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KEY FEATURES...
| Top end, owner managed Antigua yacht charter company; a range of Bavaria, Beneteau, Jeanneau monohulls (39 - 54ft), one Dufour yacht and two catamarans (Island Spirit and Bahia); skippers and cooks on hand, sailing courses (with instructor skippers where needed), cell phones, watersports equipment and toys available, rendezvous scuba diving. Well priced and friendly, good Caribbean bareboat yacht charter experience. |
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Horizon Rum Cruise – Antigua to St Lucia
Horizon Yacht Charters (Antigua) is offering a new angle on a classic sail along the Leeward and Windward island chain in May 2008 – in the theme of Caribbean rum. With a send off from the Royal Tot Club in Antigua, the flotilla cruise will makes its way down the islands to St Lucia, visiting rum distilleries and natural sights along the way, including Dominica’s rainforest, Marigot Bay and the Pitons in St Lucia and the delightful small islands off Guadeloupe …Read More
REVIEW
Horizon Yacht Charters (Antigua) is a top-notch, owner-managed yacht charter company based in Antigua in the Eastern Caribbean. The company keeps a small but well maintained fleet of about 15 monohull yachts and catamarans in Jolly Harbour on the protected western shoreline of the island. They offer mainly bareboat charters, in yachts ranging between 39 and 54 feet (and with up to five cabins), but they have good flexibility - they can arrange a cook for the duration of the trip, Similarly they can provide a skipper, or one that stays with you for just a couple of days while you settle in. They also offer an all-inclusive plan on their largest yacht.
Horizon Yacht Charters (Antigua) is quite a young company – it was founded in 2003 - but it has a good pedigree as part of the Horizon network. Originating in the BVI, Horizon Yacht Charters now has four bases in the Caribbean, the BVI, Grenada (which covers the Grenada and the Grenadines), St Martin (on the French side) and of course in Antigua. They all uphold the same high standards and personal service across the board, following the same policies and procedures towards clients. The four Horizon companies are all small, but they feel that this means that they can give a better experience to sailors by having a distinctly personal touch.
The company has seven members of staff. It is owned and managed by Jackie and Alastair Ashford, who are originally from Britain (with the owners of the original Horizon company holding a share). In Antigua it is Jackie Ashford that you will be in touch with when you make contact. She will oversee the various stages of the booking until your arrival on island. Alastair is the Base Manager, who takes care all of the chart briefings, and they are assisted on the ground by an operations manager, two technicians and a deck cleaner and an interior cleaner.
Their base is in the marina at Jolly Harbour, a huge and lively marina set in one of the deep bays on the meandering western coast of Antigua. While the island is perhaps better known for English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour in the south-east, Jolly Harbour has its own centre of gravity. It is a port of entry in its own right, so you can clear in and out of Customs there, and it gives onto the calm waters of the leeward side of the island, so your first tastes of Caribbean water are calm. From there it is a good run around (north) to Deep Bay and south to Carlisle Bay. Jolly Harbour is active all year round and it has good facilities (with plenty more on the way), including a large supermarket, a bank, several waterfront restaurants and bars and a chandlery. Jolly Harbour beach (about ten minutes walk away) is a superb stretch of sand and when you are docked at the marina there is a bar with a pool where you can relax. Spa treatments are available there too. The land-based part of Horizon’s ‘Sea and Shore’ holidays can be in Jolly Harbour itself, in an apartment with its own dock. Jolly Harbour is about 25 minutes ride from the airport.
From the moment of first contact you can expect everything to be personally tailored. Jackie is happy to help in the background as she makes sure that all the paperwork is in order and, for example, by pointing you in the right direction with flights and accommodation. Once you reach the island you can expect all briefings to be personalised (as opposed to in a group) and tailored to your itinerary. When you arrive you will be taken straight to your yacht to settle in. You can come to do the paperwork and have your chart briefing (in an air-conditioned room) later. Most people don’t leave till the next day.
