What Makes This Trip Special?

• Spectate the Classic Yacht Racing Before we race, we’ll be in English Harbour for the last days of the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, when nearly 60 schooners, ketches and yawls fill Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s one of the most beautiful sights in Caribbean sailing, and you’ll see it from the water.
• Have fun in the regatta: no experience necessary. Leave the office behind and get ready for ten days of adventure. By the end of the practice days you’ll be ready to race, even if you’ve never sailed before. Sam is used to working with a mix of abilities and will soon have you pulling ropes like a pro. We race in the Club Class, the regatta’s class for sailors who want the fun without the pressure. We don’t expect to be on the podium, though we’ll certainly give it a go. What we do promise is that you’ll work together like a proper racing team in no time, and take home a boatload of great memories.
• Not very serious practising. Our ten-day itinerary includes a five-day run-up to the racing. Between watching the classics and the regatta welcome party, we’ll spend time tacking and gybing until you’re part of a well-oiled machine. Our practice grounds include some lovely swimming and snorkelling spots, and there’s time to enjoy Antigua’s scenery as well as becoming a slick member of the crew.
• Perfect for active singles. The regatta is perfect for single travellers who want to make new friends and have a fit, fun, active holiday. Solo guests have their own cabin, and racing as a crew is the quickest way to get to know people. Definitely not to be missed if you like to work hard and play hard.

Is This Trip for Me?

This is an active sailing holiday with some racing in it. You’ll help sail the boat, and on race days you’ll be part of a small, close-knit crew. Most guests say that’s the best part.

This trip suits you if:

• You want to learn or sharpen your sailing and try regatta racing, whether you’re a beginner or have some experience.
• You enjoy a bit of friendly competition but don’t need to win. We race in a relaxed class, and the fun matters more than the result.
• You like the idea of a different beach and a different party each evening, and you’re happy to join in.
• You’d like to make friends in a small group, sharing tasks and meals.

It probably isn’t for you if:

• You want to be waited on, or to be a passenger.
• You need a massive space with air-conditioning like a resort.
• You aren’t physically fit and able to manage your own bodyweight.

How the week builds up: you spend your first days getting to know the boat and watching the Classic Regatta. Then comes a full practice day working on tacking, gybing, starts and crew roles, so that by the time Antigua Sailing Week starts you know what you’re doing. Your skipper teaches as you go, and nobody is expected to know anything on day one.

What “participatory” means day to day: preparing the boat for sailing, hoisting sails, trimming and winching, steering, putting everything away at the end of the day, keeping shared spaces tidy, and taking a turn clearing dishes. Your skipper teaches as you go, and nobody is expected to know anything on day one.

Travelling solo? Book your own cabin or bunk with an ensuite bathroom (some are shared) and join a small, mixed group.

Have a Sailing Adventure

Our 10-day sailing holiday includes glorious blue water sailing, great home-cooked food, fantastic snorkelling and evenings under the stars. New sailors and improvers are assured of a relaxed and unhurried learning experience, and single travellers will make firm friends amongst their fellow boat buddies.

Our itinerary will take in all the island highlights; you’ll do plenty of sailing, whilst allowing time for relaxing and exploring.

Sunshine & Warm Seas

Warm sunny weather is practically guaranteed; there are often showers in this part of the world but they never last long, and hey, it’s warm rain! Temperatures in the high 20s are the norm, and there’s always a cooling breeze on board. The sea is a wonderful shade of blue, and with some of the best snorkelling in the Caribbean….prepare to be amazed.

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Sailing With YOU

The following shipmates are already booked on this trip:

Come and join the crew!

Please Note

The race schedule and stops has yet top be announced. The 2026 event stopped at Nonsuch Bay, Little Jumby Bay and Ffryes Beach before finishing at Nelson’s Dockyard.

The following itinerary is subject to changes due to weather forecasts and group preferences.

Choosing a CABIN

We will be running Ibis V on this trip with up to 6 guests and 1 skipper.  To find out more about Ibis, please follow this link.

The prices below reflect the sizes of the cabins on the boat; please make your selection when Booking.

