Often overlooked by travelers considering a Caribbean yacht charter, Antigua is nothing short of a boater’s tropical paradise. Its south and west coasts are cruising treasures, and the island has more scenic and sheltered anchorages than most Caribbean destinations.
ENGLISH HARBOUR NAVAL BASE
The island’s English Harbour first served as a British naval base in the 1600’s. The base and its nearby forts protected Antigua’s lucrative sugarcane production.
THE FORT
Sailing into English Harbour is truly memorable. The stone buildings of Fort Berkely to port and Shirley Heights high above to starboard are a dramatic sight. Sailboats and mega yacht charter vessels fill the harbour, and Sunsail operates a sailing bareboat charter base here. Cruising past the superyachts in the Harbour is breathtaking.Once you have anchored or docked in the marina, Nelson’s Dockyard, is well worth a stroll. It looks much as it did centuries ago, with working capstans and lovingly restored buildings. Restaurants, hotels, boutiques and a museum keep the area lively.
If you are fortunate to visit the island on a Sunday, an afternoon barbecue atop Shirley Heights with its spectacular sunset over English Harbour should not be missed.
CADES REEF SNORKELING
From English Harbour, many yachts cruise along the southwest coast to Cades Reef, a beautiful spot for snorkeling. Further along the coastline is Boggy Peak, the highest peak on the island.
JOLLY HARBOUR
Moving up the west coast, is Jolly Harbor. It offers a brand new marina and is surrounded by resort hotels with pools and restaurants. Helicopters tours can be arranged to fly from Jolly Harbor to the island of Montserrat, to see the remains of a volcano that recently devastated that island.
DEEP BAY
If you like beaches, Antigua’s shoreline is one white sandy beach after another. Deep Bay at Hawks Bill (near a rock that resembles a hawk’s head) is another great spot for an al fresco lunch and a swim. Divers can explore a nearby shipwreck, the Andes. For onshore activity, you can visit nearby Fort Barrington, and the Grand Royal Antiguan Beach Resort.
HERITAGE QUAY
Shoppers can spend time in St. John’s – the island’s capital city. The Heritage Quay area has trendy designer shops, while the nearby Redcliffe Quay is more traditional with inviting shady patios nestled amongst restored buildings.
WALKING TOUR
A walking tour of the city should include seeing St. John’s Cathedral and the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda.
SUGAR MILL
Renting a taxi is a good way to explore the island’s interior. You can visit a real sugar mill at Betty’s Hope, or take a ride along Fig Tree Drive, where you can see the round stone towers of centuries-old abandoned sugar mills.
High-end car buffs will tell you there are varying degrees of luxury, from Cadillac at one end of the spectrum to Bentley and Rolls Royce at the other.
SUPERYACHTS
As it is with automobiles, the same range of sophistication also is seen in the megayacht market. While, high-end US-built Trinity yacht charter vessels are drop-dead gorgeous, for example, purists will point to the century-old Dutch yards that build the Rolls-Royce of the yachting world – the Feadship yacht charter vessels.
FEADSHIP
Feadship is renowned for exquisite craftsmanship and elegant layouts. The finest materials are used to handcraft these vessels, each a unique statement of an owner’s personal taste and style.
CARIBBEAN INSPECTIONS
One of the finest modern Feadships was recently on display last week in the Caribbean, during the annual charter broker gathering in Antigua – a prelude to the Caribbean winter/spring charter season. Motor yacht HARLE first hit the charter market in 2007. The team at 1-800-YACHT CHARTERS was among the very first to inspect this yacht and interview her crew as she began her maiden charter season from the Miami Beach marina in South Florida.
SUPERYACHT HARLE – STANDOUT
Feadship Superyacht HARLE
Fast-forward 5 years, and Feadship yacht HARLE is still making waves and drawing rave reviews in the industry. During the Antigua showcase, M/Y HARLE and her crew earned the following awards:
The Andreas Liveras “BEST YACHT PARTY” Award
First Place for his dessert for yachts in the 101′-150′ range won by Chef James Catling
RATE AND ACCOMMODATIONS
She is priced at $225,000 per week, and yacht HARLE accommodates up to 12 guests.
She hopes to lure interest in a year end Caribbean yacht vacation. Classic replica schoonerGERMANIA NOVAannounces a special price offer.
SPECIAL RATE!
Book an Antigua yacht charter vacation before October 31, 2013. Receive a 16% discount off the regular high season winter price.
Guests pay $80,000 per week for either a Christmas or New Year’s booking. Most importantly, her regular rate is $95,000 per week (all rates are plus running expenses).
AFTER OCTOBER RATE INCREASE
After October 31st, the rates will return to the standard, published prices:
$95,000 per week (High Season)
$75,000 per week (Low Season)
ALL ABOUT GERMANIA NOVA
A replica of a classic racing schooner, notably sail yacht GERMANIA NOVA entered the Mediterranean yacht charter market in 2011. Another key point is that the original schooner was built in 1908 by Krupp shipyards and designed by Dr. Max Oertz. The modern version, the 55 meter sailing yacht GERMANIA NOVA was built in Pontevedra, Spain by Factoria Naval de Marin, and designed by Matthias Oertz and Ingo Oliver. A crew of 13 attends to a maximum 10 guests in 5 staterooms.
CHARTER GUESTS HELP SAIL THE YACHT
A true sailing yacht, guests are encouraged to pitch in to hoist the sails and assist the crew on deck!
The yacht is currently based in Antigua, at the famous Nelson’s Dockyard marina. Come enjoy an exhilarating experience at sea. Be sure to secure your reservation before October 31st, to secure the maximum price discount.
1-800 YACHT CHARTER CONTRIBUTES
NOTE: 1-800 Yacht Charters placed a mooring buoy over the shipwreck of the original classic sailboat Germania Nova site in Miami Florida. Company President, Jana Sheeder, spoke to an auditorium of people about the importance of protecting reefs and marine life. Additionally, she discussed enabling boaters to tie above the wreck and snorkel the reef, as well as educating the excited audience about the classic yacht! It’s all about making a difference!
LUXURY TAX ABOLISHED The recent Mediterranean Yacht Charter show in Genoa, Italy, learned that the 3 year old Sardinia Luxury Tax is no more. ABOUT THE TAX The repeal of the Sardinia Luxury Tax is especially good news to charter enthusiasts. Anyone considering a yachting vacation in the Mediterranean is fortunate. The law […] read more
The world of luxury yacht charter has finally arrived in the Seychelles. Motor yacht SEA STREAM, a 76 foot Ferretti with room for 8 guests, is now available for Caribbean yacht charter enthusiasts looking for a new destination. Ferretti yacht SEA STREAM is now available as the only high quality, luxury crewed motor yacht available […] read more
PLAN AND PACK Yikes! What to pack? In just over three weeks, you leave on a week-long Bahama yacht charter vacation. You choose a sleek, performance, basic sailing yacht with crew. Your menu provided to your yacht through your charter broker, and your crew is ready to welcome you aboard. Seriously, what do you pack? […] read more
Recent Comments