Antigua is not just another beach destination in the Lesser Antilles. It is the home port of Caribbean yachting, and this is confirmed twice a year: in early December, when the charter fleet from across the basin gathers here, and in late April, when the regatta closes the season.
These two dates are not local folklore. They determine what is available, when, and at what price. This page starts from there.
The south of the island concentrates everything. English Harbour houses Nelson's Dockyard, a former Royal Navy arsenal inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, now an active marina. It is one of the rare situations where a superyacht moors in a listed monument.
Falmouth Harbour, immediately adjacent, offers the water space and berths for the largest vessels. The three reference facilities in the area are Falmouth Harbour Marina, Antigua Yacht Club Marina, and Nelson's Dockyard.
The practical consequence goes beyond aesthetics. A sheltered, deep harbor basin with genuine technical services and an international airport nearby: this is what makes Antigua a base for charter embarkation and disembarkation, not just a stopover.
The show is held at Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour, around Nelson's Dockyard, and brings together approximately seventy to seventy-five motor and sailing vessels.
The point that comparison sites never mention: this is not a consumer show, it is a trade show. The yachts are presented to brokers, with crew on board, cuisine on display, and scheduled viewings.
In early December, vessels are presented to brokers with crew on board and cuisine on display, not marketed for charter. The following week is the opposite: crews in place, vessels freshly prepared, season not yet saturated. It is the best window of the year.
This translates into a simple booking rule. A request for the first week of December receives few options and firm rates. The same request shifted by eight days receives the entire fleet, freshly out of presentation. Few charterers know about this shift, and that is precisely what makes it exploitable.
The 58th edition is held at English Harbour from April 21 to 25, 2027. Two useful clarifications, because they break with previous editions.
The event has adopted a revised point-to-point format, which replaces the traditional structure. And the dates are earlier than the regatta's usual schedule, which typically ran in late April and early May—the 2019 edition was held from April 27 to May 3. Anyone setting their 2027 dates based on memories of previous editions would be off by a week.
The pre-registration entry fee is announced at $12 USD per foot for any entry paid before October 31, 2026.
For a leisure charter, regatta week should be considered with caution: saturated anchorages, berths taken, and an entire island focused on racing. For a project centered on the regatta, it is the opposite, and it is prepared a year in advance.
English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour. The two southern harbor basins, sheltered, full services, access to Nelson's Dockyard.
Nonsuch Bay. East coast, vast water space protected by the barrier, clear water and steady trade winds—which has made it a favored area for sailing. Two caveats: the approach is from the south, and there is no provisioning ashore. You arrive provisioned.
Green Island. Uninhabited cay in Nonsuch Bay, several anchoring options depending on weather and vessel size. Consistently good snorkeling on the west coast, corals close to the surface.
Deep Bay. Northwest coast, wide calm bay sheltered from prevailing trade winds, significantly less frequented than the south. A merchant ship wreck from 1905 rests there, accessible for diving and snorkeling.
Barbuda. The sister island, to the north, for its deserted beaches. It is the day of escape from an Antiguan itinerary.
The boundary is meteorological. The North Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30: the U.S. National Hurricane Center uses this window because it concentrates approximately 97% of tropical storms and hurricanes in the basin.
Vessels come down from the Mediterranean in late autumn and return in spring, which explains the symmetry of the Antiguan calendar: the December show opens the commercial season, the April regatta closes it.
The most contested periods are the year-end holidays and February. The mechanics of availability distribution are detailed month by month in our 2027 season booking calendar.
Three large vessels in our fleet declare Antigua in their winter cruising area, alongside Saint Martin and the Grenadines:
| Yacht | Length | Guests | Crew |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNA I | 67 m | 12 | 19 |
| BLEU DE NÎMES | 72 m | 28 | 20 |
| ST. DAVID | 60 m | 12 | 15 |
ANNA I has nineteen crew members for twelve guests: it is one of the best service ratios in the fleet, and it shows over a full week.
RILASSATA, a 49-meter Tankoa delivered in 2024, announces Caribbean availability from December to February with a base in Martinique, Saint Martin, or Saint Barthélemy depending on the itinerary—Antigua falls within its range.
For a lighter format, MANATEA is the only vessel based in the Caribbean year-round, departing from Saint Martin, Anguilla, and Saint Barthélemy. Two very large vessels finally declare the Leeward Islands—the archipelago that includes Antigua: CHAKRA 86 meters and CHRISTINA O 99 meters, without a fixed base on the island.
The complete list appears on our yachts available for charter, and the APA guide details what the base rate does not cover.
From December 4 to 9, 2026, at Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour, around Nelson's Dockyard. It is a trade show for brokers, with approximately seventy to seventy-five vessels on display. Part of the fleet is therefore committed to the show and not available for charter that week.
The 58th edition is held from April 21 to 25, 2027, at English Harbour, in a revised point-to-point format. These dates are earlier than those of traditional editions, which ran in late April and early May.
It is possible but constrained: anchorages and berths in the south of the island are saturated during the regatta. A project centered on the event is prepared approximately one year in advance. For a leisure charter, the week before or after is preferable.
From December to April. The North Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, which closes the area to leisure charter in summer. The week following the Charter Yacht Show in early December offers a good compromise between availability and vessel preparation.
On this island, the calendar governs. Choosing your dates without knowing when the show and regatta fall means accepting to pay more for less availability—or missing a favorable window without knowing it.
Indicate your period and number of guests: we will return with the vessels actually available, berth constraints for the targeted window, and fee details. Let's discuss your project, or consult our Caribbean hub and the neighboring page Saint Barthélemy.
Choosing your dates in Antigua
The December show and April regatta govern availability. Indicate your period, we will tell you what is actually available.
