The Antigua Charter Yacht Show is one of the most important dates in the luxury yachting calendar. Held annually from 4th–9th December, our event marks the start of the Caribbean charter season, setting the tone with elegance, professionalism and Caribbean flair.
Now in its 64th year, the show takes place across three of Antigua’s most iconic marinas - Nelson’s Dockyard Marina, Falmouth Harbour Marina and Antigua Yacht Club Marina. Around 70 of the finest charter yachts, including motor yachts, sailing yachts and catamarans open their decks for inspection, offering charter brokers, managers and press the opportunity to explore and experience what’s on offer for the season ahead. Brokers also have the chance to enjoy “micro-charters” on the final day - short sailings that allow them to get a real feel for the vessels.
The Antigua Charter Yacht Show is designed for professionals in the industry. We welcome charter brokers, yacht managers, captains, crew, marine service providers, and members of the press, with colour-coded badges ensuring focused networking at every opportunity.
Our show is known for its vibrant atmosphere. Highlights include the daily yacht hops, the nightly social events, and the Concours de Chef and Tablescaping Competition, where onboard chefs and crews go head-to-head in culinary and tablescaping showcases.
We pride ourselves on getting the mix of business, luxury, and Caribbean charm just right; it’s this combination that ensures our show remains an essential event for the global charter yacht industry.
Here we take a look back at the past 6+ decades to see how the show started, how it has evolved and what it offers today.
How it all began
The show was established by the Nicholson family. Commander Nicholson served in the British Royal Navy during the Second World War, and embarked on a round-the-world trip soon after. His travels led him to the English Harbour in Antigua, and as his boat needed work, he stayed there. He soon discovered that Antigua was tricky to get around on land, and that sailing around the shores was far easier.
This is where the idea for offering charters around Antigua and beyond was born. Commander Nicolson sent word to the Mediterranean that there was a need for boats in Antigua, and by 1961 around 15 boats gathered. That same year the Charter Show itself was formally founded so that people could inspect the boats on offer for charter.
Initially the show was primarily aimed at US brokers. It was a basic set-up at first; there wasn’t much in the way of accommodation, and brokers came to the show with an idea of what their client wanted and travellers cheques to pay then and there to secure the charter for the winter season.
The early years (1962–1970s)
The Antigua Charter Yacht Show began as a small but visionary gathering in the English Harbour. Designed to shine a light on the Caribbean’s charter potential, it brought together local and US operators eager to showcase their sailing yachts to visiting brokers and clients.
In those early years, the emphasis was firmly on the romance of sailing, which dominated chartering preferences at the time. The show remained low-key until the 1970s when the number of yachts attending the show began to increase rapidly.
Growth and new horizons (1980s–1990s)
The 1980s and 1990s saw the show go from strength to strength, growing in both scale and stature. By the early 80s there were in excess of 100 boats turning up to attend and they had to be split into two groups - the first half were in the marinas for the first half of the show and the rest the latter half.
Motor yachts made their debut alongside sailing vessels, broadening the appeal and reflecting evolving tastes. With this came a more international audience, welcoming charter brokers, yacht managers and other professionals from around the world. During this era, structured yacht tours and organised networking became part of the programme, setting a more professional tone that would shape the event’s future.
A global stage (2000–2003)
By the early 2000s, the Antigua Charter Yacht Show had firmly established itself as a highlight of the global yachting calendar. With its thoughtfully curated schedule - from yacht inspections and crew introductions to informative seminars - the show became a benchmark for the industry. Each December, it set the pace and standards for the charter season ahead, reinforcing its reputation as a must-attend event for professionals.
By this point the Nicholson sons had become less involved in the show and were looking to sell. In 2003 St Maarten tried to buy the show, but a group of prominent Antiguans in the yachting industry got together in a bid to keep the show in Antigua.
A new era (2004-present day)
This group - headed by current ACYS Chairman Paul Deeth - considered the show a national asset and understood the importance of keeping it in Antigua. It was at this point that they took it over and renamed it the Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting - as that’s what it is at its core - a chance for all types of yachting industry professionals to meet and network.
Paul said: “Having a congregation of yachts come to Antigua in early December kicks off the season and is very important for local businesses and the island’s economy as a whole, and we wanted to ensure that continued. As I knew everyone in the yachting business and knew who to approach for support, I was voted in as Chairman. Both myself and the Board of Directors are volunteers as we are a not-for-profit organisation, so we all do it for our love of yachting and of Antigua.”
Over the decades, the show has grown not just in size, but in significance, evolving from a local showcase into an internationally recognised platform. Its rich history reflects the wider changes in the yachting world, while its enduring spirit continues to foster connections, inspire trends and celebrate the very best of chartering in the Caribbean.
Paul added: “Antigua is blessed to be in the middle of the Caribbean, making it a fantastic location with very pleasant sailing conditions. The show features charter yachts from Europe, the USA and the Caribbean with brokers coming from all over the world. Our show has a laid-back atmosphere and is the ideal place for networking and putting names to faces. Going forward, we continue to tweak various elements of the show as we get feedback - not only to stay relevant, but also to keep our attendees happy and returning year after year.”
Find out more about the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, and register to attend today!
