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Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour are two neighbouring bays on the south coast of Antigua, separated only by the narrow Middle Ground peninsula: from Antigua Yacht Club Marina in Falmouth Harbour to Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour it is just under one kilometre as the crow flies. For starting a sailing trip both bays are one location; all the information here applies to both, and where they differ it is noted. Here you can read how you arrive and clear in, which marina is where, where you shop, what weather to expect, which sailing destinations lie off Antigua and what skippers need to bear in mind when clearing in and berthing.
The essentials at a glance
- V. C. Bird Airport (code ANU) is in the northeast of the island, around 14 to 15 kilometres as the crow flies from both bays. Taxis wait directly outside the terminal and operate on fixed rates.
- The Antigua Yacht Club Marina and Falmouth Harbour Marina lie next to each other on the eastern shore of Falmouth Harbour; Nelson's Dockyard Marina is in the neighbouring bay, English Harbour.
- You can shop on foot in both bays: at the supermarket in the marina complex of the Antigua Yacht Club Marina in Falmouth Harbour or at the supermarket in Nelson's Dockyard. Large supermarkets are located in St John's and in Jolly Harbour, both reachable by taxi or hire car.
- From December to April is the dry season, when the trade wind blows from the northeast. The hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.
Which marinas are there in Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour?
For trips, three facilities are important here: the Antigua Yacht Club Marina and Falmouth Harbour Marina on the eastern shore of Falmouth Harbour, as well as Nelson's Dockyard Marina in English Harbour.
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More InformationFalmouth Harbour is a large horseshoe-shaped bay; on its northern shore lies the small town of Falmouth. The two marinas on the eastern shore are only a few hundred metres apart. English Harbour is the smaller bay to the east, with the historic harbour basin of Nelson's Dockyard.
Getting to Falmouth and English Harbour for your trip departure
From the airport you drive once across the island to the south; the route is almost the same for both bays. Locally, marinas, dockyard, restaurants and shops lie so close together that you cover most distances on foot, even from one bay to the other.
From V. C. Bird Airport to Falmouth and English Harbour
International flights land at V. C. Bird International Airport in the northeast of Antigua, near the capital St John's. Both bays are about 14 to 15 kilometres away as the crow flies, a good 20 kilometres by road.
The most convenient option is a taxi. Cabs wait directly outside the terminal; all taxi services at the airport are licensed by the airport authority. The drivers wear uniforms and have an ID clearly visible on the windscreen. Fares are fixed and displayed at the airport and at taxi ranks; you often share the cab with other passengers. There is currently no bureau de change at the airport. The local currency is the East Caribbean dollar (XCD).
By hire car or bus
Antigua has left-hand traffic; most hire cars have the steering wheel on the right. To drive you need your driving licence and a temporary Antigua driving permit costing 50 East Caribbean dollars.
Buses connect St John's with the island's villages. They run from about 5:30 to 18:00 from the bus stations in St John's, but the timetable is not reliable. With luggage for a sailing trip, a taxi is the better choice.
Entry to Antigua
To enter by air you need a passport valid beyond the date of your return flight and a paid return or onward ticket. Officials may also ask for sufficient funds for your stay. Visitors may remain for up to six months (as of October 2026).
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. The binding regulations are given by the Immigration Department of Antigua and Barbuda.
If you leave Antigua after more than 24 hours aboard a yacht, you pay the customs an exit tax of 75 East Caribbean dollars, roughly 30 US dollars (as of October 2026). This applies to both bays alike.
Which marina is mine?
The full marina name is essential, because "English Harbour" and "Falmouth Harbour" alone refer only to the bay. Antigua Yacht Club Marina and Falmouth Harbour Marina both lie on the eastern shore of Falmouth Harbour; Nelson's Dockyard Marina lies in English Harbour. The Catamaran Marina on the northern shore of Falmouth Harbour is a separate facility. So give the taxi driver the exact name.
Shopping for the trip
For initial shopping on foot, each bay has a supermarket: in Falmouth Harbour the supermarket with liquor shop in the marina complex of the Antigua Yacht Club Marina; in English Harbour the supermarket in Nelson's Dockyard. Around both bays there are also small shops, restaurants and bars.
For a big shop you go by taxi or hire car to the Epicurean supermarket chain. The largest branch is on Friars Hill Road in St John's; another is directly at the marina in Jolly Harbour on the west coast.
Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services
The island's largest hospital is the Mount St John's Medical Centre in St John's. The volunteer sea rescue service ABSAR has a medical station at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina in Falmouth Harbour, reachable on foot from English Harbour.
