Yacht Charter Jolly Harbour

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Yacht Charter Jolly Harbour

On a Jolly Harbour yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore much of Antigua within an easy sail. Whatever you want from an Antigua yacht charter, from exploring the 365 beaches to island hopping to Barbuda, Montserrat or Guadeloupe, a Jolly Harbour sailing holiday is going to be an unforgettable experience.

A short trip from the airport and on the west coast of the Caribbean island of Antigua, Jolly Harbour is a gated resort that has all the amenities you need for a Caribbean holiday. If golf is your thing, there is an excellent 18 hole course.

For those more interested in beach and coral reef than 'spoiling a good walk', there is ample here. Most of Antigua's beaches are on the west coast and with that the snorkelling and scuba diving is as good as you'll find anywhere in the Caribbean.

For those who enjoy shopping and a bit of nightlife, there are excellent boutiques and restaurants as well as places to relax near a well stocked beach bar.

Explore Jolly Harbour By Renting A Yacht

Many on a Jolly Harbour boat rental choose not to leave Antigua. Given there is so much to do and enjoy on this beautiful and fun island, a seven day luxury yacht charter will offer plenty to do.

Shall we have a look around the island?

Antigua has a long connection with the UK, being a major navy base during the Napoleonic Wars and American Revolution. On the southern tip of the island is English Harbour. Set in a deep bay, it is where the Royal Navy fleet was based. Now a major tourism destination with boutiques, museums and restaurants, Nelson's Harbour is a quaint and beautiful spot to visit on your Antigua yacht charter.

If your idea of a Caribbean sailing holiday is to island hop, then island hop to Great Bird Island off Jolly Harbour. Now a haven for Antigua's only indigenous snake, it is a great way to escape the world. Another islet like it is Green Island just to the SE of English Harbour. This is a quiet desert island with coral reefs and almost total privacy being only accessible by boat.

For those who love hidden beaches, on the mainland Rendezvous Bay is either accessible on foot with a 40 minute hike or by boat.

Many visit Antigua for more structured fun. Resorts like Carlisle Bay and Nonsuch Bay are up there among the best in the world. Both are split into separate couples-only and family resorts where privacy is assured for those who seek it.

For those into snorkelling or scuba diving, Antigua has some of the best available in the Caribbean. Cades Reef is a place of wonder for seasoned divers and newbies alike, though there are reefs along much of the south of the island too.

For those on a longer yacht charter, you can hop over to neighbouring island Barbuda or take a longer sail down to Guadeloupe in the Windward Islands or north to the nearby Leeward Island of St Maarten for some serious partying!

How To Get To Jolly Harbour

V C Bird International Airport

This is the international airport for Antigua, and has regular flights during the holiday season from the UK and North America. It sits on the north of the island. It is a 15-20 minute bus ride from Jolly Harbour that will cost around £1. A taxi will take a similar time and cost about £15.

Marinas In Jolly Harbour

Jolly Harbour Marina is the main yacht charter base on Antigua.

Jolly Harbour Marina:

Jolly Harbour Marina is a major yacht charter hub with charter companies offering crewed and bareboat yacht charters of sailing catamaran charters, sailing yacht charter, luxury yacht charter and motor yacht charter.

Berth Characteristics:

159 berths

Max Length 61m (200 Feet)

Max Draught 4m (13 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, currency exchange, supermarket, restaurant.

Suggested Sailing Routes From Jolly Harbour

So, what do you want from an Antigua yacht charter out of Jolly Harbour? Serious chill on a sandy beach? Snorkelling or scuba diving on a protected coral reef off your sailing boat? Your boat charter need not leave Antigua to enjoy all of these.

6 Days - a Circumnavigation of Antigua: Heading out of Jolly Harbour, set sail for Great Bird Island and see the sunset in peace and quiet after the tourists have gone. The next day will be another short sail, this time to St John's, the capital. After an afternoon there, head to Dickenson Bay that is one of the best beaches in Antigua. You'll see the coast change from beaches to rocky shore on the east coast but one of the inlets, Carlisle Bay has a beautiful beach to enjoy as well as a beach bar or two! English Harbour will be your next evening, perhaps climbing to Shirley's Heights to enjoy the panoramic views of the southern part of the island. Your next night will be on another desert island - Green Island off the coast of Falmouth, a final quiet evening before returning your sailing yacht to the charter base.

14 Days: Great fun sailing to be had here on an island hopping expedition up the Leeward Islands. The first day you run south to Montserrat, before the next few days of broad reaching NW to Nevis, St Kitts, Sint Eustatius, Saba and then to the world famous party island of St Maarten. If you can handle it, spend a couple of days here before NW again to Anguilla. Perhaps to give your heads a rest, a long reach to the sparsely inhabited island of Barbuda and then turn things up again with a run south to Guadeloupe. Back to British soil on St Lucia and then island hop north-west to Martinique before returning to base at Jolly Harbour.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Jolly Harbour

Unlike Europe, the sailing season in the Caribbean Sea runs from November to May - perfect for a dose of winter sun. The NE Trades are settled and you will encounter weather between 25-35 degrees C.

Within this period, March and April after the winter northerlies have passed are cooler yet the sailing is just as fun as the rest of the year.

For those who want to try something a little outside their comfort zone, August and September are said to be the very best sailing months of all.

There's a problem with this - many yacht charter fleets will not be in the area thanks to hurricane season that runs between July and November. If booked and a hurricane is on its way your holiday will be cancelled. There is no minimising the danger of being in the region in a hurricane - there is no high ground and with the general trend for ever fiercer storms, it is not an experience to even risk being around for.

The Climate

The sailing season runs from December to June with the hurricane season hitting in June and ending in November. Winds are dominated by the NE Trade Winds and can sit at up to 20 knots, firm and steady all day.

Hurricanes have recently given the region a big kicking and are not to be underestimated. Generally speaking it is impossible to hire a yacht during this time.

FAQs:

What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

What are the Marinas in Jolly Harbour?

Jolly Harbour Marina is the main sailing holiday base on Antigua. It has a luxury yacht dock for vessels of up to 200ft but the main marina with a capacity of 155 yachts can take vessels of up to 75ft.

When are the best times to hire a boat in Jolly Harbour?

Jolly Harbour is in the northern Tropics and this means blissful trade winds and comfortable temperatures year round. The cooler part of the year from November to May is better for yacht charters simply because the hurricane season coincides with the hotter and wetter part of the year. As ever, if serious chill is the name of the game, then come out outside of school holidays.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Jolly Harbour?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht or Boat in Jolly Harbour?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Dress for warm weather but do have something for tropical rains - light but waterproof.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a skipper on board your yacht charter you typically don't require licences.

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Frequently asked questions
What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

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