Antigua & Barbuda

DAY 1 · Jolly Harbour Marina

Photo: lisa bat · CC BY 2.0

Leave 1:00 pm

A large, sheltered marina on Antigua's west coast with a port of entry, a supermarket across the road and a fuel dock. Use the first afternoon to clear in if you have not already, provision for the Barbuda days and get briefed at the base. If you arrive after hours, pick up a mooring and move onto the dock next morning.

4 NM · about 40 mto Deep Bay

Deep Bay

Photo: CROIX · CC BY-SA 4.0

Arrive 3:00 pm

A secure anchorage just west of St John's Harbour, with a sandy beach and the wreck of the Andes in the mouth of the bay. It is shallow, about 8 ft almost to the beach, and some swells make it uncomfortable. Busy with tour boats by day and quiet in the evening.

• 4:00 pmClimb to Fort BarringtonA short steep walk up the headland to the fort and a view over the coast.
• 4:30 pmSnorkel the Andes wreckThe wreck lies in the mouth of the bay; check the swell before you go.

10.5 NM · about 1 h 45 mto Great Bird Island

DAY 2 · Great Bird Island

Photo: David Stanley · CC BY 2.0

Arrive 12:30 pm

The lee anchorage of Great Bird Island in North Sound, with turquoise water inside the reefs, two small beaches and a hilltop walk. Many coral heads and shallow reefs lie around it, so approach under a high sun with someone watching from the bow. Tour boats fill it by day and it empties in the evening.

• 1:30 pmSnorkel and beach timeClear water inside the reef; keep your dinghy off the coral.
• 3:00 pmWalk the hilltopA short climb over the island with views back across North Sound.

35.5 NM · about 5 h 55 mto Low Bay, Barbuda

DAY 3 · Low Bay, Barbuda

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Arrive 2:00 pm

A wide sand anchorage off the long barrier beach that closes Codrington Lagoon from the sea, and the closest anchorage to Codrington village. This is the open-water crossing of the week, about five hours, so leave early and check the forecast before you go. Anchor outside the lagoon, not in it, and expect a roll if any northerly or westerly swell is running.

• 3:30 pmWalk the empty beachMiles of pale pink sand with almost no one on it.

8.5 NM · about 1 h 25 mto Cocoa Point

DAY 4 · Cocoa Point

Photo: CROIX · CC BY-SA 4.0

Arrive 1:00 pm

Barbuda's signature anchorage, with turquoise water over white sand off the miles-long Princess Diana Beach and turtles under the boat. The approach is through the reef at an angle, so go in only with the sun high behind you and a lookout forward. The anchorage rolls if there is any swell from the south or west.

• 2:00 pmSwim off Princess Diana BeachOften entirely empty; bring everything you need from the boat.
• 3:30 pmLook for turtlesThey graze over the sand near the boat.

2 NM · about 20 mto Spanish Point

DAY 5 · Spanish Point

Photo: CROIX · CC BY-SA 4.0

Arrive 11:30 am

A reef-sheltered anchorage at Barbuda's south-east tip with very clear water and good snorkelling. It feels more remote than anywhere else on the island, and charts of Barbuda's south coast are not always reliable. Come in only in good light, bear off behind the reef and anchor where your draft allows.

• 1:00 pmSnorkel the reefGood visibility; stay on the sheltered side of the breakers.

32.5 NM · about 5 h 25 mto Nonsuch Bay

DAY 6 · Nonsuch Bay

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Arrive 3:30 pm

The run from Barbuda takes about five hours, so leave early. A large bay on Antigua's east coast, shielded from the Atlantic swell by a windward reef, with steady breeze and room. Enter from the south past York Island and Submarine Rock in good light, and anchor in sand or mud inside the marine reserve. Provision beforehand.

• 4:00 pmSnorkel toward Fanny CoveThe reefs here are among the better snorkelling on the south-east coast.

0.5 NM · about 5 mto Green Island

DAY 7 · Green Island

Photo: Andrew Moore · CC BY-SA 2.0

Arrive 10:30 am

An anchorage off the west beach of Green Island at the mouth of Nonsuch Bay, behind the barrier reef with brilliant water and no swell. The island is privately owned, and yachtsmen may use only the north and north-west side. Check any mooring before trusting it, as some have been reported corroded.

• 11:30 amSnorkel the reefExcellent reef snorkelling close to the anchorage.
• 2:00 pmEase dayA short hop from Nonsuch Bay, so this is a lay day with time on the beach.

7 NM · about 1 h 10 mto English Harbour (Freeman's Bay)

DAY 8 · English Harbour (Freeman's Bay)

Photo: Dr. Thomas Liptak · CC BY 4.0

Arrive 12:30 pm

The classic Antigua anchorage, just inside the entrance to English Harbour below Fort Berkeley, with Nelson's Dockyard a short dinghy ride away. It is often crowded and the current can swing boats in different directions, so give yourself room. Ask the Harbour Master before anchoring near the old Royal Navy hurricane chains on the bottom.

• 2:30 pmVisit Nelson's DockyardGeorgian naval dockyard ashore, with a museum and shops.
• 6:00 pmDinner ashoreSeveral restaurants within walking distance of the Dockyard.

5 NM · about 50 mto Carlisle Bay

DAY 9 · Carlisle Bay

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Arrive 10:30 am · leave 1:00 pm

A palm-lined bay on the south coast below the rainforest hills, calm in normal trades. The shore is lined with coral but the centre has a clear bottom. It makes a good lunch stop, though it can be uncomfortable overnight when the swell gets up.

• 11:00 amSwim and lunchA relaxed stop before the run back to the marina.

5 NM · about 50 mto Jolly Harbour Marina

Jolly Harbour Marina

Photo: lisa bat · CC BY 2.0

Arrive 3:30 pm

Back at the base marina on the west coast. Refuel at the fuel dock, which closes in the late afternoon, and allow time for the handover and check-out before the base's cut-off.