Horizon will provision your yacht, and they can source rental sports equipment for you, such as a kayak and scuba gear. Or a hammock if that’s more your style. They can fix up rendezvous scuba diving (in which they come to your yacht and pick you up), even scuba instruction, in which case they will arrange for instructors to come to you. Horizon can also help out if you have a special request. You might want to throw a surprise party, hold a conference or a wedding on a remote beach, in which case they will put you in touch with the specialists on the island.
Antigua itself is well positioned in the Caribbean, for its ease of access, particularly from Europe (with so many flights coming in from the UK and mainland Europe), but also within the Caribbean itself. There are other islands to which you can sail both north and south. Interestingly Antigua has a long tradition of sailing, initially because of British naval activity in the area (just a quick look at the fortifications around English Harbour will show you how vital it was during the days of Empire). Some of the historical sights have been restored and so they are fun to explore.
The sailing itself is relatively challenging by the standards of say, the Virgin Islands. The seas are more exposed and there are fewer anchorages and mooring buoys. There is good blue water sailing between Antigua and nearby islands, however. Similarly, where the Virgin Islands have countless beach bars with a dock at which to tie up, here you are more likely to take your dinghy to an undeveloped beach, probably in a bay that has just a couple of other yachts. There is a good week’s sailing around the island, visiting the many beaches, particularly in the North Sound in the north-east, the historical areas and then a trip across to the near pristine island of Barbuda.
But Horizon Antigua offer an extra service in that they allow a one-way trip between Antigua and their sister base in St Martin to the north. This enables you to island-hop along the chain of the Lesser Antilles, passing Nevis and St Kitts (which have lovely small island culture) and then making your way across to St Barths and St Martin (much more developed, with some classic, tiny offshore islands fringed with white sand). They are currently designing a similar option heading south, so that you head via the superb sailing grounds off Guadeloupe to Dominica, an extraordinarily wild, natural island.
Horizon offer a stay-sail package, which includes a number of nights on shore in one of Antigua’s extremely broad range of hotels. Please see their website. And there is an additional variation on the theme in their Sea and Shore programme, in which you can take an apartment cum villa with a dock in Jolly Harbour itself, enabling you to head out for day sails if you want to stay close to hand. Finally Horizon offer Caribbean sailing courses at all levels, from basic keelboat sailing up to coastal passage making. The training can be spliced with a holiday if you wish. Horizon will arrange for a skipper to come aboard and provide instruction and training.
Jackie and Alastair Ashford have lived in the Caribbean since 2002, initially in the Cayman Islands, but their love of sailing goes back many years as Alastair has raced competitively since he was a nipper. About as long as their Antiguan Operations Manager Eugene, who skippered his first charter from Antigua to Barbuda when he was 11.
Horizon Yacht Charters as a whole now has around 70 yachts across its four bases in the Caribbean (35 in the BVI, 15 in each of Grenada and Antigua and a handful in St Martin, though this is set to grow). The four companies follow some marketing strategies in common and adhere to the same standards, but each base is fairly autonomous. All the yachts independently owned and they are managed by Horizon.
Yacht Sales
The company is an authorised dealer for Bavaria Yachts in the Caribbean and an approved agent for Fountaine Pajot catamarans. If you would like to own a yacht and put it out for charter at the times when you are not using it, then Horizon can enable the purchase and by arrangement they can include the yachts in their fleet. They obviously work with Bavaria Yachts and they do take other brands of yachts as well. |
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Base
Horizon Yacht Charters are based in Jolly Harbour, a huge bay about half way down the west coast of Antigua, about 25 minutes from the airport and 15 from St Johns the island capital. There are hotels on the excellent beach, and apartments lining the waterfront on the inner bay. Horizon has two offices, both on the waterfront in the marina in the bay. Their Sales and Customer Service Office is located on the dock, next to Melini’s Restaurant, and this is where you will find your yacht berthed on your arrival. The Operations Office is further along the waterfront (next to Peter’s restaurant). You will find a good supermarket in which you can get any provisions you wish (though Horizon will provision your yacht for you, see below). There are also plenty of restaurants and bars lining the waterfront.
