Day 1
Arrive into V.C. Bird International Airport and transfer by private car to Falmouth Harbour Marina, one of two full-service superyacht marinas in English Harbour capable of berthing 80–100ft yachts stern-to. Welcome aboard, safety briefing, and a short first sail around the harbour before anchoring for the night off Falmouth or Pigeon Point — close enough to shore for an easy first evening, far enough out for a proper first night at anchor.
Day 2
A short sail from Falmouth Harbour around to Jolly Harbour on the west coast — enjoy the classic white beaches and the turquoise waters, or head to the marina village if you want to go ashore for a change of pace. Dinner ashore or on board.
Day 3
Cades Reef, a protected marine reserve off Antigua's west coast near Jolly Harbour, is the standout snorkelling and diving stop in the itinerary — a proper reef rather than a scattered patch, and the reason Antigua's own waters, not just Barbuda's, earn a full day. In the afternoon, Deep Bay for a calmer anchorage and the wreck of the Andes for snorkelling, with Fort Barrington above the bay if you want to go ashore and take in the view over the whole west coast. Overnight at anchor off Deep Bay, positioned for the crossing the next morning.
Day 4
The 30-nautical-mile crossing to Barbuda is open water, unlike the short hops between Antigua's anchorages, so it's run as a dedicated passage with an early start and a weather window checked the day before. Barbuda's approaches run through reef-strewn water that's only sensibly navigated in daylight, which is the main reason the crossing is timed for a morning departure rather than an overnight sail. Arrival by early afternoon, with the rest of the day free on Barbuda's 17-mile pink sand beach at Low Bay.
Day 5
A tender excursion into Codrington Lagoon, a national park and one of the Caribbean's largest colonies of magnificent frigatebirds — the males' courtship display, when they inflate a bright red throat pouch, runs roughly September through April, worth timing this day around if you're visiting in that window. For lunch or dinner ashore, Nobu Barbuda, on the island's south coast, is worth the detour — a separate anchorage from Low Bay, so best planned as a lunch stop or worked into the crossing days either side rather than added on top of the Codrington Lagoon day. Second night at anchor off Barbuda.
Day 6
Morning crossing back to Antigua, again run as a proper passage rather than a quick hop, arriving at North Sound Marine Park, a cluster of protected small islands off Antigua's northeast tip. Great Bird Island is the highlight — nesting seabirds, including red-billed tropicbirds, and the reintroduced Antiguan racer, one of the world's rarest snakes, found almost nowhere else. A good day if you want some nature alongside the beach and water sports. Overnight at anchor in the Sound. Book a table at the Hut on Jumby Island, for a high level food experience.
Day 7
A short sail down Antigua's east coast to Green Island, a scatter of small islands and reef inside Nonsuch Bay. Morning snorkelling off the reef, tender-led since the approach is shallow; afternoon free at anchor, or ashore for a beach set-up on one of the small sand cays. Harmony Hall, the long-standing Italian restaurant and gallery on the hillside above Nonsuch Bay, is a short tender ride away for lunch or dinner ashore, or stay at anchor and dine on board.
Day 8
Head back towards English Harbour itself. Nelson's Dockyard — a working Georgian-era dockyard and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is worth a couple of hours ashore if you're interested in the island's naval history, with boutiques and cafés around the dockyard for the rest of the morning. If timing allows, Shirley Heights above the harbour is the established spot for a final sunset before disembarkation the following morning.
