IF YOU LIKE ANTIGUA, YOU’LL LOVE

IF YOU LIKE

LOOKING FOR A LAID-BACK SEASIDE LIFESTYLE, WITH PLENTY OF SAILING? HERE ARE THREE OF THE BEST SPOTS

Widely considered the sailing capital of the Caribbean (although the BVIs might have a view on that), Antigua operates at a slower pace than most of its island neighbours. Tom Vickery, Associate Director at Savills Global Residential, puts this down to the fact that many of the island’s visitors stay for months at a time, often making Antigua their home for the winter.

“People just aren’t rushing around trying to do everything that they need to do on holiday,” he says. “It’s very laid-back. You’ve got about 300 beaches dotted around the island, so it never feels too busy.”

Property is spread nicely around the island too. Gated communities such as Galley Bay, Curtain Bluff and Sugar Ridge offer the security and amenities you would associate with five-star resorts, while standalone properties close to Jolly Harbour and other coastal towns can get as big and beachy as your pockets will allow. “Savills has the exclusive mandate on the Windward Estate, the promontory between English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour,” says Vickery. “This would be the perfect location to buy or build your dream home, especially for those with an interest in sailing.”

Antigua Yacht Club shares the marina with small shops, bars and restaurants that cater for yacht crews. The historic Nelson’s Dockyard is close by, as is the beautiful Pigeon Point Beach, where you will find Vickery’s top tip, Catherine’s Café.

ANTIGUA...

Opposite: Antigua’s English Harbour is one of a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the area. Left: the Long House is a four-bedroom villa in the Peninsula gated community; guide $2.4m. Below: at 10,000 sq ft, Palm Point is the largest villa in Jolly Harbour; guide $9.5m. Both properties through Tom Vickery, tvickery@savills.com

...YOU’LL LOVE PEBBLE BEACH...

“Pebble Beach is first and foremost a golfing destination, but sailing certainly complements our community demographic,” says Braden Sterling, principal of Sterling-Huddleson Architecture and managing director of Savills associate The Agency in California. “Our location between Santa Barbara and San Francisco is an obvious layover for all types of sailors making the coastal journey. And our yacht clubs [Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club and Stillwater Yacht Club] participate in important offshore racing events and regattas that often pair well with other international events hosted annually in the area.”

Pebble Beach and neighbouring Carmel are affluent retirement communities made up primarily of second and third homeowners, as well as families looking to escape the city for a more “outdoorsy” lifestyle. There are many types of coastal property here – notably beachfront villas and bluff-top homes – but a decent view and a handful of internationally acclaimed vineyards are the main attractions for those who choose to buy on the Monterey Peninsula.

“While I like the idea of barefoot luxe, perhaps ‘designer flip-flop luxe’ might be a better way to describe the vibe in Pebble Beach,” says Sterling. “Luxury properties are finally being acknowledged in our area, where the architectural bar has traditionally been low. However, for the past 15 years, Sterling-Huddleson Architecture has developed more than 100 properties and transformed the architectural landscape into what is now a bucket-list area for the top architects around the world.”

Above and right: designed by award-winning Sterling-Huddleson Architecture, The Edge is one of Pebble Beach’s standout homes, with six bedrooms and panoramic sea views; $29m, Braden Sterling, braden.sterling@ theagencyre.com. Below, the rugged, windy coastline between Carmel and Monterey is perfect for sailing

Left: the chic harbour village of Naoussa has become one of the most popular destinations in the Cyclades. Below left: a brand-new four-bedroom residence near Agkeria; €990,000, Fani Dritsa, f.dritsa@savills.gr. Below right: Panorama is a six-bedroom retreat with views of Naxos and the sea; €2.6m, Stefania Tsokali, s.tsokali@savills.gr

...AND YOU’LL LOVE PAROS

Like Antigua, the Greek island of Paros is more relaxed than some of its neighbours – and, once again, life here revolves around lazy days on the beach. Sailing is a huge part of the culture: the island’s two main towns, Parikia (the capital) and Naoussa, both have charming ports that attract boats from around the Mediterranean, especially during the annual Aegean Regatta.

“Paros is a nice mix of tradition and luxury,” says Danae Tsakiris, Director, Savills Greece. “Naoussa, for example, is really quite cosmopolitan. You have wonderful Cycladic architecture, some incredible shops and restaurants, and even nightlife if you want it.”

Outside the towns and villages, you will find authentic tavernas, and properties tend to be much larger and closer to the water. Life here almost comes to a standstill, according to Tsakiris. The food is simple but exquisite and the beaches are suitably exotic, so there is little need to journey far from home. Indeed, Kolymbithres (perhaps the island’s most famous beach), Ambelas (popular among locals) and Chryssi Akti (one of the Med’s premier windsurfing destinations) are surrounded by incredible high-end property and the few amenities one might actually need.

“In the past few years we’ve seen some amazing homes being built and sold on the east and south coasts of the island,” says Tsakiris. “These are increasingly big, bohemian terracotta properties that contrast nicely with the whitewashed walls of the island’s older buildings. And I must say, it’s a great mix of Greek and international owners.”