Summer is also a good time to Learn to Sail - the winds are typically lighter than our traditional high season and the marina's are uncrowded so you can practice your docking skills in peace.  Perhaps consider taking your ASA (American Sailing Association) certification next year with us.

Learn to sail in the summer and enjoy peaceful marinas in Antigua

Our seasons' pricing reflects the popularity of our sailing destination - we have four seasons here in Antigua so do take a look and see which feels right for you.  

West coast Antigua beach

South coast Antigua beach

West coast Antigua beach

There are so many beaches to choose from that you wont' be disappointed - each one more pretty than the last.  A yacht charter of up to 10 days in Antigua will have you visiting a different beach each day.  Who could resist these?

Our sample sailing itineraries will give you a flavour of what you can experience when you book a sailing holiday here in Antigua and Barbuda.  Take a look if you get a moment....

Capture Antiguan sunsets on charter

Different seasons bring different weather and cloud formations, which make for some great sunset shots.  We took these just two nights ago:

Stunning sunsets during your sailing holiday

As for us, we are counting down the days until we welcome our first guests for our new season, in just two weeks time.

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...

Sailing... just for fun! Four days on the water... right here in Antigua.

We're now offering a four day sailing vacation for fun loving people who want to experience life aboard your very own yacht; giving you the freedom to enjoy the beauty of life afloat.  Why not tag this on to your hotel vacation and have the best of both worlds?  Open dates are May 1 - July 31 2013.

Your vacation, your way.  

Your yacht awaits!  Step on board.

Have you always wondered what it would be like to go sailing?  Have you looked at boats in Marinas and thought "I wish I could step on board".  We are now offering you the opportunity to get on the water in a relaxed and fun environment.

Who will be on board?

You can bring along three friends or family with you as you will have two double cabins and a bathroom for your group.  Remember they are double cabins so the maximum is four people sharing the two cabins.  Your Captain will take the third cabin.

A vacation afloat tailored to you.

What will I experience?

Step on board at 10am on your first day and you will have your boat orientation with the Captain.  All of your provisions will be stowed for you in the galley; leaving you more time on the water.  Following your orientation and safety briefing you will cast off the dock lines and set sail.  You will sail to a different bay and harbours each day.  This is a fun experience so your Captain will ensure you have plenty of time for swimming, snorkelling and, of course beach time!

Depending on the time of year, look out for pods of dophins, turtles and even whales!

Whales, dolphins and turtles!

You can do as much or as little as you like.  You will be given the opportunity to take the wheel or act as one of the crew; assisting the Captain with various tasks around the boat and learning what it's like to be part of the team.  Sail back into Jolly Harbour at 4pm on your last day.

Glorious sunsets and sundowners!

For more information on Sailing for Fun with Horizon Yacht Charters in Antigua, call us or email to the details below:

Jackie Ashford

Horizon Yacht Charters Antigua

Telephone toll free:  866 439 1089

Telephone +1 (268) 562 4725

Email:  info@antiguahorizon.com