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

Enjoy crystal clear Caribbean waters this November and December 2012 - you deserve it.

Give yourself something to look forward to this coming November and early December.  We are offering 10 nights for the price of 7 on select models at our Antigua & Barbuda charter base.  Promotion runs from November 1 to December 16 2012.  


This means that you could be sailing for as little as US$3,295 for 10 nights in just a few months time.  If a sailing holiday is just what you need right now, then we've just given you the perfect excuse for an escape!

Sailing off the west coast of Antigua in the Caribbean

That means three extra chances to enjoy an Antiguan Smile cocktail at your favourite beach-side hangout, 3 times more fun in the water and 3 more chances to enjoy steady trade breezes in these stunning islands less traveled.    


Contact us to check yacht availability at info@antiguahorizon.com

Bareboat sailing | Crewed yacht charters | Learn to Sail

Watching the sunset after a day of sailing in Antigua

Stay and Sail in Antigua with Horizon for your next charter experience; something for everyone.

Antigua offers the perfect Caribbean island destination for your next Stay & Sail bareboat charter.

We are based in the heart of Jolly Harbour Marina which is a 300-acre marina that boasts two of its own stunning, white-sand beaches and all the facilities you would need for a Stay & Sail vacation; large supermarket, swimming pool, bars and of course, some lovely waterfront restaurants.

Waterfront dining - choice of seven restaurants close by

 

There are around 160 waterfront condominiums here in the Marina and most of them have their own finger pier or dock; just perfect for taking a yacht up to around 45 feet.

Bavaria 42 on a finger pier in Antigua, Jolly Harbour

You can combine  some island exploring inland with some of the most perfect Caribbean sailing and cruising.  The west coast of Antigua is full of wonderful anchorages that are either great for a lunch or snorkeling stop or even an abundance of overnight anchorages for those nights when staying under the stars aboard your boat is just too tempting.

The perfect sailing area - west coast of Antigua

The waterfront condominiums offer waterfront living with typically 2 doubled bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.  What better place to watch the sunset and the pelicans fishing for dinner, right there on your own patio.

Watch an Antiguan sunset from your patio

Next time you're considering a Stay & Sail package, drop us an email (info@antiguahorizon.com) and we will work with you to plan your whole vacation for you here in Antigua.
 

What lies beyond the beach in Antigua & Barbuda?

Antigua & Barbuda has developed such a strong marketing position and earned a reputation for it's stunning beaches (all 365 of them, but who's counting?) that some of our sailing guests forget to explore beyond the beach when they come cruising these Caribbean islands.  If you've never sailed these waters, you might want to dip into a brief summary here.

So, what lies beyond?

What I personally love about living and sailing in Antigua is the wildlife and the rich heritage of these Caribbean islands.  The wildlife in particular is simply wonderful.  I've lost track of the number of pictures of hummingbirds I've taken in 9 years but I think this one below if my favorite.  This chap comes along every sunset when I get home in the evening to enjoy some sugar water - a bit like a hummingbird Happy Hour in Antigua!  You can buy hummingbird feeders right here in the Marina, so perhaps take one with you next time you are sailing Antigua.  You can pick one up with your provisioning when you're at the market here.

Hummingbird Happy Hour in Antigua

When I leave Jolly Harbour Marina to run errands in town, it's always rewarding seeing a farmer galloping along at speed on his preferred mode of transport - the Antiguan donkey.  I have a particular fondness for donkey's as a lovely lady I know in Australia used to breed them and had her own sanctuary.  We also have a donkey sanctuary right here in Antigua that is definitely worth a visit if you have enough time; especially great if you have kids on your sailing trip and they may not want to sail every day.  This picture below was actually taken in Nelson's Dockyard during the Antigua Yacht Charter Show last December.  Not sure of the relevance of a donkey at a Boat Show but it added some authenticity to the event!  He/She seemed totally ambivalent to the millions of dollars tied up on the dock.

Happy donkey ambivalent to the mega yachts around him.

