Sunsail’s base at Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua, is the perfect starting point for an Antigua bareboat sailing holiday, taking in Antigua and Barbuda – the two neighbouring islands that together make up the nation of Antigua.

An yacht charter here offers a blend of blue water sailing and short hops from bay to bay in warm, steady trade winds.

Antigua combines lovely beaches and spectacular bird and wildlife with some serious nightlife. Lush Barbuda is more tranquil, with pink coral sands and the chance to snorkel over colourful coral reefs and search for eagle and sting rays.

Antigua Race Week, one of the world’s biggest sailing events, is renowned for world-class racing and all-night partying and takes place towards the end of April / beginning of May each year.

A Sunsail sailing holiday in Antigua is the ideal way to take advantage of the magnificent conditions that have made Antigua one of the world’s pre-eminent yachting destinations and a favourite with sailors who return year after year for more fun – on land as well as on the water.

An Antigua yacht charter is suitable for confident sailors with reasonable previous experience. Winds from November to May are generally north-easterly, ranging from 15 – 20 knots (17 – 23 mph). Temperatures average 25 - 28ºC (77 - 82ºF) year round.

Itinerary / Highlights

ANTIGUA

Falmouth Harbour
Built by the famous Lord Nelson and known for centuries as one of the finest shelters in the entire Caribbean, Falmouth Harbour remains a favourite with modern day sailors, offering a number of pubs, shops, restaurants and a lively nightlife. Yachtsmen recognize the marina as one of the most modern facilities available, a perfect combination of a beautiful, natural harbour with the necessities of modern sailing life.

English Harbour
Within the fifteen square miles of Nelson's Dockyard National Park is English Harbour, Antigua's graceful historic district. The harbour is best viewed from Shirley Heights, which you can reach via Lookout Trail - a nature walk originating at the harbour. Shirley Heights features semi-restored fortifications of a colonial observation post and on Sundays, you can enjoy BBQ and live music there.

Green Island, Nonsuch Bay
On the east side, anchor at Nonsuch Bay and step ashore to Harmony Hall for a fabulous lunch with a spectacular view. Nearby Green Island is an unspoilt hideaway with plenty of excellent anchorages to spot redbilled tropicbirds and pelicans amongst the abundant bird life. Inside Green Island's protective reef, you'll find some of the best snorkelling in the area. You can explore the bay by dinghy and be sure to visit Harmony Hall, a converted sugar mill which now houses a beautiful art gallery, craft shop and restaurant complex.

North Sound, Great Bird Island
The North Sound, with its pristine eco-system, protected by over twenty small islands and numerous reefs, is a nature lover's dream and the only place in the world you can still see an Antiguan Racer snake in the wild.
Hike to the summit for spectacular views and the opportunity to spot frigate birds, herons, brown pelicans, osprey, turns, noddies, laughing gulls, red-billed tropicbirds and West Indian whistling ducks.

Deep Bay
This well-protected bay is a nice spot for an afternoon swim, with a lovely beach and excellent beach bar/restaurant. The coral-encrusted Wreck of the Andes, a 3-masted barque that sank in 1905, now lies in 20 feet down its mast poking out of the water, and is a snorkeler's delight. At the north end of the bay, you can hike up to what remains of Fort Barrington, originally constructed in the mid-17th century.

Jolly Harbour
On the picturesque southwestern tip of Antigua sits this 350-acre marina and resort. In addition to activities like golf, tennis and squash, Jolly Harbour offers a well-stocked supermarket, fuel dock, banks, post office and several good restaurants. Customs and Immigration are onsite, making this an ideal jump-off point for sailors going on to Nevis.
Spend the day relaxing or enjoying a variety of watersports. And in the evening, try your luck in the built casino.

In the colourful capital of St. Johns, fabulous duty-free gift shops and boutiques sit alongside the local market stalls. Take a break from browsing and grab a bite to eat from one of the many snack stops on the busy streets or get away from it all at one of the roof top eateries.

BARBUDA
This low, tranquil island is renowned for its sandy beaches of which ‘eleven mile' beach is a particular favourite among sailors. Snorkellers are in for a treat with eagle rays and sting rays a common sight over the colourful coral. From Barbuda it is also possible to visit the tiny neighbouring islands of St. Kitts and Nevis. These green and lush islands beautifully combine rainforests and unspoilt beaches with the best-conserved colonial settlements in the Leeward Islands group.

Low Bay is one of the area's most popular anchorages. The untouched beauty here will overwhelm you. Take in the stunning pink coral sand, or snorkel through the colourful trenches of Low Bay's reef. And if you're a nature lover, don't forget to visit the world's largest frigate bird sanctuary, which boasts the oldest surviving avian species known today.