The country of
Antigua and Barbuda is a tiny world of its own in the Leeward
Islands. Both destinations offer
such a great range of anchorages that you can cruise
for two weeks without ever retracing your steps. Barbuda
is the uncommercial sister-island where you can get away
from it all, while Antigua is the place to be for nightlife
and the traditional Caribbean “jump up” parties
where rum punch flows. Antigua Race Week in April is
the highlight of the Caribbean Regatta season for competitive
sailors.
The two separate islands that make up the
joint country of Antigua and Barbuda may be within a 30
mile easy reach of each other, but they are world’s
apart when it comes to character and lifestyle. Antigua
is a party place where you can join the locals in a ‘jump-up’,
dance to steel drums all night and enjoy duty-free shopping
and all kinds of watersports. The unspoiled sister island
of Barbuda with perfect pink sandy beaches and wild birds
is where to go when you really want to get away from it
all.
With warm, steady trade winds and so many idyllic safe
harbors, Antigua is a fantastic yachting destination. Neighboring
Barbuda is so undeveloped that it sometimes seems deserted,
a tranquil paradise with pink beaches and complete solitude.
Both islands offer a great range of anchorages
This local sailing week has evolved into an international
event attracting competitors from all over the world.
Thousands flock to enjoy the party atmosphere and the
non-stop social scene. The boats involved are packed
with Olympic and round the world sailors so it’s
a chance to compete against the cream of the crop.
Racing enthusiasts return year after year from all over
the world for this major event in the worldwide yachting
calendar to compete in the perfect conditions of warm,
steady trade winds.
Capital and gateway to The Grenadines, the
spectacular St.Vincent cruising area offers line-of-sight
sailing
not unlike the British Virgin Islands. Sailors of
varying experience levels will enjoy the alluring
landscapes,
superb snorkelling and diving, as well as an endless
variety of stunning palm fringed
beaches in this nation of islands.
Filming spot for both Disney’s “Pirates
of the Caribbean” movies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
offer stunning beauty drenched in movie history. Enjoy
exhilarating sailing in steady, warm winds through a chain
of more than 30 islands of varying beauty and character.
The spectacular St. Vincent and The Grenadines cruising
area offers line-of-sight sailing and wonderful beaches
with excellent snorkeling. Don’t be surprised to
see turtles, and at certain times of the year, you may
be accompanied by dolphins and even whales while out on
the water. Summer is an ideal time to visit, as the winds
are lighter, the seas are calmer.
Spend time in some of the most talked about places in
the Caribbean such as the world-renowned Tobago Cays, the
tiny Mopions desert island or Basil’s Bar on Mustique
where the rich and famous hang out.
The interior wild beauty and theatrical scenery of St.
Vincent makes a in-land adventure tour a must on your sailing
vacation. St.Vincent has towering peaks offering a hike
up La Soufriere volcano through the banana estates and
rainforest for a breathtaking view. The tropical vegetation
of the island creates a stunning backdrop for a powerboat
trip to waterfalls of Baleine, a quick drive to the Botanical
Gardens or a trek inland on one of the nature trails.
Antigua & St.Vincent both
experience year round northeast to southeast winds from
10 to 20 knots in the
summer months and 15 to 25 knots from November to May.
Winter season winds are generally east to northeast with
July and October northeast to southeast variations for
short periods. Currents generally flow in a westerly
direction and the tidal range is approximately 18 inches.
