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. 

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!

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 

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

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