Promise of adventure

From sailing to fishing, golf and exceptional watersports, the Caribbean offers activities aplenty for those who are game, discovers Holly Kirkwood

- Holly Kirkwood

TO the uninitiated, tropical paradise is solely synonymous with white sand beaches, clear-blue seas and perhaps a fruity rum punch. Yet, those more familiar with the Caribbean region will tell you it has more to offer than a turquoise sea and vitamin D—it is a playground for activity junkies of every kind, which makes it even more appealing to today’s property hunters. ‘Buyers here used to want a pretty house near the beach or in a golf community, where they could relax for a week or two every year,’ says James Burdess, head of Caribbean sales at Savills. ‘Now people can work from anywhere, they want somewhere where they can do the things they love. Properties also need to suit the needs of multiple generations who will be coming and going throughout the winter,’ he adds.

Anchor down

Getting out and onto the water is one of the first activities visitors want to do when they arrive in the Caribbean. ‘Sailing goes right through the culture on Antigua at all levels,’ says Mr Burdess. ‘Everywhere you go you’ll see children learning to sail, beginners pottering around the island, holidaymakers chartering a sailboat with a skipper and a crew for a week and yacht owners meeting their boat as it arrives from the Med.’ A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nelson’s Dockyard lies at the heart of the fiercely competitive racing season on the island, which runs from December to May and includes the Antigua 360 and the RORC Caribbean 600 in February and the Classic Yacht Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week in April.