National Sailing Academy

Antigua has long been recognised as one of the premier yachting destinations in the Eastern Caribbean, and the National Sailing Academy exists to ensure that the island's own young people grow up as full participants in that maritime culture — not merely bystanders to it. Incorporated as an independent nonprofit charitable organisation under the laws of Antigua and Barbuda, the Academy is administered by a volunteer board and funded through donations from yachts, individuals, and businesses both locally and overseas.

A pipeline for Antigua's yachting industry

The Academy's founders were clear-eyed about the marine economy that surrounds Antiguan shores. Sailing and swimming have been added to the national sports curriculum, meaning every schoolchild aged 8 to 18 is entitled to learn both — during school hours, at no cost. The long-term vision extends well beyond recreational sailing. Graduates of the programme could in time go on to serve as captains, crew, bosuns, engineers, riggers, sailmakers and sailing instructors — precisely the skilled marine workforce that the yachting industry depends on, and which Antigua is uniquely positioned to develop given its deep-water harbours, world-class regattas and year-round charter traffic.

Relevance to the yachting community

The Academy is directly relevant to yacht owners, charter operators and regatta organisers who visit or are based in Antigua. Donations from visiting yachts are one of the primary funding mechanisms, and the marine community's support — whether financial, in kind, or through volunteering — helps sustain the programme that builds tomorrow's professional crew. For regatta organisers and charter companies with a long-term stake in the island, the Academy represents a meaningful local investment in marine human capital.

To find out how the yachting community can get involved or make a contribution, contact the Academy directly by phone at +1 (268) 562 8060 or by email at info@nationalsailingacademy.org.