17°00'N 61°46'W · Caribbean
Antigua Yacht Guide
Antigua is the working heart of the Caribbean superyacht circuit: Falmouth and English Harbour sit side by side on the south coast with real dockage, real trades, and a sailing culture that goes back to Nelson's fleet. It is where the transatlantic boats land in November, where crews get rebuilt, and where the season's racing calendar lives. As an operational base it is the most complete port between Florida and Brazil.
Season & Arrival
Season runs November through early May, bracketed by the Charter Yacht Show in early December and Antigua Sailing Week in late April; June through November is hurricane season and most insurers want you gone or hauled.
The Guide
Marinas
Falmouth Harbour Marina and the adjacent Antigua Yacht Club Marina take the big sailing and motor yachts, with berths past 100 meters and the deepest water in the eastern Caribbean for this class. Next door in English Harbour, Nelson's Dockyard is a UNESCO site where you med-moor against 18th century stonework: limited LOA, unbeatable atmosphere, book early for race weeks. South Point and the fuel dock round out the Falmouth complex.
Operating Data
- Falmouth Harbour Marina
- max LOA approx. 110m, depth to 9m
- Antigua Yacht Club Marina
- berths to approx. 90m
- Nelson's Dockyard
- stern-to, typically to 60m, historic quay
Operating data is updated each season. Confirm critical figures with the operator before arrival.
Captain Notes
- The hurricane clause in your insurance defines your June. Know your policy's named-storm box and your haul-out or run-south plan before July, not when the cone appears.
- Falmouth's holding off the marinas is grass over sand and patchy; if you anchor off, dig it in properly because the afternoon trade reinforcement hits 25 knots regularly.
- Race weeks double the crew population of the south coast. Lock crew accommodation and rental cars early and brief the team on pacing, Sailing Week attrition is real.
Local Red Flags
- Clearance fees and cruising permit charges have climbed steadily and surprise owners who knew the island a decade ago; get a current fee schedule from your agent.
- Petty theft from unattended tenders happens around the dinghy docks in season. Lift the outboard kill cord and lock the painter, same as anywhere with this much traffic.
Sponsor
Sponsor this guide
Put your operation in front of every crew planning this port.
List
Submit a local listing
Operators serving Antigua can apply for directory placement.
Download
PDF guide
Downloadable edition planned for a later phase.