Come join us in exploring Antigua’s winding coastline and seemingly limitless secluded powdery soft beaches. Navigate the same waters as Nelson, scuba dive and snorkel from the decks of our yachts on the same coral reefs that were once the bane of marauding enemy ships.
Antigua and its sister Island, Barbuda, lie at 17 degrees 5 minutes north latitude and 61 degrees 48 minutes west longitude. Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) is the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. To the south are the islands of Montserrat; and to the north and west are Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts, and St. Martin. Barbuda, about 30 miles due north of Antigua, is a largely uninhabited flat coral island. The tiny island of Redonda, a nature preserve is also part of the nation.
Like most islands of the Caribbean, Antigua benefits from a warm climate moderated by steady trade winds that make the region one of the most desirable of the world’s great sailing destinations. Because of its complex coastline, an abundance of safe harbors, and a protective nearly unbroken coral reef, one of Great Britain’s most famous admirals, Horatio Nelson, made Antigua the Royal Navy’s most important Caribbean base in 1784.
Now, more than 200 years later, the same characteristics that attracted Nelson have drawn Dream Yacht Charter this island paradise. Our base is the legendary Jolly Harbor, a full service marina that features restaurants, a supermarket, boutique shopping and more. The Dream Yacht staff will acquaint you with the island’s natural and historical landmarks. Natives like to say there are 365 distinct beaches, one for every day of the year on Antigua. We don’t know if that’s literally true, but one of the great adventures for our sailing friends would be to try and visit them all.
The capital of Antigua and its largest city is St. John’s. The baroque towers of St. John’s Cathedral dominate the city’s landscape. With a new cruise ship dock and several hotels, the capital is a lively hub for shopping and dining.
If you are interested in the early history of the island, visit the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda in the colonial Court House. You will find Arawak and colonial artifacts recovered archaeological digs on the island on display.
The heart of Antigua’s historic district is the 15 square miles that of Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. During the great age of sale, this area served as British Navy’s base and headquarters of the fleet of the Leeward Islands during the late 18th century. Greatly expanded during the time Horatio Nelson commanded, it was gradually abandoned during in the nineteenth century and was closed in 1889. Now completely restored, Nelson’s Dockyard is the only Georgian dockyard in the world.