Falmouth Harbour, Antigua

Another early start for our final leg north to windward, in the company of another larger Fountaine Pajot catamaran all the way across the channel, beating to windward and into the several squalls passing over however we arrived about 3.30pm into Falmouth Harbour decided to take the nearest bay as another big black squall could be seen just ahead. We found a spot to anchor fairly easily and indeed saw a few boats that we recognised from other anchorages on the way up. Falmouth Harbour is a very large bay surrounded by relatively low lying hills on each side dotted with local houses and some larger villas. There are several marinas which cater almost exclusively for the huge superyachts which berth here year round as their base for Caribbean tours usually under private charter. There is quite a selection of styles, they are not all gin palace motor yachts, some are large sailing yachts some are designed to look like old steam boats but all share a gleaming spotless appearance.

We were quite tired after several early starts and multiple sail changes for the squalls on the way across and confined ourselves for a short walk ashore planning to visit Nelson’s dockyard the major tourist attraction of Antigua the next day. There are a few cafes and restaurants plus yacht brokers, boutiques and sailing schools ashore, then a short walk past some local restaurants and houses takes you to the entrance to English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard the two separated by a headland only 200yds wide at it’s narrowest. It was a bit of grey rainy afternoon, half the places were shut for a national holiday and to be honest we were a little disappointed by our first impressions and decided to get an early night as look again the next day.