Boat Name	Cabin Type	Price (EUR)
Ibis V	Shared Twin Cabin (Up and Down Bunks – same gender allocations)	€1,800
	Twin Cabin for Sole Use	€2,750
	Double Cabin with Ensuite for Sole Use (2 available)	€3,250
	Double Cabin with Ensuite for Couple (2 available)	€4,350

Insurance

You should ensure you have a good travel policy that covers you for flight delays and lost/delayed baggage – this is particularly important if any part of your travel includes a LIAT or Air France flight!  During this sailing holiday we will never be more than 12 miles from shore and coastal sailing like this is usually part of the standard travel cover for most policies; please ensure that your travel policy doesn’t specifically exclude this.

Expenses & CURRENCY

The currency on Antigua is Eastern Caribbean dollars; however US dollars are accepted everywhere.  Make sure you do have a small supply of cash; the ATM’s are not as frequent as you might think!  Credit cards are accepted in most bars and restaurants but not all.

We provide filtered drinking water on board and we carry fruit juices for breakfast time.  You will need to provision with any soft drinks, alcohol and mixers you need when you arrive and there are small supermarkets in Marigot where you can do this.  Guests often club together and have a kitty for these costs, but you may prefer to buy your own.

You should budget for between $15 to $35 for a main course in a restaurant when we eat out plus drinks and service charge.  The restaurants serving in US dollars often add 10% or more to the bill automatically (grrr) and with local taxes the supplement to the menu prices can be as much as 25%!!  French restaurants operate a more European tipping system – add what you feel is justified.  We promise to take you only where we’ve had good value for money!

Participation

Unless otherwise stated, sailing holidays with Yacht Ibis are participatory and you should expect to get involved.  We don’t carry passengers!  This will include:

• Preparing the boat for sailing
• Hoisting sails, pulling ropes, winching, steering and generally sailing the boat
• Putting all the ropes away at the end of the day
• Helping to keep the communal spaces tidy and clear of personal belongings
• Taking a turn on clearing away dishes after a meal

This is all part of living aboard a sailing boat 🙂

Other Questions

Hopefully any other questions you may have are covered in our frequently asked questions here or in our Pre-Arrival Booklet which can be downloaded here.

Booking TERMS and Conditions

These can be found at this link and you should be familiar and comfortable with them before making a booking, thank you.

FLIGHTS

We recommend that you organise a flight in and out of ANU – Antigua’s Princess Juliana Airport.  AMU is a central hub with connections within the Caribbean and internationally.

If you prefer not to use a travel agent, Flight Connections is a great starting point to find out about flights.  From here, you can contact the airlines directly, or use a flight search engine like Bravofly or Skyscanner to find alternative routes that may work out cheaper.

Getting to the BOAT and Back Home

Firm details will be notified nearer the time, however please note the following for arrival to Antigua.

The airport in Antigua is around a 40-minute taxi ride from Jolly Harbour, where our boat(s) will be Moored.  Please ensure you provide your arrival information as soon as you can and keep us updated of any changes; we will try and hook you up with fellow crewmates who might be arriving at the same time so that you can share a taxi.  Please pack light, and using a lightweight, collapsible bag with wheels if possible.  Hard suitcases must not be brought on board, we simply have no room to store them!

ARRIVING and Departing

You should aim to arrive around midday on the first day of your trip, and we will aim to finish at midday on the last.  To facilitate travel, we offer a complimentary extra night on board at either the beginning or the end of the trip.  Additional nights can be provided at a cost of EUR €95 per person per night on a bed and help yourself continental breakfast basis.  If you’d like to stay for any additional nights please add them to your booking.  We do need the days in between trips to prepare the boats for the following trips, so please keep this in mind, thank you!

Accommodation Nearby in Antigua

A short taxi ride away you will find Le Petit Hotel in Grand Case which is on the stunning beach at Grand Case. The Love Hotel and les Temps des Cerises are also lovely places to stay.

Mary’s Boon Resort is right next to the airport, but also on the beach at Simpson Bay for those with little time to spare.