- 911: Emergency number for police, fire brigade and ambulance service
- +1 268 562 1234: Emergency number for sea rescue service ABSAR
- VHF Channel 16: Distress and calling channel at sea
The marinas of Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour at a glance
All three marinas have water, electricity and internet. The two marinas in Falmouth Harbour are designed for large yachts and have deep berths. Nelson's Dockyard Marina in English Harbour lies right in the heart of the historic harbour and has customs and immigration directly on site.
| Feature | Antigua Yacht Club Marina | Falmouth Harbour Marina | Nelson's Dockyard Marina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Eastern shore of Falmouth Harbour | Eastern shore of Falmouth Harbour | English Harbour, in the historic Dockyard |
| Berths | Stern-to or alongside, draught up to 7.6 m | Stern-to or alongside, yachts up to 163 m, draught up to 6 m | Berths at the pier and with bow mooring |
| Facilities | Water, electricity 110 to 380 volts, Wi-Fi, fuel at the berth, supermarket, restaurant, cafés, chandlery, sea rescue medical station | Water, electricity 110 to 380 volts, Wi-Fi, car parking, 24-hour security service | Water, three-phase electricity, internet, showers, laundry, supermarket, customs and immigration, 24-hour security service |
Antigua Yacht Club Marina
The marina in Falmouth Harbour is part of a resort on the hillside above the eastern shore. As of the current date (October 2026), the facility also operates under the name Antigua Superyacht Marina & Resort. Right next door is the clubhouse of the Antigua Yacht Club; during major regattas, the race office is based here. In April, the marina hosts the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and afterwards the Antigua Sailing Week.
Falmouth Harbour Marina
Falmouth Harbour Marina has existed since 1994. Its main concrete pontoon is around six metres wide and 163 metres long. The marina has a crane and storage areas.
Nelson's Dockyard Marina
The marina in English Harbour is located in the harbour basin of the old naval dockyard, which today forms part of the national park and is operated by the national park authority. Sailmakers, boatbuilders, chandlers and workshops are nearby. There is also a hotel in the Dockyard.
What is the weather like for sailing in Falmouth and English Harbour?
In Antigua, the trade winds blow from northeast to east almost all year round. The meteorological service of Antigua and Barbuda issues an advisory for small craft from 17 knots, a warning from 21 knots and a storm warning from 34 knots. The sea runs highest on the open Atlantic side in the north and east of the island.
The tidal range is small; more important is the swell from the Atlantic. The meteorological service highlights this separately in its forecast and issues special advisories and warnings when surf is high.
Which sailing destinations lie near Falmouth and English Harbour?
From both bays you can sail either along the coast of Antigua or to the neighbouring islands. Northwards takes you to Barbuda, southwards to Guadeloupe.
The distances are rounded sea routes on the usual course from Falmouth Harbour; from English Harbour they differ by only around 1 nm. For precise planning, the chart applies.
- Between Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour: around 2 nm by sea. On foot across the peninsula you're quicker.
- Jolly Harbour on the west coast: around 12 nm. The marina has 155 berths on four pontoons, with a large supermarket right there. Jolly Harbour is also a port of entry.
- Barbuda: around 42 nm round the west coast of Antigua. The sister island is flat; its highest point lies only around 38 metres above sea level.
- Deshaies on Guadeloupe: around 42 nm to the south. Guadeloupe is part of France, so the skipper clears out in Antigua before the passage.
Further south in the chain of the Lesser Antilles lies Martinique. How trips there begin is described in the profile of the marina in Le Marin.
What can you do ashore in Falmouth and English Harbour?
You can reach most destinations on foot from both harbours. In English Harbour the nearest attraction is Nelson's Dockyard; the Georgian naval dockyard is the birthplace of the national park and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016. In Falmouth Harbour life ashore centres on the marinas along the eastern shore.
- Antigua Yacht Club Marina complex (Falmouth Harbour): Waterfront facilities include a restaurant, two cafés, boutiques, a bookshop and a chandlery. The clubhouse of the Antigua Yacht Club next door has two further restaurants.
- Pigeon Point (Falmouth Harbour): The beach at the end of Middle Ground Road is a few minutes' walk from the Antigua Yacht Club Marina.
- Nelson's Dockyard (English Harbour): The British Navy built the dockyard in the 18th century; most buildings date from between 1780 and 1820 and were erected by enslaved Africans. The buildings stand within a wall around the harbour basin. The dockyard reopened as a historic site in 1961. From the Antigua Yacht Club Marina it's a few minutes' walk across.
