Antigua

Antigua’s protected natural harbors, central position in the Leeward Islands, and upwind position in the trades make it the perfect base for sailing. Admiral Horatio Nelson recognized that back in the 1700’s when he picked Antigua as a British Royal Navy base. Today, the island is a Moorings base, an ideal spot to base a charter boat with many islands in sailing range and a comfortable harbor to start and end your vacations.

The Moorings charter base is in the historic heart of English Harbour, next to Nelson’s Dockyard. The base amenities include a supermarket, post office and bank plus laundry, restrooms and showers (for a fee). Around the base, you’ll find restaurants, cafes, tours, watersports, the dockyard museum buildings, and Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. It’s only a short walk to the Falmouth Harbour waterfront, where you can see stunning super yachts and enjoy more excellent dining. The town of Falmouth is just a brief cab ride around the harbor.

Nelson surely didn’t consider Antigua’s 365 natural beaches, reefs and clear water for snorkeling and diving or fifty-four miles of coastline riddled with coves, anchorages, and islands when he built a shipyard in Falmouth. And none of the lovely resorts and restaurants were around back then.

It’s easy to spend a week or more sailing completely around Antigua. English Harbour and Falmouth are destinations in their own right, with plenty to see and do and easy beach access. The famed Sunday night Shirley Heights BBQ is an excellent start to your vacation. No trip in Antigua is complete without a stop in Jolly Harbour, a fantastic place to bike or walk or to enjoy a round of golf and a waterfront meal.

As you circle the main island, you’ll pass through the North Sound National Park, which has many smaller islands you can visit. The birding, snorkeling and swimming are excellent almost anywhere, but stops in Dickenson Bay, Nonsuch Bay, and Bird Island are highlights. Make plans to visit Barbuda, the other large island, at least once to experience the pink sand beaches and the frigate bird sanctuary. The waters around Barbuda are gorgeous and crystal clear, with no end to great snorkeling. There are caves and other natural curiosities to explore on shore.

You can reach St. Kitts and Nevis or Montserrat from Antigua in a day, and the winds are favorable. The mountainous French island of Guadeloupe to the south is reachable with a little more time and is well worth the trip.

VC Bird International Airport is forty minutes from the charter base. Direct flights leave from New York, Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, Toronto and Montreal. In Europe, airlines in Frankfurt, London, Manchester and Milan regularly fly direct, and connections are always possible on interisland airlines.

AMENITIES

Supermarket

Restaurants

Watersports

Laundry