If I photograph hummingbirds like they're going out of fashion, then lizards come a close second in my photograph albums.  What I like about lizards is that they eat mosquito's which makes them heroes in my book.  When you're sailing the Caribbean - in particular Antigua & Barbuda with its laid back charm - it's nice to step away from the computer, laptop, DVD, iPad and just watch nature at its best. If you're now tempted to explore sailing Antigua & Barbuda, do check our special offers from time to time as we quite often have some great last minute deals.  

Lizard keeping the mosquito population down in Antigua.

For my next blog, I'm going to share with you some of my "heritage-rich" photographs that I've taken around Antigua & Barbuda.  The heritage experience here is not like the States or the UK that is super polished; here you can be hiking on a trail and stumble upon an old sugar mill, or an old school dating back to 1879.

In Antigua & Barbuda, you don't have to step very far off the beach to enjoy wonderful wildlife and enjoy an experience that is uniquely Antigua.  Take a look at some of our sample sailing itineraries right here.  

Bucking the trend - sailing Antigua & Barbuda

It has been such a busy high season in Antigua that is always comes as a shock when Antigua Sailing Week is over and many of the larger charter and private yachts depart for the States, the UK or to charter in the Med for their summer season.

The stunning North Sound area of Antigua

But the action in Antigua lives on - if you choose to find it.

We tend to attract the more 'independent' traveler or sailor at this time of year; people who like to buck the trend and not sail when everyone else is here!  Sailors who love getting to know the island and the people at it's most peaceful time.  When we do our charter check-ins and I'm talking about all of our brilliant contacts in Barbuda, they are always impressed that they could go and sit on Aunt So and So's veranda and be served fresh fish with rice and beans; all washed down with 'plenty rum'!

This weekend we have the Fishing Tournament.  We went along last year for the weigh-in and there were some pretty impressive fish up there on the scales.  The best bit is getting to eat it at one of many fish stands in Nelson's Dockyard.

One happy fisherman!

At this time of year the sun sets much later so you have more time for swimming after a day at your desk.  Or if you're on a sailing charter, that's more time to mix those cocktails and enjoy the perfect sundowner.

For many of our guests, they choose to sail in June because they can be at an anchorage with perhaps just one other boat.  The shot below is Low Bay in Barbuda but many of the anchorages in Antigua are also this peaceful at this time of year.  What a fantastic place to escape to!

Low Bay in Barbuda - pink sand at sunset

Of course, the other benefit of sailing after the busy high season is the pricing.  For example, we have our last minute sailing offers now on our website.  We're offering 10 nights for the price of 7 in June or 15% off 7 nights minimum.  Take a look at our current fleet selection showing the pricing before the special promotion:
http://www.horizonyachtcharters.com/antigua/antigua_fleet.html

For many of our bareboat guests, the sail down to Guadeloupe is a great attraction.  In fact, with more time, many of our guests sail further south to Iles de Saintes and even Dominica.  Take yourself away from your desk for a while and have a read of our sample itineraries.

As I write this, I am looking at the perfect sailing day through my window - can just about hear the seagulls as they beat the head of the nearest pelican trying to retrieve their well earned fish.... life in Antigua... it is good.

Ready to buck the trend and sail Antigua & Barbuda this Summer?  See you here!

Contact us in Antigua

Last minute sailing charters for Antigua holidays and cruising

It's hard to imagine layering on the clothes to keep out the chilly weather.  It is easy to be romantic about the snow when you are fortunate enough to live in the Caribbean year-round. The reality though is very different when you're trying to commute, or persuade your dog that actually walking in the snow can be fun!

Bob and Suzenne Fearn sent us this just last week from the UK

Many of our guests send us photographs of their snowy scenes when they get home after their sailing holiday and wish they could return.  From time to time, we are able to offer last minute charter deals to make that wish a possibility for some.  There is also something about Antigua that has sailors coming back time after time.  Always one anchorage they didn't get to, or a hike they didn't make.

If you need to feel the sand between your toes and enjoy a healthy dose of Vitamin D, take a look at our newly released, last-minute sailing charters from our base in Antigua.  Click here to read about those. Remember that these are bareboat charter prices, you can add a Skipper at US$150 per day.

In a few short weeks, you could be looking at this sunset instead of checking the boiler!

Check out the sunsets instead of checking your boiler!