The spots to moor a luxury yacht

In spring, the world’s yachting fraternity celebrates high season in the Caribbean. Any sailor worth their salt will head for the Leeward Islands, where the pristine sands and blue waters of Antigua make an impossibly photogenic backdrop to the island’s annual Sailing Week.

More than 100 yachts participate, from elegant cruisers to state-of-the-art racing machines. But you don’t need to know your aft from your elbow to be a part of the action. Non-mariners can “chase the race” from a catamaran or chopper, and join in the games at Pigeon Point, one of the island’s 365 blissful beaches.

Sailing Week is just one of the big events that draw house-hunters to the two-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda in search of a sunny home to float their boat, with either a private mooring or direct access to a five-star serviced marina. Recent research by Savills shows that 60% of buyers here are British, and the islands saw prime property prices grow by 5%-10% in 2022. Yet prime homes on Antigua are still competitively priced compared to other neighbouring hot spots, with an average price per square foot of $660 (£530) for apartments and $1,250 for villas.

“Antigua stands out from other popular Caribbean property hunting grounds – Barbados, the Caymans, the Turks & Caicos – in that there is a huge variety of high-end homes in enclaves all over the island, not just concentrated in certain areas,” says James Burdess, head of Caribbean sales for Savills.

“The yachtie lifestyle, centred on English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour, is incredibly attractive, enhanced by a vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene, and several ultra-luxurious developments are in the pipeline.”

For high-net-worth buyers in Antigua, many of whom are looking to add to a global portfolio of homes, Burdess singles out Pearns Point, where bespoke low-density retreats on a spectacular peninsula spanning seven beaches are now being commissioned. The Windward Estate, meanwhile, comprises 93 acres of untouched waterfront spread across two glorious stretches of sand on the island’s south coast. The development has been approved by the Citizenship by Investment programme, entitling buyers to apply for an Antigua & Barbuda passport. Prices start at $2.5m for at least an acre of land in both of these developments.

The essential home accessory will, of course, be a boat, whether that’s a motor yacht with state rooms or – the ultimate post-pandemic adventure machine – a handcrafted bluewater sailing vessel.

In early April the participants in the Oyster World Rally returned to Antigua’s historic Nelson’s Dockyard Marina after a 16-month circumnavigation of the globe. The fleet was created by the British luxury sailing yacht-builder Oyster Yachts, which describes the 30-berth marina in English Harbour as its “spiritual home”.

Here, Oyster owners dock shoulder to shoulder with megayachts, says Richard Hadida, the company’s owner and chairman – and, he adds, “the tides are turning for the sailing industry as more owners succumb to its romance. Since the pandemic, people who would traditionally have waited to retire or sell their business are keen to fulfil their dream of a mega bluewater adventure.”

Hadida’s clients are looking for the same blend of ultra-luxury, practicality and sustainability that they demand of their homes. The eco-friendly aspect of sailing yachts – the ultimate hybrid vehicle – is hugely appealing, and Oyster’s vessels (which range from 50ft to 90ft in size, with a starting price of £1.375m) feature swathes of sustainable materials such as oak and walnut. If you like to party on the water, there’s plenty of entertaining space, mood lighting and music – the perfect setting for al fresco dining for up to 12 people. Automated sailing technology means the captain can kick back as well.

Oyster owners have travelled as far as Svalbard, the South Pacific and Peru, but the Mediterranean remains a favourite haunt – and the sailing season there is about to begin in earnest. Traditional boatie hot spots and service-oriented new marinas attract a glamorous breed of house-hunter.

“There’s a huge range of property in the Med for water lovers, and a place to moor everything from a runabout to a superyacht,” says Jelena Cvjetkovic, director of Savills Global Residential Network. “The south of France, Monaco, Mallorca and Ibiza have consistent appeal for buyers of super-prime homes, as do Portofino in Italy and Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda. But there are plenty of sailors’ paradises if you want to stay more under the radar. The Greek and Croatian islands are popular, as is Menorca, for a less crowded, low-key vibe.”

Boaties in search of the high life in France make for the bougainvillea-scented streets around Port de Cap d’Ail or the marinas at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Port Vauban Antibes. In Monaco, work is under way on Mareterra, a glossy new private marina and residential complex that is set to rival Port Hercule and Fontvieille, two of the world’s most glamorous docking spots.

In Santa Ponsa, Mallorca, a contemporary glass-fronted villa with five bedroom suites, a self-contained basement level, a huge swimming pool and views over Port Adriano, a luxury marina designed by Philippe Starck, is on the market for €8.6m. Those wanting to be part of the newest marina mecca, however, head to the 450-berth Porto Montenegro, in Tivat, on the Adriatic. This eco-friendly superyacht marina brings with it high-end property and designer shopping outlets.

Three-bedroom waterfront apartments here are typically priced at €1.2m. A seven-bedroom house with a rare private mooring, a swimming pool and sweeping views over the beautiful Bay of Kotor will cost about €3.85m.

The most important date on the industry’s calendar is the Monaco Yacht Show at the end of September. The dazzling designs on display will offer endless inspiration for both your land and water homes.

Pictures from top: Oyster Regatta, Antigua; Waterfront Villa in Kotor Bay, Montenegro; the secluded peace of the ocean; Ocean Spirit Villas, Turks & Caicos; an end-of-the-day jump into the sea