Jackie and Al Ashford

Jolly Harbour Marina, on the west coast of Antigua.

• Direct from UK on Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, BMI and BWI – every day – also the Sunsail flight on First Choice
• Direct from Germany on Condor
• Direct from Toronto in Canada – every Saturday
• Via San Juan on American Airlines, United Airlines and USAir – four flights every day

US$20 payable per person (over 12 years of age) at the airport.

Boats are located at Jolly Harbour Marina on ‘B’ dock, opposite Melini’s restaurant. Horizon is on the left hand side.

Office hours are 0900-1700.

20 minute drive.

The taxi fare from the airport is US$24 for up to four people with four bags.

Yes, typically 10 - 15% gratuity is offered.

If your bag is delayed, you will have to report this to Customer Services desk at the airport. They will fill out a form and give you a copy with a reference number and a local telephone number. Please tell them that you are sailing with Horizon Yacht Charters and give them the office number. Typically, your bag will arrive in the next day (or two). The airline will deliver your bag to wherever you are - so this will not hold up your sailing time. If the bag does not arrive after a number of days, the airline may give you a daily compensation figure to spend. Please check with your airline before you leave.

REMEMBER: this happens about once per month so be prepared - pack some shorts, TShirts, flip-flops, toothbrush, toothpaste and any medical supplies that you may need. This should not ruin the start of your holiday - so come prepared!

When you arrive at the office, please have your passports ready for copying - we will return these to you. We will then undertake the paperwork in terms of taking for the Hull Damage Waiver, Cruising permit and any provisioning that has been ordered in advance. We will walk you through our INFORMATION FOLDER. We will then undertake a chart briefing where you will be given the appropriate Imray Charts for your cruise and the Chris Doyle Guide to the Leeward Islands. After the Chart Briefing, you will receive your Boat Briefing. It is sometimes a good idea to send some of the crew to the supermarket in order to provision at the same time.

You may board the yacht at noon (charter contracts start and finish at noon). Allow a couple of hours to complete the chart and boat brief procedure before you are ready to leave the dock.

If an arrival is scheduled outside of hours, on notification they will arrange for a Jolly Harbour Marina driver to collect guests from the airport. They will escort the guests to their boat.

Since some flights arrive too late in the day for you to start your charter, where possible, we offer the option of a sleepaboard on your first night at an additional charge. Boarding is after 5.00pm and the yacht will be prepared for your late arrival. Please enquire about this option should you require it.

You can pick up water and fuel at Jolly Harbour Marina and at Antigua Slipway in English Harbour.

Eastern Caribbean dollar – EC$

US$1 = EC$2.688

You can pay by using Visa or MasterCard. Or you can mail a US$ Cashier's Check. Please allow for the mail taking up to 10 days to arrive in Antigua.

We accept VISA and MASTERCARD. We do not accept AMEX

Up to 10 days.

We are unable to offer refunds within 90 days of your charter start date unless we can re-sell your reserved dates. As we adhere to this policy, we strongly suggest that Trip Cancellation Insurance is purchased.

No, we have mainsail and genoa on all yachts.

The maximum size engine that we have is 4 or 5hp. This is because we ask that you lift the engine off the dinghy when you are sailing in slightly bigger seas - to ensure that the dinghy does not flip with the engine still on.

Yes, all of our dinghy's have hard bottoms.

It is for you to use your own judgement on when you should decide to take the engine off.

Yes, we provide a lock with a padlock. Please make sure you check this off on your inventory sheet.

You simply take the dinghy up on the beach and tie to the nearest palm tree.

Each boat is fully equipped with a safety box containing all the sailing essentials that a skipper may need.

The fridges will vary depending on which yacht you have. Bear in mind that you should not buy more than 3 days worth of fresh produce as the fridge is not going to be as good as your fridge at home.

if your yacht has an inverter on board then you may use electrical appliances that you have brought with you (hairdryer, recharging batteries, etc.) while sailing or at anchor. You may need to bring an adapter. Most of our yachts are 110V with U.S receptacles. In Antigua you will find both 220V and 110V available in certain areas. We advise that you check with us first since the relevant information is dependent upon your yacht as well as which country you are visiting from. All yachts have 12V sockets.

VHF radio Dinghy and outboard motor Charts and guide Flashlight & sparebatteries Lifejackets BBQ grill Fire extinguishers Through-hull plugs Deck brush Cockpit table Bimini Linens, pillows, towels Clothes pegs Cigarette lighter outlet 12V Roller furling genoa  Hot water 110V Inverter in all Bavaria Yachts

Cellular boatphone First aid kit Flare kit Binoculars Tool kit Boat hook Signal horn Tape Bucket with lanyard Cockpit Inbuilt cockpit table cooler or deck cooler cushions All galley and cooking utensils Log and depth sounder Electric windlass Refrigerator CD player with saloon and cockpit speakers

We supply linen, towels, toilet tissue, soap and a Welcome Starter Kit. This includes:

Bottle of rum Bottle of spring water One roll toilet tissue per bathroom Matches Insect repellent Handiwipes

Coke Dish liquid Roll paper towel Antibacterial spray Guest soaps 2 trash bags

You should pick up your own BBQ coals and lighter fluid if you have not asked us to provision for you.

Yes, we offer 3 different packages. Alternatively, if you just want us to order from your own list, there is a 10% service charge. You can also just buy beverages.

The supermarket opens at 8am and closes at 8pm every day (shorter hours for Christmas Day)

Yes, you will be asked to pay US$20 deposit for taking the cart to your boat.

