Return to the estate’s Plantation Inn, where you can indulge in some afternoon tea. If you prefer to go shopping, Charlestown boasts some interesting shops. There are many locally made goods on sale, such as pottery, wood carvings, wall hangings, condiments and jewellery. The gallery at Café des Arts is well worth a visit too. Return to your Sunseeker to change and enjoy a refreshing early-evening drink before going ashore to dine. There are a number of good restaurants in Charlestown. At the plantation inns around the island there are various evening events on during the week – such as barbecues, buffets and live bands.
Day 7 Nevis – Antigua
After a sumptuous breakfast moored in Charlestown, you will begin the cruise to your next destination. Relax and enjoy the two hour journey to Antigua.
Over the next few days you will experience the rich cruising ground that Barbuda and Antigua – two of ‘The Islands of Mountains and Mangroves’ – have to offer.
Your first port of call is Five Islands Harbour. This magnificent bay on the west coast of Antigua is an ideal anchorage – well-protected and adorned with a perfect combination of beaches, birds and mangroves. Here you can enjoy a delicious lunch on board, and then spend the afternoon relaxing in this beautiful area.
Later in the afternoon, you will round the south-west corner of the island to head into English Harbour. Antigua’s English Harbour is the focus of Nelson’s Dockyard Historic Park, which covers 15 square miles of the island. The area played host to the headquarters of the British fleet in the Leeward Islands in the 18th Century. Today the area has been completely restored and is the only Georgian dockyard in the world.
Ashore, you can visit the Interpretation Centre, museum and shop to find out more about this unique area’s history. If you prefer pampering rather than history, there are a couple of recommended massage therapy and beauty salons in the harbour, which provide the perfect preparation for your night out.
English Harbour, which is no stranger to social activity, is home to a good selection of restaurants and night spots. Abracadabra is a popular venue for both eating and musical entertainment. Alternatively, you may wish to go to HQ Restaurant. Here, you can eat on the balcony where in years gone by the naval officers dined.
Day 8 Antigua
Today you can enjoy some more cruising around the beautiful island of Antigua. There are plenty of bays to explore. Coming out of English Harbour, you will head east and follow the coastline. You may wish to anchor in Nonsuch Bay, which is protected from the Atlantic Ocean swell by Green Island and a reef. This bay offers a variety of settings in which to anchor – there are two beaches, several mangrove creeks as well as anchorages in the lee of the reef which offer fabulous open vistas.
Later, you may wish to weigh anchor and continue around Antigua in an anti-clockwise direction. Your course will take you f ive miles off the island itself in order to avoid the reefs. After a journey of about half an hour, you will come to a break in the reef. Here, the boat can turn into the channel which, protected by the reefs and several islands, will take you to some secluded anchorages. As you pass along this channel you may come across the bright sails of dinghies – offering sheltered waters, this is a popular location to learn how to dinghy sail. In this rich natural habitat you will see much wildlife, such as pelicans.
Tonight, you will go into St John’s harbour on the west coast of the island. This is the capital of Antigua. It has an attractive mixture of carefully restored buildings and rough old buildings which are full of colour.
The town offers good shopping facilities, including a local produce market, a large selection of boutiques and handcraft shops. (This is a stop-off for cruise ships and can become quite busy on certain days.) For your evening meal, you may wish to try the popular Hemingway’s Bar and Restaurant, which has a balcony – perfect for enjoying the atmosphere of this vibrant town.
Day 9 Antigua – Barbuda
Today’s journey – of just over an hour – will take you north to the island of Barbuda. Far less populated than Antigua, this island offers long beaches and wildlife in abundance. Apart from the Frigate Bird Colony, horses, deer and donkeys roam wild on Barbuda.
The southern and western stretches of the island provide excellent places to stop for lunch, relax on the beach and swim in the glorious turquoise waters.
Anchoring in Low Bay overnight, you will be able to reach the island’s only town – Codrington. This was named after the English family that leased the island in the 17th
Century from England. Your journey to
Codrington will be by your Sunseeker’s tender and then by water taxi across the Codrington lagoon.
