Barbuda = Bliss!

Barbuda was one of the islands that we really really really wanted to visit, so we were pretty disappointed when our attempts to sail to Barbuda from St Barths failed due to the wind conditions.  When we found out that our boat papers (the original registration from Australia) were going to be delayed in getting delivered to Antigua, we jumped at the opportunity to hit this little known paradise - just 28nm north of Antigua.

Barbuda has a population of 1250 and remains one of the least visited places in the Eastern caribbean. There are a handful of very exclusive hotels on the island but no big resorts, instead Barbudans have resisted the tourist dollar in favour of a more traditional and simple life.  It has also helped that the land is all owned by the Crown - meaning no one can sell out to developers!

There are also very few visiting boats as Barbuda is surrounded by coral reefs - there are over 200 shipwrecks to prove the danger. So, to our delight, we had 11 miles of pristine, gobsmackingly beautiful beach to share with 2 others boats!! This is our yachting dream - isolation.

Before we left Antigua, Mike had met up with Gerard, owner of Zenith Ocean Voyages,  who runs kite boarding charters within the island chain.  We bumped into him again in Barbuda, and what a perfect spot for kiteboarding it is - perfectly flat waters in the lee of the low lying island. Definitely an alternative to your traditional holiday!

Aside from the best beaches we've seen so far, Barbuda's other claim to fame is that they have one of the largest frigate bird colonies in the world and we were lucky enough to have Paul show us these incredible birds up close in the Codrington Lagoon. (Tour cost US$25 pp with a US$2 tax to the government - well worth supporting the local economy and protecting this paradise).

During the mating season (December is peak time), the males puff out their pouches in a colourful display as part of the elaborate courtship ritual. The females then take to the sky seeking a suitable mate. After mating, a nest is built from twigs that the male gathers. The female lays a single egg that both birds incubate in turn. At peak times there are over 20,000 of these loud and colourful birds.





A baby frigate bird - about 3 weeks old.

Exploring Codrington - the capital and only village on the island.

Oldest church on the island - dates back to slavery in the 1700s

Local meal of curried conch, rice, cheese and potato, coleslaw.

We had an afternoon of showers, what better way than to pass the time doing a 500 piece puzzle!

Mike excited to put the last piece of the puzzle in place!

Mike looking for the dozens of turtles who keep popping their heads up for air

No luck with the turtles, they were pretty timid when we approached them.

It's possible to walk for miles and miles without seeing a soul.

Enjoying the underwater life at Cocoa Point.

With amazing beaches and no one to share them with except each other, Barbuda has risen to our #1 sailing destination so far!