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

Sail in the slow lane - turn off the TV and step away from the laptop.

When I first arrived in Antigua back in 2003, we absolutely refused to have a television (I think I'm showing my age by calling it a television as opposed to a TV!).  Having spent 30 years working in London the very thought of transferring that lifestyle to an island as beautiful as Antigua in the Caribbean was fairly appalling.  Nearly 10 years on, and now the proud owners of a flat screen TV, it pretty much stays off apart from turning on from time to time to get a healthy reminder why we live here; deep in the heart of the Leeward Islands.

It is easy to forget about the real world but it's absolutely crucial to remember for the purpose of understanding what your sailing guests are experiencing day to day.  As I sit in our Horizon office in Jolly Harbour Marina, my view is a lush, green palm tree and some pretty tropical flowers.  I remember being very excited about moving to a new office in a smart part of London where my view was the back of the company restaurant and the garbage bins!

Tropical flowers make a delightful view in the Marina

It's at this time of year that I used to be most miserable back in the UK.  I was forever lamenting the end of summer (and the sailing season) and dreading the first Christmas/Holiday advertisements.  It almost seemed downhill until Spring-time when boats would be launched and the first daffodils popped through the frosty ground.  To be cruising on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day is such a treat and a sure way to make all your shivering friends jealous back home.

Sailing Antigua for Christmas - such a treat

The real world is such a hectic place; rushing from kids school to grocery shopping and all stops in between.  That's why you need time to recharge your batteries and breathe some fresh air.  Sailing the Caribbean - either on a bareboat charter or taking professional crew with you - is the perfect place to do this.

Couple this with some excellent sailing conditions and you have a charter vacation made in heaven.

Typically, from November to April in Antigua, we have breeze of 15 - 20 knots and very little tide to speak of.  Sea conditions tend to be around 5 - 7 feet with a long period between waves as opposed to short chop that you might be used to.

A cruising vacation is the perfect way to reward yourself for all of your hard work throughout the year.  The island of Antigua is full of delightful bays and coves - just a day or less sail away - that are perfect snorkelling spots and swimming spots (no excuse for not exercising on your trip!).  Dinghy ashore and tie up to the nearest palm tree and enjoy a well deserved cocktail as the sun dips.

Antigua offers you the perfect reward for your hard work

When you are sailing a group of islands as rich in heritage, people and experiences as you could hope for, there's no need for TV or being attached to the laptop as if your life depended it.  You have your very own movie theater right there in front of you.  A great shot below shared by a lovely family who have chartered with us each year for as long as I can remember.

Now showing in Antigua - cruising heaven!

If you want to experience what's showing at Antigua's natural movie theater, give us a call or email info@antiguahorizon.com.  

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.