To those whom think about an exotic destination where to book a short winter cruise, maybe in Caribbean sea, there is a small island that encloses a concentration of everything you may expect to find out sailing across the West Indies: coves fringed by white-sand beaches and equatorial vegetation where you can still breathe the air of the old buccaneers, fresh trade winds for sailing and an ambience that combines the simplicity of local life with a touch of social life that anyone would expect to find on vacation.
The navigation around Antigua is simple and does not require long daily sailing (60 miles total for circumnavigation, several deviations included), therefore suitable for those whom only have a week off, don’t love sailing for all the day long.
Perfect for frequent stops into the nature, above and below the water, the local folklore and some funy night listening to latin music, having a rum cocktail.
Many charter companies have their base in Antigua, because of its central position in the Lesser Antilles, just at half way to the Virgin Islands, St. Martin and St. Barth on north and to Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia and the Grenadines on south.
In fact, because of this strategic position, Antigua hosts every year the most famous boat show in Caribbean, totally reserved to charter yachts.
In Antigua’s marinas you can charter boats of all types and size: English Harbour (old base of the British fleet at the time of Lord Nelson) and Jolly Harbour are available both crewed yachts and bareboats, from small motor yachts to luxury maxi sailing yacht.
While in the last-born marinas in Falmouth Harbour, the Antigua Yacht Club is specialized to welcome Mega Yachts. The Catamaran Marina is the base of many sailing and power catamarans.
Each year between the end of April and the beginning of May takes place the Antigua Sailing Week, the largest and most famous regatta in the Caribbean, where more than 200 boats of all type and size compete in five-day racing, many of the boats in charter are available to enjoy this amazing event combining sport and mundane entertainments.
Antigua is easily accessible by direct flights from the most European main cities, its weather is dry and the best season is from November to May.