While many people reckon that they might want to get their briefings and to leave the dock straight away on the same day as they arrive, in fact most people are happy to relax. Often they leave their briefings to the next morning and then depart in the middle of the day. |
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Fleet
Horizon Antigua has a fleet of eleven monohulls and two catamarans, ranging from two up to five cabins and from 39ft to over 50ft. They also come in a good range of prices. Most of the yachts are less than five years old and they are well maintained. They are equipped with rigid inflatables and outboards, biminis, barbecue, CD player, GPS, quality linens and towels, full equipment in the galley and safely equipment. |
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Bareboat
With a bareboat charter you are your own skipper, so you will need to show to Horizon Yacht Charters that you have the necessary experience and qualifications to take care of their boat and equipment. The sailing conditions around Antigua are a little more exposed than some other parts of the Caribbean and so you need to be sure of your level of competence. You will be required to complete a sailing resume when booking your charter. Horizon Yacht Charters can provide a skipper to sail with you on the first day or two while you get used to the yacht and conditions.
All charters are checked out and sailors are given a boat briefing to familiarise them and their crew with the vessel and a full chart brief covering the cruising grounds around Antigua – or as far afield as St Martin or Dominica if you wish to take one of their one-way options. Of course Horizon also provides support from onshore in case anything goes wrong during your charter. |
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Skippers
If you wish, Horizon Yacht Charters can provide a professional skipper to accompany you for a couple of days while you get used to the yacht, or for the whole charter if you would like it. Skippers cost from US$150/day, plus food, beverages and optional gratuities (usually 10-15% of the charter fee). This is a good option if you do not want to go it alone and would like have knowledgeable company onboard with you. It should be noted that although a skipper will happily give you lots of tips, his or her job is not as an instructor. However, if you wish to have a skipper/instructor then Horizon can arrange for a qualified skipper to come out with you on a daily or weekly basis. Instructors are charged out at US$165 per day. |
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Crewed
Cooks are also available and are charged out at around US$125/day, plus food, beverages and optional gratuities. If you would like to have a Skipper and Cook onboard Horizon have couples that can provide a good service. They can arrange an all-inclusive package so that you do not have to pay anything further while you are on charter – though please remember that meals ashore are extra and it is normal that you would invite the crew. The on-board menu is selected on the basis of your preference list of food and fine wines. Please see more on Provisioning further down the page. |
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Stay & Sail
The Stay & Sail combination – spending some time ashore as well as on board your yacht - is always worth considering as part of a sailing trip. It might be just a couple of days to settle in before the cruise or to chill out afterwards, but equally you might add a week’s holiday in one of Antigua’s beach hotels. Stay / Sail also works well with a villa because it provides the group a similar privacy to the yacht on which they will be sailing together.
Horizon Yacht Charters offer Stay & Sail packages in combination with a handful of hotels and guest houses, in all price ranges. Some are close by in Jolly Harbour, but others are scattered around Antigua’s excellent beaches. Please see our recommended accommodation on the Definitive Guide to Antigua. If you would like to stay within Jolly Harbour itself, Horizon have a number of options of waterfront apartments which have their own docks and usually a pool. |
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Rates
