Destination Guide · Leeward Islands
Barbuda
Antigua's quiet sister — pink sand, frigate birds, and the longest empty beach in the Caribbean.
From Antigua
30 nautical miles north · ~4 hour beam reach
Best time to sail
December through May. Avoid August-October hurricane season. The pink sand is most pronounced in low light — early morning or late afternoon.
Barbuda is a different kind of island. Flat, sandy, and almost empty — fewer than 2,000 people across roughly 60 square miles, most of them in Codrington. The reason to sail here is the seventeen-mile ribbon of pink sand on the west coast: shallow turquoise water, no buildings, no road access from most of it, and a sea breeze that runs all day.
From the boat we tender ashore at Princess Diana Beach or Low Bay, walk for an hour, and rarely see another yacht. Lunch is brought from the galley or arranged at one of two beach restaurants that have come back since the 2017 hurricane. The frigate-bird sanctuary up at Codrington Lagoon is reachable by local boatman — one of the largest colonies of magnificent frigatebirds anywhere.
Barbuda works as a long day sail from Antigua, an overnight stop, or two-night anchorage on a longer charter. The 30-nautical-mile passage from Jolly Harbour is a comfortable beam reach in the trades — guests are usually swimming off the boat by lunchtime.
Anchorages
Low Bay
Anchor off the long pink-sand beach in 8-12 ft of clear water. The boat sits in a soft swell; the beach is almost always empty.
Princess Diana Beach
Northern stretch of the same pink-sand line, named for her visits in the 90s. Slightly more sheltered; closer tender ride.
Spanish Point
South-east corner of the island. Reef-protected anchorage in settled weather, with snorkelling that rivals anything in the Leewards.
Ashore
The pink sand beach
Seventeen miles unbroken. Walk south from Princess Diana for an hour and you'll have the whole stretch to yourself. Bring water — there's no shade.
Codrington Lagoon frigate-bird sanctuary
Local boatmen take guests across the lagoon to the colony — best at dusk during nesting season (September-April), when the males display their red throat pouches.
Lighthouse Bay
Tiny hotel and restaurant on the north end of Low Bay. We can arrange lunch ashore — call the day before.
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RexSailing · Antigua · St. Martin