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Spotted! Canadian Boating in Antigua & Barbuda

Picturesque sunsets are just one of many things that make Antigua & Barbuda ideal for chartering.

September 25, 2025

By Mathew Channer

I wore my Canadian Boating cap everywhere I went in Antigua, for the sun, not for the shout-outs. But I sure received a lot of them.

Antigua Sailing Week is an international regatta that draws sailors of every level and spectators from all over the world. Yet I couldn’t walk across a room without being hailed by a Canadian who was as excited to see my cap as they were to see the racing. I met many who were on their 3rd, 4th and 5th visit.

And why not? It’s an easy flight from Toronto to VC Bird International Airport, Antigua – who wouldn’t want to go?

Water and boating are an integral part of the lifestyle

At Shirley’s Heights, a renowned sunset hilltop party, I danced with locals and visiting yachties, feasted on Caribbean BBQ and gazed over the beautiful vessels berthed in English harbour as the sun set behind the mountains. On Antigua’s west coast, I visited one pristine beach after another, many with public moorings for charter boats. At the UNESCO World Heritage Nelson’s Dockyard, I inspected cannons, watched model sailboat racing, and wandered along rocky headlands to the ruins of Fort Berkeley while beneath me charter vessels motored out to sea.

One of many pristine anchorages on the northern island of Barbuda

Whether you’re a Canadian sailor or a powerboater, if you like being on or around the water, you’ll find lots to love in Antigua & Barbuda. With a season that runs from October to June, it’s the perfect winter getaway to a place where boating and water is integral to the culture and lifestyle.

Look out for a full cruising guide on Antigua & Barbuda in our December 2025 issue of Canadian Boating!

Visit Antigua & Barbuda

Charter in Antigua & Barbuda

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