Dominica - Prince Rupert Bay / Portsmouth
SV Meshugga
Nicholas & Deidre Mace
Sat 13 Apr 2019 12:24
We arrived inn Dominica, Prince Rupert Bay, with the small town of Portsmouth where we cleared Customs and Immigration. The bay has numerous mooring balls which the PAYS (Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services) rent out at EC25 per night. As you arrive in the bay, PAYS members race out in there skiffs to say hello and lead you to a mooring ball - their aim is to ‘claim’ you as ‘their’ boat, and then amongst themselves have the right to be your Tour Guide. The PAYS members all offer to take you to Customs for US$30 a 1/2 mile dinghy ride, up the Indian River for US$25 per person, on various hikes for generally the rate for a half day tour is around US$200. They all have their own taxi buses, and whilst friendly they definitely see the yachties as their captive audience. You can also anchor, and the mooring balls are only rated for yachts up to 60 foot, but best check the mooring tackle if you take a mooring ball.
PAYS run Wednesday and Sunday night BBQ nights at EC50/US18 pp, and whilst it is supposed to be an All You Can Eat, with Rum Punches and music, the reality is that the offer Rice, Salad and one chicken leg. Still it is a nice way to meet other yachties in a on shore setting.
Drinks at Madiba Bar, before going to the Wednesday night BBQ at PAYS
Indian River
Jungle Bar at the top of the Indian River where the rowing boats turn around (about 1 mile)
Rum Punch
Jungle Bar jetty
Walking through the forest near to town
All houses have numerous fruit trees in their gardens, and those properties on the edges of town have bigger market gardens - Pineapple plant
Bananas growing everywhere, all privately owned
The Fishing jetty is the best place to tie your dinghy to, to go into town and to the Market, which is directly outside the Fishing jetty gate. The jetty has a security guard.
Saturday morning Fruit and Vegetable Market
Vendors come with cars ladened with their own grown produce and boxes from the larger plantations
I was surprised that prices were much the same as Guadeloupe - given that the produce in Guadeloupe was from Dominica, I incorrectly assumed that the prices in Dominica would be far cheaper at source
Take Care
Deidre Mace
SV Meshugga
E: Deidre {CHANGE TO AT} Mace {DOT} co {DOT} za
C: +1 754 213 7663
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