Caribbean Holidays : Antigua : When to go
Weather in Antigua
Although a few hotels close for September, Antigua is a great destination all year round. The temperature, between 75°- 85°F, remains fairly constant, winter and summer. The prevailing wind is the northeasterly tradewind, usually force 2 to 4, but less reliable in summer, July to October, and occasionally rising to force 5 or more in winter.
We recognise that for many clients one of the primary reasons for a holiday is to get some sun! You can be certain of getting this in Antigua at any time of year the average amount of sun ranging from 6 to 8 hours a day. A feature of the tropics, with its lush green vegetation, is its high humidity.
There are regular showers in the Caribbean, but although these are often intense, they usually last less than 10 minutes. Showers tend to be more frequent in the summer, particularly from mid August to the end of October, but less so in the winter, January to April. However, rainfall in Antigua is generally less than many other islands, due to Antigua’s topography, which does not have a volcanic mountain, the highest point being ‘Boggy Point’ at 405m.
Tropical storms winds of force 6 or more accompanied by heavy rain, are not uncommon in late summer and hurricanes are also a possibility during this period.
Events
Public holidays in Antigua are:
1st January: New Year’s Day
March/April: Good Friday/ Easter Monday
First Monday in May: Labour Day
End of May: Whit Monday
Early July: Caricom Day
First Monday and Tuesday in August: Antigua Carnival:
First Monday in October: United Nations Day:
1st November: Independence Day:
25th December: Christmas Day
26th December: Boxing Day
Antigua Sailing Week (April/May)
Antigua Sailing Week takes place at the end of the high season, usually at the end of April, before the luxury charter yachts depart for the summer Mediterranean season. For sailing aficionados, this is one of the great events in the sailing world calendar and has become a ‘must do’ for many a yachtsman. If you don't happen to own a luxury yacht, don't worry - it's possible to charter a bareboat for the event and there is now a huge barboat flett too. Please call us for details.
The event has it’s origins in the charter industry, when a few charter yachts got together in Antigua to celebrate the end of the season. Originally organised by Charles Nicholson, the Grandfather of the Caribbean charter industry, the event has become one of the most prestigious events on the sailing calendar, along with Cowes week and the Sardinia Cup. Whilst there is a series of excellent races, predictably the event is best known for the superb après sailing parties, which are hosted on a different beach every night. The week’s sailing and partying culminates in the Lord Nelson’s Ball and prize-giving. For more information visit www.sailingweek.com
Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta (late April)
The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, which precedes the Sailing Week, is also now well established and attracts more than fifty of the world’s finest classic yachts and schooners. For more information visit:
www.antiguaclassic.com
Carnival (July/August)
For many landlubbers the mainstay of Antigua’s entertainment is the annual carnival, which takes place at the end of July until the first Tuesday in August every year. This ten day festival commences with a ceremony at the St Johns recreation ground (which remains the focal point for activities). The biggest party takes place over the last weekend of the carnival and involves 24 hour celebrations including steel band and Calypso contests, whilst on the final Monday night, (the day on which the 1834 emancipation is celebrated) there is a huge ‘jump up’ starting at 0400! Finally on the Tuesday morning there is a parade through the streets of St John’s, to the hottest steelband tunes. Antigua Carnival is undoubtedly one of the Caribbean highlights! For more details visit:
http://www.antiguacarnival.com
