A Guide to the Antigua Charter Show

About the Antigua Charter Yacht Show

Year-on-year, the Antigua Charter Yacht Show is well attended by yachting industry professionals who come to view the charter fleet ahead of their winter season in the Caribbean. With up to sixty yachts on show across three locations – Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua Yacht Club Marina, and Falmouth Harbour Marina – the show is an opportunity for charter brokers to familiarise themselves with the Caribbean yachting fleet and connect with the wider charter community ahead of the winter season.

A host of activities and events are held throughout the six days, including the annual chef and tablescaping competition, seminars and social networking evenings for yachting industry professionals. The sole aim of the show is for charter professionals to find out as much information as they can on the yachts, their designs and layouts, facilities, amenities and to meet the crew so that they can report back to their clients and provide the best possible advice for their next yacht charter.

Antigua Charter Yacht Show: What to expect

Venues and dates

The Antigua Charter Yacht Show signals the beginning of the winter yachting season in the Caribbean. Held over six days from Wednesday 4 December to Monday 9 December 2024, the show is one of the most important yachting events for superyacht charter brokers who come from all over the world to gather vital information for the season ahead.

The show is hosted across three marina locations on the south east coast of Antigua, in an area known for its vibrant maritime culture. This spectacular inlet in southern Antigua has been a crucial maritime shelter since before the Napoleonic wars.

The Falmouth Harbour Marina is the largest of the three locations, accommodating yachts of 100m (330ft) in length with a draft of up to 6m (20ft). The marina houses a complete range of shoreside shops and is within easy walking distance of some of the Caribbean’s best bars and restaurants. Sitting adjacent to Falmouth Harbour, the Antigua Yacht Club Marina accommodates yachts of up to 60m (200ft) with a draft of up to 7.6m (25ft).

With the Antigua Yacht Club at its centre, the marina is also the epicentre for the Antigua Charter Yacht Show. Renowned for its historical importance, primarily as a former British naval base, it is also home to Nelson’s Dockyard – a restored 18th century naval base that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The modern marina here is also one of the most aesthetically pleasing sites in the Caribbean, with 30 stern-to berths and a variety of amenities including restaurants, shops and bars. All the marinas are within easy walking distance of one another.

Arriving at the show

There are a number of direct flight options to get to Antigua from the UK, USA, Canada and other Caribbean islands. Antigua’s VC Bird International Airport is a major hub in the region, operating international flights and serving the surrounding islands with local flights. The airport is located near to St John’s, the island capital, and is approximately 25 minutes by car to English Harbour. The airport also has a new Signature FBO serving those flying by private jet.

On arrival to the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, all show attendees are welcomed to register at the Hospitality Desk at the Copper & Lumber Store Hotel in Nelson’s Dockyard. The desk is open throughout the show.

Getting around the show

Those attending the show can walk from marina to marina or take the show shuttle from Nelson’s Dockyard Marina, Falmouth Harbour Marina and the Antigua Yacht Club Marina. The shuttle service runs from 9:00 – 18:00, while a number of evening shuttles also run between 18:00 and midnight, taking show attendees to numerous hotels in the area. Many hotels also run a shuttle service to and from the show.

Antigua Sundowner's Evening

The first day of the show is when yachts and attendees check in, captains attend a briefing and crew are briefed on the chef and steward/stewardess competition. The day culminates with the annual Antigua Sundowners Evening, which is a ticket-only event hosted at the Boom Restaurant in English Harbour. The evening is hosted by Superyacht Charities to raise funds for GILM INC – a non-profit organisation supporting children in poverty in Antigua.

Chef competition

The Concours de Chef is a culinary competition for chefs to showcase their culinary supremacy and win one of four categories – ‘Best in Show’, ‘Yachts 160ft and Over’, ‘Yachts 126–159ft’, and ‘Yachts 125ft and Under’. Each year the theme changes, with chefs being asked to create various Michelin-worthy creations with little time to prepare.

This year the theme will be ‘The Art of Charter: An Immersive Culinary and Sensory Voyage’. Judged by a panel of industry professionals, the competition is only open to chefs on yachts attending the show. Interior crew are invited to design table settings, with music and decorations reflecting the theme, on which they will also be judged alongside the Concours de Chef.

Planning your trip to Antigua

Antigua is the yachting capital of the Caribbean, and as such has plenty to offer the waterborne or those coming to take part in the maritime revelry and observe and enjoy the fine display of yachts. Whether you are looking to visit the yachts in the show, or simply take in the sites of the atmospheric Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour, there is a hive of activity in and around the show, while come sunset and sailors and event attendees enjoy cocktails and parties, bars and restaurants and the nightlife that comes with the season.

Where to stay

Places to eat

Antigua is currently enjoying a gastronomic boom that is rich with local and international flavours. Restaurants run the gamut from five-star Zagat rated to street corner pop-ups. Many are located close to or actually in English Harbour, including the Terrace Restaurant in the Inn at English Harbour resort. Take a table on the terrace here and enjoy dishes with Caribbean flavours as you look out over the harbour.

Nestled down in English Harbour, Trappas offers traditional Antiguan dishes such as Cajun shrimp and fried green tomatoes. Further afield, Sheer Rocks is a great place to venture for its stunning location high on the cliffs – head here for epic sunsets accompanied by gourmet cuisine. For a little Caribbean revelry and fun, Abracadabra is where you’ll find much of the yachting crowd and crew enjoying the beautiful beachside location.

Weather and what to wear

Casual, light and comfortable clothing is best during the days and evenings when temperatures are pleasant. Expect lows of 26 degrees and highs of 30 degrees, with relatively little rainfall. Shoes that can be slipped on are ideal for yacht tours, while a hat or cap to keep cool is advisable.

Interested in the Antigua Charter Show? Contact a member of the Burgess team today.

If you are interested in any of the yachts in the show then your Burgess charter broker will be able to tour the yacht on your behalf, meet the captain and crew, and discuss any specific requests.