Recommendations - Antigua

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Alcyone

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Off to Antigua for a couple of weeks sailing next week. Meeting up with a friend over there. Any advice? Dos/dont's? Where to go within a couple of days sail, where not to go?

Oh, if anyone can recommend a dive site or two, that would be ideal.

Cheers in advance.
 
The obvious ones like English harbour (gets crowded) Nelsons dockyard etc. Sunday night at Shirley heights above English harbour is pretty good but crowded if too many cruise liners are in - they also do a barbie on Thursday nights and its less hectic. We liked Green island and the Nonsuch lagoon area as it is quite quiet and pretty. Mamorra bay is worth a stop good holding and you can use the facilities of the Hotel and hardly any yachties seem to go there.
On the West coast Jolly harbour is just a marina (good bars) but good for stocking up as the supermarket is great. The Bays to the North are good 5 Islands and Deep bay. Not done the top of the Island but good if you don't draw too much. Its about the only caribbean island that allows you to visit all coasts.

Further afield Montserrat is worth a visit but only a day as most of its out of bounds. We loved St Kitts and Nevis - more off the beaten track. But if you go to these its nearly always a beat to get back - not far but uncomfortable. One school of thought is to reach down to Guadeloupe (DesHaise) for the night and sail back the next day.

Or you can go up to Aruba - spend a couple of days there and sail back - some beautiful deserted beaches - very peaceful.

Two dives outfits I've used - one in Falmouth on the main road and one just inside the dockyard. Not sure if Antigua is like most Islands where you have to use a local guide (think it is) anyway several good dives sites just in the entrance to English harbour we've had all the usual stuff plus Octopussesss, Bacaruda etc etc, last time we even heard Whales singing.

Get hold of Doyles Guide the definitve caribbean Pilot and its all in there.

B**ger having written that why the **** did I sell my boat?????
 
HoratioHB said:
Further afield Montserrat is worth a visit but only a day as most of its out of bounds. We loved St Kitts and Nevis - more off the beaten track. But if you go to these its nearly always a beat to get back - not far but uncomfortable. One school of thought is to reach down to Guadeloupe (DesHaise) for the night and sail back the next day.

Or you can go up to Aruba - spend a couple of days there and sail back - some beautiful deserted beaches - very peaceful.
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A round trip with less beating

Antigua - St.Kitts (look me up) - Nevis to Guadeloupe (DesHaise) to Antigua.


I think HoratioHB meant BARBUDA a few miles to the North of Antigua, rather than Aruba a Dutch island several hundred miles to the South.

http://www.mapsofworld.com/antigua/maps/antigua-barbuda-political.jpg
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We spent more time on Antigua than any other island. Firstly the surrounding islands...

DON'T MISS MONTSERRAT. Beautiful and fascinating.

A view from the daytime exclusion zone over the old capital, mostly covered by pyroclastic ash flows. The volcano erupting behind.
plymouth.jpg


Barbuda - virtually a desert island, we had 11-Mile Beach to ourselves.

11milebeach.jpg


On the north coast, Parham, the former capital is a sleepy village with a rather impressive church (kept locked when not in use though). Maiden Island is your very own desert island and, as Doyle says, a good place for souvenir shells. We met rays and monster hermit crabs in conch shells while snorkelling there. Great Bird Island further east is fabulous snorkelling and a good sheltered anchorage. A bit noisy during the day as tripper boats go there for beach barbecues but peaceful and deserted in the evening.

If you are into snorkelling, Deep bay has a good wreck near the entrance but 5 Islands bay is too murky.

Falmouth harbour is mainly for superyachts but as Horatio says, English harbour is a must-see. Beware the holding there - there is a bad patch near the shore in the outer harbour with shallow sand over rock. Inside you have to keep clear of the old mooring chains and the bottom is liquid mud so liable to dragging (we found the only thing that gave a secure hold was a Fortress).

Maiden Island
maidenis.jpg


English harbour. Nelson's dockyard with inner harbour to the left.
nelsonsdock.jpg
 
Guadalupe - Visit the Saints and Marie Galant
rent a car or join a tour and visit the rainforests [ 4 types ! in 10 miles ]
explore the old town and the market
take the canal through and anchor in the reefs off the north end of the canal to get an early start and a better angle for Antigua
 
Sunday

Alcyone said:
Off to Antigua for a couple of weeks sailing next week. Meeting up with a friend over there. Any advice? Dos/dont's? Where to go within a couple of days sail, where not to go?

Oh, if anyone can recommend a dive site or two, that would be ideal.

Cheers in advance.
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Lunch at Catherine's in English Harbour (boatyard side) large bottle of rose to set you up for the afternoon. Either drive there (but look out for the very large hole in the drive) or water taxi from the dockyard.

There was a largely unreported but very sad murder on Pigeon beach at the end of Jan which is a shame as this is by far the best beach on the island (locals beach). Young American tourist off a clipper ship. BUT this is highly unusual.

Shirley Heights ok for the obligatory shot but not worth the bother on a Sunday, far too busy.

St Johns - drive right through it.....

Everything else has been said.

Booze for the boat, crabhole liquors on the way out of Falmouth.

Enjoy, I wont be far behind you! (after skiing....)
 