Yes, they accept Visa and MasterCard. They will ask you for picture ID.

You can provision in Jolly Harbour, English Harbour, Falmouth Harbour, St Johns and there is also a small store behind Dickenson Bay.

2 - 3 bags to start with.

Yes

Jolly Harbour Marina is a 300 acre site with:

• Marina
• Fuel dock
• Large supermarket
• Liquor Store
• Bank
• Golf course
• Swimming pool
• Close to beach
• Gym

We do not advise that you drink tap water. Bottled water is widely available.

Good times to go:

• From beginning of November  through to end June
• Christmas Day parade and party in Nelson’s Dockyard
• New Year’s Eve fireworks and party
• Antigua Sailing week –  last Saturday in April for 7 days
• Classic Yacht Regatta –mid April

If you are unsure on whether you have the necessary experience to sail the area of your choice, please submit a sailing resume through our website and we will be happy to assist you. As well as full chart and boat briefings to familiarize you with your cruising grounds and yacht, with prior notice, we can also provide a checkout skipper who will be happy to spend an extra couple of hours with you on a one-to-one basis.

We have experienced instructors should you wish to learn to sail or hone your sailing skills.

We provide professional skippers and cooks at all our bases. Their fees do not include food and beverages and optional gratuity. Crew gratuities are usually based on 10 to 15% of the charter fee.

There are mooring buoys at Jolly Harbour for US$15 per night.

The seas tend to be around 1.7 - 2.2m in height but this can vary depending on the conditions at the time.

The summer is around 10 degrees warmer than in the winter and the breeze is around 10 - 15 knots. Temperatures are around 80 degrees in the winter months and a little warmer in the summer.

We have several sample itineraries posted on the Antigua Itineraries page.

• Antigua – Antigua – 7 nights
• Antigua – Barbuda – Antigua – 7 – 10 nights
• Antigua – Nevis/St Kitts – Antigua – 10 nights
• Antigua – St Martin – 10 – 14 nights

Antigua is an island of contrasts:

Bustly English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour:

• Home to mega yachts
• Restored 18th century dockyard
• Many restaurants – from French to local cuisine
• Lively bars
• Visit Shirley Heights each Sunday from 5pm – jump-up with bbq, steel bands, reggae band

North of Antigua

• Unspoilt
• Uninhabited islands
• Hill hiking for fantastic views
• Great snorkeling
• Uncrowded anchorages

East coast: Visit Nonsuch Bay – a beautiful, unspoilt bay with wonderful converted sugar mill – Harmony Hall.  Italian restaurant, art gallery, close to Green Island for exploring and snorkeling.

West coast: Great sunsets and views of Montserrat

Plenty of lunch time stops:

• Gibsons Restaurant – best snapper on the island
• OJs Restaurant – famous local restaurant
• Turner’s Restaurant
• 3 Martinis – bar and restaurant – meet Jamaican G – owner!

Barbuda - our sister island in the north (4 – 5 hour sail away)

• Robinson Crusoe Island
• Famous frigate sanctuary
• 11 mile pink beach
• Deserted anchorage
• 3 exclusive resorts – Princess Di used to stay there

The island of Nevis is just a day sail away.

• Restored plantation houses.
• Nelson’s museum
• Sunshine’s Beach Bar
• Rainforest
• Watch the wild monkeys
• Put your feet in the hot springs

• Anchoring
• Navigation
• Two experienced crew

No, we don't have any boat boys in Antigua or Barbuda.

No, we are not aware of any pirates in our area.

Yes, you will find mosquitoes in the islands and they tend to come out at around 5.45pm. Please use the complimentary can of OFF to spray on your exposed limbs (not on your face).

No, we don't provide nets but the spray is effective. If you are prone to mosquito bites, then please take advice from your doctor before you leave home.

Yes, we offer the one way trip from Antigua to St Martin. We recommend a minimum of 8 nights for this trip.

Plus US$795 to the charter fee. The one way fee is not subject to any discounts.

You can rent snorkel equipment from either Jolly Dive in the Marina or Aquanaut in English Harbour. Alternatively, to ensure best fit, you can bring your own.

There are a number of companies that you can dive with: Jolly Dive or Indigo Divers based in Jolly Harbour, or you can dive with Aquanaut based in English Harbour.

They will require you to meet them at either the Dive shop or at the dive site.

Fishing equipment can be rented from Aquasports in Jolly Harbour Marina.

• Kite surfing (on north east coast)
• Windsurfing (on north east coast)
• Diving
• Snorkeling
• Kayaking

No, many of our owners do not allow their yachts to be raced.

It is advisable to check with your provider before you travel - mentioning each of the Caribbean islands that you intend to visit as this will make a difference.

It is a 'pay as you go' cell phone with EC$20 added to it. Extra top up can be purchased from bMobile top up providers around the island.

The range tends to be around 4 miles offshore.

This will vary on where you are calling and at what time. A good test is to check how many funds are on the phone before you make the call, and then check how much is left after you have completed your call.

Yes, it is the law. Clearing in and out involves three authorities: Immigration, Customs and Port Authority. You must visit each Department to complete the process. Only the Captain should go to clear in and out and he/she must take the passports of each crew member, plus boat registration papers and the last clearance papers for the boat.

It will vary, but should take 45 minutes. Be prepared to wait.

Visitors from these countries require a visa for Antigua: Bangladesh, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka. Check with the High Commission

Previous guests have brought frozen meat through customs and have not been stopped.