Antigua is one of the major yachting centers in the Caribbean, it has a rich history and in the 18th century, the famous Nelson's Dockyard, English Harbour, was the base of the British Fleet in the West Indies. The island has beautiful beaches, deeply indented bays and has perfect sailing conditions year-round. Barbuda the sister island to the north is a low flat island with miles and miles of near-deserted sandy beaches.

Heading first west from Antigua is St Kitts and Nevis, another twin island nation, these outstandingly beautiful island have not changed much since the sugar plantation days although many of the plantation houses have been converted to small luxury hotels, while Brimstone Hill on St Kitts has a wonderful old, strategically located fort, a lasting monument to the old enmity between the British and French.

Next in the chain going north is St Eustatia (Statia), a small island with a big history was once the trade capital of the West Indies. This sleepy island offers peace and tranquility and many pretty walks.

Saba, a mere five square mile rock which reaches a lofty 3,000ft, offers scuba diving rated as some of the best in the Caribbean and an isolated island character that is spotlessly clean, villages of white-washed red roofed cottages and cobblestone streets built by descendents of Dutch, Scottish and British settlers. Nevis, St Kitts, Saba and Statia are all volcanic islands often with cloud-topped peaks and for the most part they are surrounded by deep water.

Next, St Barthelemy or St Bart's as it's often known, once owned by the Swedes and sold to France in 1878 is now a fashionable sailing destination and has become the Riviera of the Caribbean. Anguilla is a low island surrounded by spectacular white sand beaches and banks of coral.