TQA said:
take the canal through and anchor in the reefs off the north end of the canal to get an early start and a better angle for Antigua
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You can only transit the Riviere Salee in the middle of the night so most charter companies won't allow it.

I agree about the Saintes. Bourg des Saintes is nice though we preferred the quiet anchorage off the Isle des Cabrits.
 
Antigua, what a place, love it.
As with any Windies charter, lots of people just try and do too much in the time available, quite understandably.
I reckon the most enjoyed charters are those that dont set targets that are too ambitious. A few days around Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis make for a great compromise.
If you drink too many 'Killer Bees' at Sunshines Bar on Nevis, you will lose two days of your life though (alledgedly!!).
Something to bear in mind is the time you will spend clearing in and out, can be a pain. Mostly friendly enough, but takes time. When I've left Antigua for Nevis, etc, I have often cleared out late afternoon at Jolly and explained that I will go and anchor outside for the night. The officials have always been ok with that and its hard to explain just how awesome a dawn departure in near silence from there towards Nevis can be.

Hope you enjoy your holiday, great choice.
 
Alcyone said:
Off to Antigua for a couple of weeks sailing next week. Meeting up with a friend over there. Any advice? Dos/dont's? Where to go within a couple of days sail, where not to go?

Oh, if anyone can recommend a dive site or two, that would be ideal.

Cheers in advance.
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Highly recommend either north to Barbuda (see if you can get inside the reefs at Spainsh Point) and then back and gunkholing around behind the barrier reef on the north east side of Antigua (Parham, Gt Bird etc as recommended by others) Very nice indeed.

Don't miss English Harbour. Yes, Nonsuch is very good with superb snorkel sites but beware it is 10-12 miles upwind and if the trades are blowing that's a hard hard sail or motor.

Alternative is south to Guadeloupe - 7 or so hours beam reach each way superb sailing and gorgeous village of Deshaies when you get there. Rent a car and explore, we found Guardeloupe very rewarding inland, Antigua was not - its all about the beaches. Food much better on the french island too.

If it's calm (low swells) then go Antigua - Montserrat - Guadeloupe - Antigua and spend just a couple of nights rolling in the harbour at Montserrat. Take a taxi tour and see the beauty and the devestation from the voclano - although I see it just blew big again last week.

Diving - Pigeon Island, Guadeloupe. Half way down the west coast it's the Jacques Cousteau underwater reserve and is fabulous, we only snorkel but it beat every spot in Antigua. Good dive shops nearby too.

Lots of info / stories on our blog site - http://wardwideweb.blogspot.com/ scroll down to the bottom and click on Dec 07 and Jan 08 to see what we did in these islands.

nick.
 
Brilliant, thanks everyone. Missis and I have been flat out studying for (and finally passing last night :)) out Yachmaster theory, so haven't really given this enough thought. As it happens, some rowers from our club are competing in the trans atlantic crossing and look like they may arrive at English harbour when we are there, so it's great to see what that is like.

Off on Sunday, I'll post some pics when we get back. Cheers.
 
I agree with the recommendations. Bear in mind that if you head off to Montserrat etc you will need to clear out and back in. The clearance folks in English Harbour can be a pain. The folks in Jolly are nice.

I'm not sure if anybody mentioned Green Island on Antigua's east coast but it's a must go, as is Barbuda. The west coast is fantastic but don't go near it if northerly swells are running. The south coast should be OK.

You can spend two weeks in Antigua/Barbuda and not see everything. I'd be inclined to stay in the Antigua area, then go back and spend some time in the other islands mentioned.

The problem with diving in Antigua is the water is generally cloudy.

Be very careful with Montserrat if you go. Do not go down the west side and be aware of the exclusion zone. The anchorage is open and always rolly, it's very unpleasant/untenable in swells.
 
Alcyone said:
Off to Antigua for a couple of weeks sailing next week. Meeting up with a friend over there. Any advice? Dos/dont's? Where to go within a couple of days sail, where not to go?

Oh, if anyone can recommend a dive site or two, that would be ideal.

Cheers in advance.
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DONT SAY YES TO:

Would you like it to Snow this month?
Don't Drink too much in one night?

DO

Go to Nelsons dockyard,
Get a Expresso Martini from Skullduggeries.
Get a burrito from the little cafe opposite the Petrol station (Falmouth Harbour)
Go to mad mongoose for a few beers
Go to the night club half way between themongoose and the dockyard
Call for a taxi on CH16 (I was up in arms about this at the time)
Go watch a game of Cricket
Get some food at the sticky wicket.
Have a great time!!
 
Spoil yourself!

If you want just one really special meal on Antigua, try Harmony Hall overlooking Nonsuch Bay. It is a converted sugar mill on the western side of the bay at Browns Bay. If sailing there, anchor off and dinghy ashore to their jetty. At night, the taxi driver will know the way. Be sure to book and enjoy the experience.

If going the other way round the island, Carlisle Bay Hotel is top notch (and top dollar) but again you can sail into the bay, drop the hook and take the dinghy to their jetty.

When we went 3 or 4 years ago a staff member wearing immaculate Bermuda shorts walked along the jetty towards us. Expecting the "Do you mind taking your hired cat elsewhere" instead we got the usual wide Antiguan smile, "Welcome to Carlisle Bay and what can we do for you?"

Cocktails followed by lunch in the open sided restaurant looking out at the yacht we had arrived in was something very special
 
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