The Classic Sailing and Snorkeling Tour
The Classic Sailing and Snorkeling Tour
Sail, Snorkel and Swim Antigua! The classic design of the sailing vessel has been maintained by passionate boat builders since the blueprint was born on the Island of Carriacou back in the 1600s. At that time, Scottish boat builders were brought in by plantation owners on smaller islands to build very fast freight carriers to help them maintain trade with the larger islands. Believe it or not the same boats are being built today, using the same tradition and expertise. Constructed on the beach with wood cut from local forests by descendants of those who built the original boats, these fast vessels can be found in small numbers across the Caribbean fishing, carrying freight, even smuggling. But most of all, running charters and racing!
The Carriacou Sloop you'll sail on, the Ocean Nomad, was built on the island of Carriacou, and the construction method strictly observed all traditions and classic designs. Launched in April of 2008, she competed in the famous Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta later that month. Since then, she has been outfitted to comfortably accommodate guests on sailing tours.
You will join the Ocean Nomad at Jolly Harbour on the West Coast and sail on a straight reach to Cades Reef, where you'll snorkel in the clear waters there with a maximum of eight guests. From Cades, it will be a short motor sail up to beautiful Carlisle Bay, where you'll have a delicious lunch and watch the turtles, which are very common there. After lunch you can relax under the shade of the awning or have a gentle swim while the crew prepares the boat for the leisurely afternoon sail back down to the West Coast. On this unique cruise, you can decide just how much you would like to take part in sailing this classic vessel. You'll learn the basics of sailing as well as how this historical vessel was built.
A taxi ride of approximately 30 minutes (and $25 US) is required to reach Jolly Harbour, and is not included in the tour price. Transportation back to the cruise pier is included at the end of the tour.