In the town there is a selection of shops and restaurants. One of the shops worth visiting is Claire Frank’s Art Café, which sells unique artwork. This is also an excellent place to find out where is best to eat in the evening.
Day 10 Barbuda
Make the most of this beautiful island by spending another day here. Whether you decide to relax on the flybridge, snorkel, visit the Frigate Bird Colony or walk along the white-pink sand beaches, this is the perfect place to unwind.
In the evening, stay on board your Sunseeker to enjoy dinner under the stars.
Day 11 Barbuda – Anguilla
Today’s journey will take about three and a half hours. Travelling north-west, you are heading towards the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla. This island is 16 miles long, but only three miles across at its widest point. It boasts no less than 33 white-sand beaches and seven marine parks, making it a fabulous location for diving and snorkelling.
First the vessel must pass customs in Road Bay and obtain a permit to visit the other anchorages. Enjoy lunch here, before heading off to one of the island’s offshore anchorages.
Anguilla has a number of islands in its close vicinity. Although anchoring is restricted to protect the natural habitats, if you enjoy snorkelling, the tender will take you to the reefs and can follow you as you explore the colourful and beautiful undersea world. Prickly Pear Cays is a perfect location for this if the weather is fair. It also has a creamy-white beach, which can be reached by tender, and provides an excellent location for a relaxing afternoon.
Later in the afternoon, the vessel will weigh anchor and head back into Road Bay. You will be transported ashore in the evening by tender. Anguilla is said to be the ‘cuisine capital of the Caribbean’ and has a wide range of restaurants to choose from.
As you come ashore, you will see several waterside bistros. These offer a variety of international menus. A little way out of town is the Straw Hat, which has an excellent reputation, especially for seafood. This restaurant overlooks Forest Bay with views towards the lights of St Martin.
Day 12 Anguilla
Enjoy a delicious breakfast against the gorgeous backdrop of Road Bay. Today you will be able to discover more of Anguilla’s glorious beaches. Along the northern stretch of the island is Crocus Bay. This provides an idyllic location for anchoring, snorkelling and swimming. Nearby, Little Bay is also renowned for its rich natural beauty – 70ft cliffs that rise out of the sea. The multicoloured cliffs’ crags and grottos are home to tropical birds such as pelicans and kingfishers.
The bays along the south of the island have beautiful, long beaches. Anchoring is only permitted in Cove Bay.
In the afternoon, head back to Road Bay for the evening to try one of the waterside bistros and soak up Anguilla’s vibrant nightlife.
Day 13 Anguilla – St Martin & Sint Maarten
At the closest point, St Martin is only five miles from Anguilla. This island is the smallest in the world ever to be partitioned between two different nations. The Dutch and the French have shared this island for 350 years.
St Martin is possibly one of the best known holiday destinations in the Leewards. This could be due to its plethora of white sand beaches, backed by scenic hills. In terms of shopping, this island is entirely duty-free and offers shoppers a wide range of goods.
First you will visit the French side of the island. Marigot is the French capital and the island’s premier shopping area. Luxury items from all over the world can be purchased here free of customs and taxes. Marigot is also well known for its restaurants and elegant cuisine.
Recommended is La Vie en Rose restaurant, which looks out onto the water.
Day 14 St Martin & Sint Maarten
Today, you will venture round to the Dutch side of the island. Simpson Bay and Simpson Bay Lagoon offer excellent facilities and protected anchorages and moorings. On the way to Simpson Bay you can explore some of the many beaches that adorn the beautiful coastline.
Inside the lagoon there is an array of different vessels – from superyachts to dinghies.
Restaurants ashore are plentiful and varied – from f ine dining to American burgers and mesquite grills. The Plaza del Lago houses several restaurants by the marina. Alternatively, take the tender to other areas of the lagoon. Later, you may wish to visit one of the casinos in Sint Maarten.
Day 15 (until 12 noon) St Martin & Sint Maarten – St Barts
After your night out in Sint Maarten, you will begin your final journey back to Gustavia in St Barts. The cruise will take under an hour, so there may be time to relax and even to anchor up for a f inal swim. On return to the marina at Gustavia, you will be bid a fond farewell by the crew and collected by car for your transfer to the airport.
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