Puerto Rico and Spanish Virgin Islands; Mar 8-16, 2012
Click on the above thumbnail for a map during this time period
Stabilizer Maintenance
Back when we were on the hard in Trinidad, we noticed a trickle
of oil down the port stabilizer. Justin, our TRAC technician, advised us
that it was time to replace the external seals, o-rings, and zincs on the
stabilizers. Since our model features header tanks that deliver reserve
gear oil, there was little danger of sea water incursion. Justin had
neither the parts nor the tools to do the job in Trinidad, so he asked about our
planned itinerary. When we informed him of our intention of coming all the
way up to Puerto Rico, he smiled and said that he knew a technician there that
could perform the job if he had the parts. So we had the parts shipped to
us, and contacted David Kendrick of "The Yacht Garage" at Villa Marina in
Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
We were scheduled to move on March 7 from Puerto del Rey Marina
to Villa Marina, but the wind was blowing so hard that we decided to wait a day.
(Waves were splashing over the breakwater at del Rey.) On March 8, we motored up
to Villa Marina and squeezed into their almost-too-narrow hauling dock.
Out of the water at 10:30 AM and back in the water by 4:45 PM. Nice to
have that out of the way. Wonder if we can wait another eleven years to
have it done again!
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Not a lot of extra room in the hauling dock
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Dave Kendrick on the left, and his technician (who did the work), also named Dave, on the right
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What the bottom of the fin looks like when removed
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What the stub looks like before being cleaned
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Re-installing the fin
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Puerto Rico
When we left Villa Marina we motored out to Isla Palominos,
where we spent two nights, violently rolling during the day and early evening
every time a Conquistador ferry went by. Then, back to Cayo Obispo so that
we could catch their ferry into the mainland. Susan and Keith (Island
Roamer) picked us up at the ferry dock, and we all went to dinner at the
Mexican restaurant "Lolitas". Big, popular, and good food. And fun
to get caught up with Keith and Susan.
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Isla Palominos
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Cayo Obispo
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Island Roamer (picture taken later at Francis Bay, USVI)
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Note added much later:
the vessel above is NOT Island Roamer. This has gotten to be
embarrassing. Every time we have shared an anchorage with Island Roamer,
we have failed to recognize their boat. They tease us for not saying "hi",
and we apologize and point out that their boat is so big that it doesn't seem
possible that we could know someone on it. And then it happens again the
next time. It happened again in Francis Bay, but we thought we had finally
captured a photo, only to later see the above boat at Crown Bay Marina,
emblazoned with a name definitely NOT Island Roamer. BLUSH.
Culebra Again
March 11, back east to Culebra, where we tucked into the cozy anchorage at
Dakity. Along the way we passed Asseance, struggling to sail
against the prevailing winds. They eventually switched to motor sailing,
and anchored near us when they arrived.
Dakity
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Panorama of Dakity anchorage
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Dewey
We hatched with Asseance the plan of renting a golf cart and seeing some
of Culebra, and so went into Dewey to investigate availability. Turned out
all the golf carts were rented, so the next day we rented a 4-door Jeep and set
out to visit as many beaches as we could.
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Crossing the cable that stretches parallel to the bridge
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Mid-March leftover from Xmas, located across from Zaco's Tacos, where we had a super lunch
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Island Tour (of beaches)
Punta del Soldado
Playa Zoni
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Heather and Don
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Guess who?
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Flamenco Beach
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Heather posing in front of the jeep we rented
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Tamarindo Beach
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Novice snorkelers getting their orientation instructions
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Kayakers arriving at the beach, where a concession on a trailer was parked
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Feral chickens abounded
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Side Trips
We also drove to Melones Beach (no pictures), the last of those we could access
by Jeep. And we stopped at a roadside stand, where the ladies purchased
home-made hot sauce. And we drove down a side road to Costa Bonita Beach
Resort, a nice place with tragically few guests, it appeared.
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Hot pepper sauce stand
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Costa Bonita Beach Resort
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Ditto
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Dakity anchorage as seen from the resort
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Market Day in Dewey
On the day of our departure to points further east, Barb dinghied in to Dewey to
shop at the once-a-week market. Surprising variety of fruits and
vegetables.
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One of Dewey's few gas stations and where Barb filled up the gas in the dinghy
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