| | Low/Mid 01 Nov- 17 Dec 2007 & 08 May- 09 Jul 2008 | High 18 Dec- 04 Jan 2007-08 & 31 Jan- 07 May 2008 | Mid 05 Jan- 30 Jan 2008 | Low 10 Jul- 31 Oct 2008 10 days for price of 7 | | Bavaria 40 (3C/2H) ‘02 Bavaria 42 (3C/2H) ‘07 Beneteau 39 (3C/2H) ‘03 Jeanneau 43DS (3 or 4C/2H) ‘02 Dufour 44 (4C/2H) ‘03 Jeanneau 45.2 (3 or 4C/2H) ‘02 Jeanneau 45.2 (3C/2H) ‘03 Beneteau 473 (3C/2H) ‘02 Beneteau 473 (3C/3H) ‘02 Beneteau 510 (5C/5H) ‘94 Jeanneau 54DS (3C/3H/AC) ‘05 | 2,695 3,395 2,695 2,895 3,395 3,395 3,395 3,395 3,595 3,125 5,295 | 3,695 4,495 3,695 3,795 4,295 4,295 4,295 4,495 4,595 3,995 7,195 | 3,295 4,095 3,395 3,495 3,395 4,095 4,095 4,095 4,295 3,595 6,095 | 2,495 2,995 2,495 2,695 2,895 2,995 2,995 2,995 3,095 3,095 4,895 | | CATAMARAN FLEET Island Spirit 40 Cat (4C/2H/AC) ‘04 Bahia 46 Cat (4C/4H) ’03 – sleeps 10 | 4,195 5,495 | 5,395 7,995 | 4,495 7,195 | 3,795 4,995 | C = Cabins, H = Heads, AC = Air Conditioning
All rates are quoted in US$ for 7 nights per vessel (min 5 nights except Christmas/New Year min 7 nights), and are subject to change without notice. Charters start and finish at noon. Sleepaboards (the option of staying on board your yacht at the dock) with boarding of your vessel available after 5.00 pm, can sometimes be added to the start of your charter at an extra charge of US$75/night per person (min of US$200/night), depending upon yacht availability. When available, newest model of your choice of boat can be guaranteed with a US$200 non-refundable deposit. Hull Damage Waiver Insurance is US$30/day and limits your liability to US$500 refundable security deposit on yacht (please note liability is US$1000 on dinghy and outboard). Skippers are available from US$150/day, Instructors from $165/day and Cooks from US$125/day (plus food, beverages & gratuity). Taxi Transfers are not included in the charter fee. Booking and Cancellations: HYC requires a 50% deposit to confirm the reservation & the balance due of 50% no later than 45 days prior to arrival. A full refund less a US$200 administration fee is given should the reservation be cancelled in writing up to 90 days prior to the charter start date. If the charter is cancelled within 90 days of charter start date, then a full refund (less US$200) is made subject to HYC reselling the charter space reserved. We suggest that travel insurance/trip cancellation insurance cover is put in place at the time of booking. Please note that HDW insurance, Cruising Permits & National Parks Permit (where applicable) are payable before departure from the dock in cash or travellers’ cheques. Upon return of the vessel you are required to top off the water and fuel tanks, which you receive full upon boarding the vessel. |
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Special Offers
JUNE SPECIAL
Book any available yacht for a 7 night charter for sail dates during 01-30 June 2008 and receive 2 free days. Save up to US$1,570. Offer valid for new bookings made after 06 Mar 2008.
SUMMER SPECIAL - 10 for 7
Book any available yacht for a 10 night charter for sail dates during 10 Jul-12 Aug 2008 and only pay for 7 nights. Save up to US$2,140. Offer valid for new bookings made after 06 Mar 2008.
OCTOBER SPECIAL - 10 for 7
Book any available yacht for a 10 night charter for sail dates during 01-31 Oct 2008 and only pay for 7 nights. Save up to US$2,140. Offer valid for new bookings made after 06 Mar 2008.
COMMERCIAL AIRLINE PERSONNEL PACKAGE
Horizon Yacht Charters in Antigua has specifically designed a special package with discounts and other advantages for airline personnel which includes: discounts of between 15% and 25% for last minute bookings for off term charters of 5 nights or more, a Free Sleepaboard for charters of 7 nights or more (first night in Jolly Harbour Marina), a frequent sailor bonus for those who charter 3 times and will receive complimentary return airport transfers from VC Bird, advanced approval of Sailing Resume held on database to speed up the booking process, and a one to one chart and boat briefing at a time to suit. Offers cannot be combined with other offers.
REPEAT ANTIGUA & BARBUDA CHARTER GUESTS
A 10% discount on all listed sail boats for repeat charter guests.
Please note that only one special offer or discount can be applied to a charter at one time and cannot be applied to existing bookings.
SPECIAL PACKAGE
Horizon Rum Cruise
Antigua to St Lucia “Cruise in Company” May 9 – 23 2008
Charter a yacht for the full 2 weeks from US$5850 - US$8550. For a group of 6 this could mean as little as US$975 per person for the full 2 week cruise! Skippers are available from US$150 per day for those who like to have someone on board to help guide them through the islands or for non-sailors who prefer to let someone else take the helm. |
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Late Offers
Beneteau 473 – Save US$695
Book a 2002 Beneteau 473 with 3 cabins for a 7 night charter for sail between 09-30 May 2008 and pay only US$2,700 saving US$695. Valid for new bookings made after 06 Mar 2008.