- Fort Berkeley and Middle Ground (between the two harbours): The fort from 1704 is the oldest fortification in English Harbour; a short nature trail leads there. A walking path runs over the Middle Ground peninsula between Fort Berkeley and Pigeon Point beach, with views over both harbours.
- Shirley Heights (above English Harbour): The viewpoint roughly 150 metres above sea level was formerly a signal station and battery. From the top you can see across English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour. On Sundays there's a barbecue and live music from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. A steep footpath leads up from Galleon Beach; early morning or towards evening is most pleasant for the climb.
- Clarence House (above English Harbour): The house from 1804 was the residence of the Naval Commissioner and later a country house for the governors. Today it is a museum with gardens.
For skippers: Clearing in, berthing and marine weather in Falmouth and English Harbour
English Harbour is the official port of entry on the south coast; Customs and Immigration are located in Nelson's Dockyard and are within walking distance from the marinas in Falmouth Harbour. Before arrival you register the yacht online via eSeaClear.
Clearing in at English Harbour
Clearing-in procedures follow the rules of the Customs & Excise Division of Antigua and Barbuda:
- Before arrival you create a registration via eSeaClear with yacht details and crew list. The system applies in English Harbour, Jolly Harbour and in the port of St John's.
- After berthing only the skipper goes ashore to Customs; the crew remains aboard until clearance is complete. If there are language difficulties one crew member may accompany the skipper.
- Bring with you: clearance from the last port, crew and passenger list, yacht registration and the passports of everyone on board.
- If you arrive outside office hours the skipper remains aboard until the authorities open.
- On clearing in you receive a cruising permit for the waters of Antigua and Barbuda.
Anyone wishing to sail to Barbuda must clear in at Antigua first. Both harbours lie within Nelson's Dockyard National Park, so yachts in English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour pay additional fees to the national park.
Berthing in the marinas
In Falmouth Harbour yachts berth stern-to or alongside in both marinas: in Falmouth Harbour Marina, which you reach on VHF channel 10, with up to 6 m draught, and in the Antigua Yacht Club Marina with up to 7.6 m draught. In English Harbour yachts berth in Nelson's Dockyard Marina bow-to a mooring or at the pier.
Anchoring is possible in both harbours outside the marked fairways.
Which marine weather forecast applies in Falmouth and English Harbour?
Responsibility for both harbours lies with the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services. Its daily forecast appears every morning and gives wind, wave height and swell. Advisories and warnings for small craft are also disseminated by the Met Service via website, social media, a WhatsApp channel and ABS radio and television.
The Coast Guard of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force broadcasts navigational safety messages over radio, with wind, visibility, sea state and navigational warnings. It also coordinates search and rescue, supported by the rescue coordination centre in Fort-de-France, Martinique.
Trips departing from Falmouth and English Harbour on Törnfinder
In October 2026 there are 22 trip dates on Törnfinder over the next twelve months starting or finishing in Falmouth and English Harbour. Most depart in February, March and April; eight days is typical.
You can find offers throughout the sailing area under Sailing in the Caribbean, Atlantic crossings under Cabin Charter for a Transatlantic Crossing and all other sailing areas in the trip overview.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Antigua airport to Falmouth and English Harbour?
The easiest way is by taxi: from V. C. Bird Airport it's a good 20 kilometres by road across the island to both harbours. Taxis wait in front of the terminal and operate on fixed, posted rates.
Are Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour far apart?
No. The two harbours are separated only by the Middle Ground peninsula; from the marinas on the east shore of Falmouth Harbour you can walk to Nelson's Dockyard in just a few minutes.
Where do I shop for provisions in Falmouth and English Harbour for the trip?
On foot in Falmouth Harbour at the supermarket in the Antigua Yacht Club Marina complex, and in English Harbour at the supermarket in Nelson's Dockyard. For a big shop, head to St. John's or Jolly Harbour, where the Epicurean chain has large supermarkets.
Is there Wi-Fi in the marinas at Falmouth and English Harbour?
Yes, Antigua Yacht Club Marina and Falmouth Harbour Marina have Wi-Fi, and Nelson's Dockyard Marina offers internet access.
Do I have to pay when I leave Antigua by yacht?
Yes, anyone who has been in the country for more than 24 hours and departs by yacht pays a departure tax of 75 East Caribbean dollars, around 30 US dollars, to customs.
When is the best time for sailing from Falmouth and English Harbour?
From December to April, during the dry season with steady north-easterly trade winds. From 1st June to 30th November is hurricane season.
