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.

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 

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!

Antigua and some Learn to Sail questions

Learning to sail in Antigua can be a big step so it pays to do your homework before you commit. But how do you know which questions to ask?

Here are some tips for the novice sailors...

Firstly, are you interested in a live aboard sailing course?  This means that you spend a week, or however long you have booked, living onboard that particular yacht... This means sleeping, cooking and cruising.  This is fun because you get to see a broader range of places on your trip; you will never visit the same place twice. This is life afloat!

Learn to sail in Antigua... Unspoilt paradise.

Secondly, is it a group course where you will be with other students or will you have the boat to yourself (and your friends) for one to one instruction?  A group course can work out very cost effective but you have no control over your fellow ship mates!

Finally, what kind of learn to sail certification will you get at the end of your successful week or ten days?  Is certification important to you or would you be happy with a less structured week with your own Instructor and no certification at the end of it... More of a "discover sailing" adventure?

These are just a few of the questions that you may wish to ask yourself before committing to a learn to sail course.  Surprises can be fun but a little bit of homework will ensure that your first learn to sail experience is a positive one and the only surprises are the stunning sunsets and anchorages of your chosen Caribbean destination!

Meet Anette - a wonderful ASA Sailing Instructor in Antigua waiting for your call

Have you been watching the America's Cup action in San Francisco thinking "I wish I could sail"?  Well, now's your chance. Right here in Antigua we have the wonderful Anette, a talented sailor and sailing ASA instructor who can take you from just simply wishing, to actually sailing.

Anette is a qualified American Sailing Association certified Instructor, living year round in Antigua, and she can teach you ASA 101, 103, 104 (Bareboat), 105 and 114 (Catamaran Sailing).

Anette - ASA Sailing Instructor

If you are wondering what all these numbers mean, just click on this link and all will be revealed:
http://horizonyachtcharters.com/antigua-barbuda/learn-to-sail/

From the liveliest teenagers up to the most mature students, Anette will give you the complete confidence in your own ability to learn to sail.  On top of that, you will enjoy some of the most stunning scenery in the Caribbean as you cruise from bay by bay.  Anette is a strong believer in giving you the best Antigua sailing experience you can get, combining learning with fun along the way.  After all, we all learn best when we're happy.

This could be you on your very own deserted beach

Our courses are all liveaboard courses, which means that you stay onboard for the duration of your week - learning to prepare meals afloat, sleeping on board and very quickly making our yacht your home from home.  The purpose of the graduated American Sailing Association courses is to teach you the fundamentals of sailing so that one day, you can bareboat charter (chartering a yacht without an Instructor or Captain).

Your home away from home - liveaboard cruising

If you're ready to stop dreaming and start sailing, the first step is to pick up the phone to our Antigua charter base and ask us about your ideal dates to Learn to Sail.  What's stopping you?

Skype:  jackieashford1
Toll free:  1 866 439 1089
Tel:  +1 (268) 562 4725
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.

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

Enhance your sailing experience in Antigua with our new live aboard course

Sailing should be fun!  That is our belief at Horizon Yacht Charters - we hope it's yours too!  You have enough stress and worry in the real world - sailing can be a great stress reliever - after all, you can't exactly think about share prices or spring cleaning if you're trying to anchor in 20 knots!

With this in mind, we sat down with our Instructors over the past few weeks and said "how can we make sure our guests have the best possible experience on board when they charter with us or at any of our other bases?".  

The result? Our new 5 day live aboard sailing course for groups of friends or family.  

The aim of the new course in Antigua is to provide the practical tools you will need to sail more confidently and competently in the future either as the Skipper of your 'own' boat or as a valuable crew member.  The course will help you work better together as a team; not just with the people you are sailing with on this charter, but for all of your future bareboat holidays or daysails on the Chesapeake or the Solent, or wherever your sailing ambition takes you.  There is nothing better than having an experienced and fun Instructor to learn from and be able to ask the questions you might feel stupid asking at your local Sailing Club.  

Instructor Dave Buller with happy students!

The course outline covers an initial assessment by your Instructor.  He will watch how you interact as a yacht crew and how you handle yourselves around the boat.  It's not a test just a good way for him to analyse your strengths.  From this, the Instructor will have a good understanding of your competency level and can then tailor the course content just for you.  

There is a focus on the Captain with this course.  You will learn how best to manage your crew for great results considering their level of experience or non-experience, for that matter.  You will discover new ways to communicate with your crew for maximum effectiveness.  

A happy crew is what it's all about.

As a team, you will learn about passage planning - from where to cruise given the sailing conditions around Antigua at that time, to plotting your course as a team and reviewing your course under way.  

Docking always seems to be a headache for crews; lots of hard wood and concrete ready to jump out at you.  On this course, your Instructor will have you docking stern to and alongside as if you were born doing it.  As a team, you will discover more about sail trim - both on and off the wind - how to get the most out of your boat.  In Jolly Harbour Marina, we have stern-to docking right here as a test ground.

Stern-to docking can be conquered - without any gelcoat damage.

Safety is an important element of this course and it runs throughout the 5 days but there will also be a focus on keeping everyone safe on board, man over board and dinghy handling and safety.  

Sailing around Antigua you will find very few mooring balls, so an element of the course will be a masterclass in anchoring for your whole team.  

Finally, the correct use of the VHF radio will have you sounding like professional yachties on this course.  

This course is designed to enhance your sailing experience; whether that's in Antigua, elsewhere around the Caribbean or your home port. 

For more information, call or email me:  Jackie +1 866 439 1089 or +1 268 562 4725.

Email is info@antiguahorizon.com