Beneteau 393 – Save US$695
Book a 2003 Beneteau 393 with 3 cabins for a 7 night charter for sail between 14-28 May 2008 and pay only US$2,000 saving US$695. Valid for new bookings made after 06 Mar 2008.
Bavaria 42 – 3 extra days FREE
Book a 2007 Bavaria 42 with 3 cabins for a 7 night charter for sail between 16-26 May 2008 and receive 3 free extra days. Pay only US$3,395 saving US$1,455. Valid for new bookings made after 06 Mar 2008. |
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What's included
o VHF Radio
o GPS
o Dinghy and outboard motor
o Charts and Chris Doyle’s Leeward Island Guide
o Flashlight
o Adult Lifejackets
o BBQ Grill
o Fire Extinguishers
o Through-hull Plugs
o Deck brush
o Cockpit table
o Bimini
o Linens and towels
o Clothes pegs
o Log and depth-sounder
o Electric windlass
o Refrigerator
o CD Player with saloon and cockpit speakers
o Roller furling genoa
o First Aid Kit
o Flare Kit
o Binoculars
o Tool Kit
o Boat Hook
o Signal Horn
o Duct Tape
o Bucket with Lanyard
o Cockpit Cushions
o Cooler or deck cooler
o All galley and cooking utensils
o Pillows
o Cigarette Lighter Outlet
o 12V 110 Inverter in all Bavaria Yachts 36 and above
o Autopilot in all Bavaria Yachts 41 and above
o Roller furling main or fully battened main with lazy jacks |
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Booking Procedures
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with Horizon Yacht Charters, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on the TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. It is helpful to give the company an idea of your dates, choice of yacht and any special requests. Once you have confirmed your requirements and availability has been confirmed, you will need to complete a sailing resume, which should accompany your deposit.
For further advice on how to book a charter, which sets out a step-by-step guide, please see our notes here under Sailing & Cruising. |
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Provisioning
A complimentary starter pack is provided for all charters with Horizon Yacht Charters, but if you would like the yacht to be fully provisioned for your arrival (with all the food stowed away), it is possible to put in your order in advance. Select the items you require from a comprehensive list and return the completed Provisioning Form. A sample menu based on your choices will be printed to make suggestions for meals during your cruise. By arrangement you can customise the provisioning list. Custom provisioning attracts a 10% service fee. You can also order all your drinks in advance (water, sodas, juices, wine, beer etc). It’ll save you getting long arms when you have to carry it to your yacht.
There are three levels of provisioning:
Dinners Ashore
This caters for charterers who would like to dine out in the evenings. It provides everything you need for seven breakfasts, lunches and snacks.
Split Provisioning
If you think you will eat dinner ashore on at least three nights during the week, this caters for 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, snacks and four dinners.
Full Provisioning
Full Provisioning includes everything you need if you are intending to cook for yourself throughout your charter. It caters for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner for the full seven days. |
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Meet & Greet
On arrival in Antigua you should get a taxi from the Arrivals Hall (there is a dispatcher) to Jolly Harbour Marina. The ride takes about 25 minutes and costs US$24, which is paid locally. It just a few seconds to walk from the drop-off point to the Horizon Yacht Charters Sales Office (next to Melini’s Restaurant), where your yacht will be berthed. |
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Sleepboard
Horizon may be able to offer the option of a sleepaboard on your first night, at an additional charge. Boarding for a sleepaboard is after 5pm and the yacht will be prepared for your late arrival. If it all happens after the office closes, they can send a taxi driver who knows the harbour to the airport to meet you who will take you to your boat. The lights, and the fridge, will be left on for you. |
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Sports & Toys
You may well want to hire some equipment to carry aboard your yacht during your charter. Consider space on board when it comes to something bulky like a windsurfer or a kayak, but equipment for other sports are also available.
