P Is for Poquito de Espagnol

We have made it to Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic. It is a Dominican resort town and very busy and I am trying to speak a "poquito de espagnol".

We left Isle a Vache, Haiti on Saturday march 24th bound for Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic. We were hoping to sail straight through; however we met with head winds that slowed us down so much that at one point we heaved to and Rob rested while I stood watch. We knew that we were leaving a little early for the winds to be down but we were hoping to get through the DR and on to Puerto Rico in a weather window predicted for later in the week. As I have previously written it is never wise to leave before Chris Parker gives his blessing. Heaving to means putting the boat in a position with the sails backed and the boat drifts very slowly. It doesn't do away with the motion but it gives the crew a chance to catch their breath. We knew that we were leaving a little early for the winds to be down but we were hoping to get through the DR and on to Puerto Rico in a weather window predicted for later in the week. As I have previously written it is never wise to leave before Chris Parker gives his blessing. After two days and a night we were at Bayia de Aguillas(Bay of Eagles) in the Dominican Republic. We knew that we could stop here if needed and so we spent the night. It would have been a marvelous place to stay for a few days because the beach looked glorious and we were the only boat save for some DR fishermen but we are anxious to get to Puerto Rico and across the Mona Passage. Once we are there we know that the remainder of the journey to Grenada is day trips with the odd overnight passage. Our plans are to leave Celebrian in Grenada over the hurricane season and fly home much the same way we did when she was left in The Bahamas. Over the next few winters we will explore the eastern Caribbean and continue to put her on the hard in Grenada.

Today is Wednesday March 28th and we are on a mooring in Boca chica, DR. We arrived here after sailing 24 hours from Bayia de Aguillas. Our timing for this passage was perfect and we had a good motorsail on a relatively calm Caribbean Sea. We got to Marina Zar Par in time to check in with the authorities and get diesel at the dock. At one point I think there were five officials on board...immigration, customs, drug enforcement, security and so on. Thanks to Raul who owns the marina things went smoothly and quickly. My Spanish helps to smooth things too as the officials didn't speak much English. We were down 44 gallons of diesel so we were grateful that we were not jerry jugging this amount. Today we are going to a modern DR "supermercado" with a long list of provisions. It has been weeks since we have had lettuce so I am excited. The captain says that small things please me. I must say that you do appreciate things more after you have done without. We are only planning on being here a couple of days if we can continue to head east along the DR staging ourselves for the crossing to Puerto Rico. Unfortunately we couldn't hear Chris Parker on the SSB this morning as he was squelched out by Spanish conversations. We will hopefully have better luck tomorrow as getting the weather is critical for us right now in planning our next passage. Rob had quite the exciting trip to get propane. He thought that propane was nearby but as it happened he was taken by one of the yard workers(who doesn't speak English) on a hair raising ride on a moto concho (Honda90) several miles down a pot holed road to get the tank filled. Once filled the owner of the propane station would only accept pesos for payment and Rob had none. They locked our tank up as hostage while Rob went to a money changer. Unfortunately the change place was several miles in the other direction including crossing a four lane highway. After seeing his life pass before his eyes they returned to pick up the hostage tank, pay and return to the marina with the full tank wedged between the driver and Rob on the bike. I don't think that Rob will ever forget that propane fill. Life on a boat is so relaxing?!?! Boca Chica is a Dominican resort town ...colourful, vibrant,chaotic with loud music coming from every establishment. Unfortunately the marina mooring balls are not that far away and getting a good night's sleep is a challenge. We took a walk into the town yesterday....the pictures will give you an idea of the place.

I was enthralled by this woman's shoes and couldn't help taking a picture. The captain later informed me that she was a hooker?! The trip to the supermercado was tiring but entertaining. The marina provides a service to drive you there (about four miles) and Ole returns you in their shuttle. The ride back was a tribute to the fact that the worst and scariest drivers in the world are in the DR....speeds of 120kms swerving around people,dogs, chickens etc, bicycles, and the infamous motoconchos. We remember fondly our trip with Peter and Lynn to Santo Domingo three years ago and the incredible job Peter did driving us around.

The last two evenings we have been out meeting some other cruisers who are heading our way. So far we have had to travel on our own and we have missed our boat buddy First Edition. We were invited by several couples to join them at a local restaurant. We had a fun evening of swapping sailing tales and future plans and the food was very good. We had the dorado which is called mahi mahi in The Bahamas. Catherine and John are from Toronto and new to cruising but after a year in The Bahamas decided to head to the Caribbean. Jim and Dianna are from Puerto Rico and St. Croix. Monica and Gabe are a young couple from Toronto on their way to Panama. All of them are full time cruisers and Catherine, John, Jim and Dianna are our age and all recently married just like us.

Believe it or not this is a flying dinghy??? Lots of things for the "touristas" to do?! Last evening the marina had a free dinner for all the cruisers in the marina. They do this if there are at least 20 boats on moorings and in slips. It was a great meal of salad, rice with sausage, plaintains and deep fried yucca (which was delicious). It was also another opportunity to meet fellow cruisers and talk about Weather.....and crossing the infamous Mona Passage to Puerto Rico. Nothing stirs the blood of sailors more than thinking about crossing the Mona. It is a notoriously dangerous passage if not crossed in the right conditions. The second deepest ocean trench is the Puerto Rican trench which runs between Puerto Rico and the DR. This deep trench causes very large and unpredictable seas. It will be nice to confer with the other boats on their plans and cross as a mini flotilla. It is always good to have other boats out there with you just in case you have a problem. At the moment it looks like we may leave Boca Chica tomorrow (Saturday March 31st) to sail to Saona Island to stage for the crossing to Puerto Rico.

Today is Saturday March 31st and we are planning on doing a night sail to Saona Island leaving later today with the plan to cross the Mona on Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday we did some laundry, visited with Cathy and John on Katerina and went for a walk in the afternoon. They joined us on Celebrian for happy hour later in the afternoon.