All inclusive sailing vacation
in Antigua

All of our yachts have a fishing rod onboard - we usually troll a line when sailing from island to island and will often catch yellow fin, wahoo, mahi-mahi or similar .... which might become lunch, served fresh off the yachts barbecue or as a sushi/sashimi dish!

Swimming and snorkeling are available every day, as well as beach-combing and some moderate hiking opportunities.

At most dive sites in Antigua certified divers may dive from the boat with one of our Divemasters, and those dives are complimentary for most TradeWinds members.

Water sports including Skurfing, SUPing and Kayaking.  

** Events marked thus are events in which guests may participate while on charter. Unmarked events are those recommended for a land vacation before or after the cruise.

Last weekend of January – Super Yacht Challenge – 5 pursuit races along the south coast.

** From the middle of January until the end of March - Talisker Rowing Challenge – rowers coming across the Atlantic will finish the race in English Harbour, with TradeWinds' yachts and guests taking part in the welcome committees and parties on the dock.

Early March – Rohrman Triathlon – 2 triathlons back to back in Antigua and the next day in Barbuda.

Easter Monday – Antigua and Barbuda International Kite Festival – recommended for a week before or after the cruise.

** March until May – whales on the south side of the island.

2 last weeks of April – Classic Regatta and The Antigua Sailing Week with parties everywhere.

Last week of July and 1st week of August – Antigua Carnival. Not much to do with the cruise but a perfect opportunity for a week on land before or afterwards.

Beaches

It’s often said that there are 365 beaches on Antigua -  one for every day of the year! We’re not quite sure if this number is correct, but you’re welcome to count and prove it wrong. There’s no argument however that we have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Three completely different faces for the island:

Turquoise water and sandy beaches on the west side of Antigua (Sunday and Friday);  

Shallow reefs full of sealife and island fauna in the North Sound (Monday & Tuesday); 

Deep dark blue/purple water on the east and south sides with great fishing, lots of sea turtles and flying fish, dramatic cliffs hanging over the water, and whales and dolphins (mostly seen during spring months).

The North Sound

The North Sound is made of 27 small islands, all part of a small barrier reef. A huge variety of birds and lizards can be seen on land along with comfortable snorkeling in very protected, shallow water. Reefs, reefs and reefs!

Plus perfect water for water sports, Skurfing, SUPing and Kayaking.

Jumby Bay – home to the rich and famous in Antigua. 

Green Island – a perfect spot for kite-surfing all year round.

Falmouth Harbour – for those who love to look at the mega-yachts on the dock or sailing by.

Deep Bay - the wreck of the Andes, a barque from Trinidad which sunk in 1905 due to a fire. Good for snorkeling and diving. On a clear day you can still see where the fire-liquified tar spilled from a hole in the hull and solidified. 

English Harbour - also a small wreck here at snorkeling depth and within swimming distance from the Pillars of Hercules.

Hiking to forts and/or nature tracks:

Fort Barrington overlooking St. Johns.

Blowholes in Great Bird Island.

Fort Berkeley and Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour.

Mermaid pools to Shirley Heights – watching the sunset from 500ft above sea level while overlooking English Harbour, and the perfect chance to catch a glimpse of the elusive Green Flash.

Here is a sample itinerary of what you may expect while enjoying a sailing vacation with TradeWinds in Antigua. Weather or other outside factors may mean that your Captain sets an alternative course.

Your catamaran is located at Jolly Harbour Marina, on the west coast of the island. Upon arrival you will be greeted by our Base Managers, who will take you through the check-in procedure. At 5pm you will be introduced to your fellow sailors. A refreshing welcome cocktail awaits you onboard before you are shown to your cabin and helped to settle into your new home for the week. Just before dusk, your yacht will move out of the harbor to her overnight anchorage - where you can watch the sunset and enjoy a delicious dinner aboard.

Following breakfast and a short briefing on all safety aspects, we set sail for Deep Bay. If you wish to participate in the handling of the yacht and sails then you can do so, but, if you prefer, just lie back and relax. It’s all up to you. In Deep Bay you will have the opportunity to  snorkel on the 1905 wreck of the “Andes”- an old wood and iron carrier that caught fire after anchoring en route from Trinidad to Peru. A sumptuous lunch is served onboard before we will move the boat closer to the beach where you can relax on the boat, take a stroll on a beautiful beach or explore with the kayak or SUP. Late afternoon we will take a short hike up to historic Fort Barrington with views of Antigua, Redonda, Montserrat and St Kitts & Nevis. We will spend the night at anchor in this idyllic bay, and will have dinner onboard.

After breakfast we set sail along the northern shores of Antigua and stop at Long Island – the home of the exclusive Jumby Bay Resort. where lunch will be served onboard. After lunch, you can snorkel, swim, kayak or just do some plain old-fashioned relaxing! We will spend the rest of the afternoon in this secluded spot surrounded by beautiful turquoise waters. Later, after we've enjoyed sipping our sundowners, the barbecue is lit and we will serve another wonderful dinner at this stunning location. You can take a romantic starlit stroll along the shore after dinner, before falling asleep back in your cabin under another beautiful Caribbean moon. 

In the morning we move position over to Great Bird Island, a tiny wildlife sanctuary. Put on your sturdy shoes for a short hike to the top of this uninhabited island that offers splendid views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. After lunch we’ll visit Hells Gate Island, which can only be reached by dinghy, and then It's time to gently make our passage through the narrow reefs leading out to the Atlantic Ocean and eastern side of Antigua to the beautiful Green Island - where we’ll anchor for the night. Cocktails will be had on the beach with lovely bonfire and marshmallows. Here, the light pollution from the islands is virtually non- existent. Your captain may invite all guests up on deck for a night cap and a late evening of some amazing stargazing.

After breakfast we will set sail to Indian Creek and pending on the sea conditions will decide between diving in the deep canyons of Sunken Rock or the statues garden of Indian Gardens. After lunch is served, we will sail to Pigeon Beach in Falmouth Harbour. This is a lovely beach in a great anchorage, and those are hard to find on the south side of the island. There’s usually lots to see around Falmouth Harbour, as this is where all the mega-yachts can be found and it’s also the departure point for the world-famous Antigua regattas. We will dine ashore tonight.

In the morning, it’s a lovely sail to English Harbour. We will dive and snorkel at the Pillars of Hercules, and after lunch we will have an opportunity to tour Nelson's Dockyard, where much of the naval history of the British fleet will be revealed. You can hike to either Fort Berkeley or Shirley Heights lookout where we all meet for sunset cocktails to the sound of steel drums before heading back to the boat to our last lavish dinner over the water.

After breakfast we will dive and snorkel in the open water aquarium of Lobster Point before we take a leisurely morning sail to the long stretch of sandy beaches all along the west shore of Antigua for a last dip and another wonderful lunch, before returning to our base at Jolly Harbour Marina. As it’s the last evening of the cruise, guests will dine ashore at one of the many restaurants in or around the Jolly Harbour area.

After a last tasty breakfast onboard, it is time to gather your belongings, as well as your wonderful memories of a week in this most beautiful environment. Before exchanging fond farewells, your crew will arrange transport to the airport. You will already be planning your next cruise with TradeWinds.

INCLUDED

• A professional Captain and Chef team on a 7-night all-inclusive cruise
• All taxes and cruising permits
• All meals and beverages served onboard
• Well stocked open bar service and wine-list
• Water sports activities including snorkel equipment, 2-person kayak, stand up paddle board

EXCLUDED

• Travel to and from the embarkation point
• Two evening meals when guests dine ashore
• Scuba diving for certified divers is $100 per person per dive for Non Members
• Crew gratuities