Snorkelling equipment - if you have your own gear it is probably better to bring it to guarantee a good fit. Otherwise masks, snorkels and fins are available for rent from the scuba diving operators (and Horizon Yacht Charters has some old gear that it is happy to lend out). The snorkelling is excellent at Cades Reef and the North Sound. Scuba Diving is also very popular. There are two options – to go to the operator or, if you are nearer the dive site, to get them to pick you up from your yacht in a ‘rendezvous’. The dive companies will provide the scuba equipment for each dive.
Windsurfers will find plenty of reliable winds around the island and if you are learning you can spend the whole day in and out of the water without worrying about getting cold… This takes place at Jabberwock Beach in the north of the island. If you have never tried sea kayaking, then in Antigua you can explore beaches in secluded coves that cannot be reached without a boat. A two man kayak is available for hire at US$160 per week. Fishing tackle is available (rods rent out at US$12 per day) and you can even hire a mountain bike ($15 per day with a lock and a helmet). |
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Useful Information
Cellular Telephones and Message Service
Horizon provides a cell phone to all their clients with enough credit for emergencies. If you wish to phone home then you can purchase a phone card. If you wish to leave HYC’s telephone number with your friends and relatives for emergency contact, you are asked to use the local base number (see at the head of this review) rather than the toll-free reservation number.
Credit Cards
While HYC accept credit cards in payment of the US$250 deposit on your charter fee, you are asked to pay in cash or travellers’ cheques for any incidentals due at the base such as local government Cruising Permits, Hull Damage Waiver insurance, provisioning and other additional expenses. In these cases payment by credit card for these incidentals will incur a 3.5% service charge. While many establishments throughout the islands take credit cards, some do levy a surcharge and it is always a good idea to ensure you have extra cash or travellers’ cheques available.
Electrical Appliances
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 HYC’s yachts are 110V with US receptacles. All yachts have 12V sockets.
Environmental Issues
You are asked not to drop your anchor over coral and to be very careful when snorkelling - even touching coral with hands and fins can destroy decades of growth. Also, do not remove any sea life, flora or fauna. Please ensure your that rubbish is disposed of properly (there are designated areas throughout the islands) and make sure that items are secure on your yacht while you are sailing and overnight, so they are not lost overboard.
Flight Information
Please see the ‘Flights/Getting There’ section of our island guide to Antigua. When it comes to booking, we recommend that you contact your own travel advisors, although HYC work closely with travel companies in both the USA and Europe and will give you contact details if you wish.
Guide Book
A complimentary copy of the “Sailors Guide to the Windward Islands” is provided to all clients that book direct with HYC and it can be used to help you to plan your trip. It contains aerial photographs and harbour charts useful for navigating and has advice about where to go and what to do.
Luggage
Unfortunately luggage can sometimes be delayed into the islands in the Caribbean, so it is wise to pack a small overnight bag with essentials, including of course your swimming costume! Travel light and use soft-sided bags as they are most easily stowed on board your yacht.
Marina Services
Budget Marine is a chandlery store set in Jolly Harbour.
Rain Gear
It rains from time to time in the Caribbean. Two light rain jackets are provided on board each yacht, but you are advised to take your own.
Sunscreen
Take a hat, sunglasses and strong sunscreen (at least to start with). You are requested not to use sun tan oil onboard the yacht as it stains linens, boat cushions and decks. You may want to take after-sun lotions too. An effective local remedy if you do get burned is the slimy juice of the aloe vera plant, a type of local cactus.
Travel Insurance/Trip Cancellation Insurance
If you have to cancel your charter Horizon Yacht Charters is unable to offer refunds within 90 days of your charter start date unless they can re-sell your reserved dates. We therefore recommend that Travel Insurance or Trip Cancellation Insurance is purchased when making your booking. You can purchase your travel insurance on-line through Worldwide Travel Insurance. |
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All the information on this page comes to you free of charge. Please remember to mention DefinitiveCaribbean when you are talking to Horizon Yacht Charters for your Antigua & Barbuda bareboat or crewed charter requirements.
Thank you for your interest. |
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