Some factors to consider before chartering a sailboat:
It's wise to take some anti-nausea medicine along. However, if you stay mostly in protected waters, as we did, you may not need it at all.
Passengers need to be agile enough to climb aboard the sailboat, use the dinghy and navigate the cramped spaces below deck.
A large wardrobe is unnecessary. Take a couple of swimsuits, T-shirts, shorts, sandals, a beach towel, lots of serious sunscreen (even if you want a tan -- the sun's rays are more intense at that latitude), sweats in case you get chilled, bottled water, camera, paperback books, sunglasses. Wearing makeup is not worth the bother!
Snorkeling gear can be rented at scuba shops. The sailboat might supply it, but you may prefer to bring your own to make sure it fits.
Ask about the sailboat's policy on smoking.
On Antigua, phone cards, available in many stores on the island, are the best way to make phone calls.
All the merchants we encountered accepted U.S. currency and gave back change in EC (Eastern Caribbean) dollars.
As for getting there, American Airlines and Continental are two major U.S. airlines that fly into V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua. We flew there on American via Dallas and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
-- Pamela Olsen Whitmore