Boqueron to Salinas

We left Boqueron with sadness, it is a very captivating place. We sailed with Loafers Glory, Sarabond and Te Oigo bound for Salinas on the south coast where we will spend some time on boat projects and entertaining friends. We made short early morning jumps between stops so as to be tucked in somewhere before the trade winds kicked in and the seas got a little uncomfortable. The jumps were 15 to 20 miles at a time and very nice. One of the stops was Ponce and was welcome but not that great. The yacht club harbor where everyone stays is deep (30 ft.) and crowded. We left the next morning at 0730 for Caja de Muertos, a very beautiful island that is a state park. Lobster season is open year round in PR so everyone was hunting. We had caught a small tuna called a tunny, Te Oigo had caught a Spanish mackerel and Sarabond caught a huge lobster so that night we all went to Loafers Glory and cooked up a feast. Life is good.

Cabo Rojo light house is a very demanding site as you round the west coast of PR and turn east along the southern coast.

Houses on the water in La Parguera.

Cana Auroara (Gilligans Island) is a state park and here is where everyone swims and comes to BarBQ. We are about 5 miles from Encienada.

Anchored off Caja de Muertos (coffin island). Notice the light house in the background.

Coming into Salinas. The bay anchorage is very quite and protected.

Puerto Rico

We are in Boqueron, PR. The bay faces west so it is normally a calm anchorage and good holding. We got in early Friday and called in to customs. The check in was easy and done over the phone. The next night was Halloween and Boqueron came alive with hundreds of people dressed for the occasion. We also dressed a little and had a great time. The difference in the the DR and the PR is striking. We enjoyed the DR but Puerto Ricans are truly wonderful people, very gregarious and friendly. PR is very beautiful. Here are a few pics of Halloween night in Boqueron.

Locals

Locals

Joe (local pub manager of Los Remos) and LaLa and mother Mariola from SV LaLa.


Somebody's new bride.

Just having fun.

The Mona Passage can be a very hard sail and getting to Puerto Rico or visa versa an ordeal. Fortunately we had a very good crossing. We sailed with Loafers Glory and Sandy Annie as a group. We made the crossing in 30 hours. It can take as long as 60 hours or longer. Samana was OK and is a cruise ship stop. The Port Authority and Commandant of the Navy were very nice and check-out for our dispachio for PR was a total cost of $20 US. The bay has very good holding but you have to lock up your outboard and put your dink on board every night because theft is prevalent.

Crossing the Mona

Loafers Glory and Sandy Annie

Sun set in Samana

Boat info.

A few peaple have been asking about the cost of cruising. I will try to give a decent idea of what to expect. Please remember that things can change. First of all, The Bahamas are NOT cheap. Load your boat down with all your favorite foods like peanut butter, paper goods, coffee, chocolate, etc., etc. Most things are available but very expensive. Beer is $5 per can. A case is $5 per can at 24 cans = $120 US. Learn to drink rum which is very cheap and good. Some cruisers bring beer to trade for lobster, fish etc. Understand that this is illegal but alot of people do it.

As you move on to the DR things are more readily available and less expensive. Most prices are the same as the US and many home grown or handmade things are much cheaper.Beer becomes reasonable again, rum (very good rum) is still quite cheap. Eating out is close to or in some places cheaper than buying the produce and cooking it yourself. However, here in the DR you must be willing to learn your money in spanish and bargaining is the name of the game or you will be taken advantage of.
We will be leaving the DR soon and will have been here for close to 5 months. I expect our Immigration, Customs and Harbor control fees will total about $300 US. I'm on a mooring which costs me an addition $60 US per month and I get my bottom and prop and thru-hulls cleaned about once a month for about $20 US each time.

I hope this helped. Carolyn and I try to keep our costs down to $1000 per month and so far we have not had much trouble doing so. We get to do pretty much what ever we want to on this budget.

One of our propane bottles about to be taken into town to be filled. It is about the same here as in the US, but much cheaper here than further down island.

One of the propane bottoms hooked up and ready to go.

DR party time

These are pictures of a typical cruisers get together and party. These pictures were taken at Shaggy's, a local hangout.

Cruisres her come from all over. The farthest that I know of are from South Africa, Ireland and Poland.

Carolyn and Anna Maria frfom Loafers Glory.


Me, Mark and Karen from Sasura and Mark (with guitar) on Opel.

Some of the local cruisers have really good musical talent.