Sounds like it could be some kind of a 'posse', maybe even that bounty-hunter 'DOG' fellow, following us ............ Or even credit card collectors .......... Actually, what we mean is THOSE SAILBOAT CRUISERS who will be following in our path ......... The real secret to a great Caribbean cruising season is to be far enough south, and somewhere safe for HURRICANE SEASON, and then ready to roll when the danger is past, thereby maximizing the time available for the rest of the Caribbean Islands .............. Leaving Florida or Georgia in early November makes the dash south a very hard beat, against a series of very strong cold fronts, while on the other hand, staying in Florida/Georgia/or the Carolinas during hurricane season is also risky .............. So here's OUR ANSWER to all of that ............ First do the beautiful, magnificent BAHAMAS in the spring (FEB-MAR-APR), then head for DOMINICAN REPUBLIC in MAY, and on to PUERTO RICO for the Summer ............... Great weather, good sailing, superb Spanish dishes and no cold fronts .................... Do we look like we have been suffering? .................. Anchored off Virgin Gorda beach in the BVIs.
The mangrove bays at PAGUERA and JOBOS along the south coast of PUERTO RICO .......
The South-western coast of PUERTO RICO has innumerable bays with deep-water mangrove channels that offer perfect hurricane protection and many other beautiful bays in which to safely anchor, when there is nothing on the horizon .............. Very reasonable prices and for the most part it is "AMERICA WITH NO RULES" ...............Maybe some? .......Super friendly people, wonderful food and very Spanish speaking .....................And if an 'Aussie' can do it, so can anybody ........... Arrive first at BOQUERON after crossing the Mona Passage, get a good night's sleep, but don't land or clear in ........... Then on to PONCE for clearing with Customs and Immigration............. Definitely DO NOT ARRIVE WITH FOOD BOUGHT IN THE D.R. ............PONCE has almost everything and a good place to go see the rest of the island ............ Next comes SALINAS ............... With a good-sized bay for anchoring and deep water mangroves nearby at JOBOS that can safely hide a thousand yachts from a Category 5 "tormenta" ............ And While JOBOS offers the best protection for extreme storms, the eastern end of P.R. is the nicest place to be ....................... VIEQUES ISLAND (above) is beautiful, and CULEBRA and the rest of the Spanish Virgin Islands are to die for ...............
The big bay in VIEQUES, 'ENSENADA HONDA' (above) is a great staging point for diving, snorkeling and island exploration trips and the twice daily ferry to mainland cost only one dollar each way for the 18 mile passage in air-conditioned comfort ....... Much of VIEQUES is still a no-go zone, being a former bombing range .............. On CULEBRA there is a bay with the same name but no dead bombs or live ones ............ Beautiful snorkeling and magical sea-life and we haven't even mentioned the island of CULEBRITA or LUIS PENA, both National Parks ......... And all the exploration we have done has been during 'hurricane season', including two mini-cruises to the BVIs ............. This is all very doable, and incredibly rewarding while supposedly "GOING NOWHERE and STAYING PUT" ...........
Take a look .............. That's ARITA (above) anchored at LUIS PENA while we discover the underwater world ................... And CULEBRA (Photo below) with CULEBRITA to the right, and LUIS PENA to the left ................. As for distances, CULEBRA to LUIS PENA or CULEBRITA is a dinghy ride and back ...........And 'Flamenco beach' on the northern side of CULEBRA is rated as one of the top ten beaches in the World ........ ANY Questions before the sun sets on CULEBRA? ...........
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