Day Charter · Barbuda · Leeward Islands
Barbuda Day Trip
Antigua's quiet sister island — pink sand, frigate birds, and the longest empty beach in the Caribbean, in a single long day at sea.
Private proposals within 48 hours
From
$1,750full day · 9–10 hrs
Departure
Antigua · St. Martin · Leeward Islands
Aboard
Cap II · Flying Wing
Barbuda is 30 nautical miles north of Antigua — a longer reach than any local sail, but the most rewarding day-trip destination in the Leewards. The island has fewer than 2,000 residents, almost no resort development, and a single seventeen-mile ribbon of pink-tinged sand on the west coast that is almost always empty.
We leave Jolly Harbour at sunrise on a beam reach, with the trades on the starboard quarter. By late morning we are anchored off Low Bay or Princess Diana Beach, in 8-12 ft of clear water, with the boat sitting in a soft swell. Guests swim, walk the beach, take the tender ashore for lunch (we arrange Lighthouse Bay or Uncle Roddy's by request), and the kids find shells.
By 3pm we are reaching south back to Antigua with the wind on the port quarter. Most days end with the run into the harbour at sunset. The whole day is between 9 and 10 hours — long, but classic Caribbean sailing.
Highlights of this charter
The pink-sand beach
Seventeen miles unbroken on the west coast. Walk south from Princess Diana Beach for an hour and you will have the whole stretch to yourself.
Frigate-bird sanctuary
Codrington Lagoon hosts one of the largest colonies of magnificent frigatebirds anywhere — a local boatman runs the short crossing from the village.
Empty anchorages
Even in peak season Low Bay rarely has more than a handful of yachts. The contrast with the Antigua coast is striking.
A real passage
Sixty nautical miles round trip — the day is genuinely a sailing day, not an extended swim stop. Guests who came for the boat get the boat.
Sailing this route with RexSailing
Early start, long day
We leave at 6am to maximize time on the island. The sail itself is part of the day — close reach north, downwind home.
Lunch ashore arranged
Two restaurants on Barbuda still operate post-2017 hurricane. We book in advance — short notice is fine but not always possible.
Suited to bigger yachts
Best done aboard Flying Wing or Cap II — the longer waterline makes the open-water leg comfortable for guests who don't sail often.
Pair this charter with
Antigua & Barbuda Week
Two nights at anchor off Low Bay — Barbuda done properly, with time on the beach and in the lagoon.
Explore →
Antigua Sailing Day
Shorter day on the Antigua coast — less open-water time, more swim stops.
Explore →
Antigua Yacht Charter
All charter options from our Antigua home port.
Explore →
Before you enquire
Is Barbuda comfortable as a single-day trip?
Yes, but plan for an early start — around 6am — to have enough time on the island. Guests who want a slower pace should consider an overnight at anchor off Low Bay instead.
Are there shops or restaurants on Barbuda?
Limited. Codrington has a small village shop. Lighthouse Bay and Uncle Roddy's are the two operating beach restaurants — both require advance notice. We bring a full lunch from the galley as standard.
Is the passage rough?
Usually a comfortable beam reach in the trades. In particularly windy weeks the passage can be lively — we monitor the forecast and will reschedule at no charge if conditions are unsuitable.
Can we swim with the frigatebirds?
The colony is on the lagoon, not the sea side. Local boatmen run shallow-draft tours across the lagoon for guests who want the up-close view, especially during nesting season (September-April).
Barbuda is the kind of place guests remember a year later for the sand alone. Tell us when you would like to go and we will shape the day around the weather and your party.
Find the Right Yacht for Your Charter
Tell us your dates, group size, and preferred experience - we will match you with the ideal yacht.
Private proposals within 48 hours · Enquiries handled discreetly
RexSailing · Antigua · St. Martin