Crew Change at Ocean World
Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Sun 26 Feb 2012 02:59
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Thursday 23rd February.
This morning we collected the hire car from marina
reception trying hard to get on the road as early as possible to fit in a bit of
sight seeing before heading for Santiago Airport were Dave and Mike's fight to
San Juan was the first leg of their journey back to Leicestershire. We decided
on the cable car ride up the mountain for it's views, but finding the start with
a map with no scale and which only marked some of he roads proved a bit of a
challenge. When pretty much lost we stopped to ask the way which resulted in a
local guy wearing a tourist guide jacket, riding a worn out smoking little
motorbike with a rear wheel that was hopelessly misaligned in the frame, riding
in front of us waving us through heavy traffic, but he did the job
and also dispersed the boys in the car park offering to look after our
car.
The cable car ride and the views were spectacular
and very good value.
Back down and it was time to head for Santiago 60Km
south of Puerto Plata. Again the combination of poor map, few useful
signposts and crazy driving (not mine) made it all a bit of a challenge. Asking
the way at the petrol station was not so easy with no common language. However
with a few sketch maps and a fair amount of guesswork we made it in good
time.
I said good buy to my crew of the last two weeks
and could not help but reflect on how our team had developed from when we had
sailed out of Salinas.
Thanks Dave and Mike for a good trip and your
contribution to Moorglade's voyage.
Reflections were short lived as now I had
to find a supermacardo to provision for the next phase and get myself
back to Ocean World. Yes I got lost in Santiago and took a wrong turn later but
made it back to Moorglade in time for a well earned beer in the cockpit before
dark.
Friday 24th February and Saturday 25th
February
The morning was spent cleaning Moorglade,
collecting the laundry making up the foc'sle berths with fresh sheets and
waiting for Ross to arrive by taxi at Ocean World. Ross's journey via Miami had
gone smoothly, if a little tediously, and after checking in with marina staff,
immigration and customs, rode round the dock on a golf cart to settle in aboard
Moosglade. We decided not to move on until Sunday morning, dined at the Mexican
and turned in early.
Saturday morning was spent reading the pilot books
and checking the charts to put together an outline forward plan and fill in the
detail for our 24hour passage to Provo on Sunday/Monday. After a late lunch we
walked to the nearest beach were Ross went for a dip. On the way back we topped
up on cans of Presidente and chocolate snacks, both commodities that
Ross feared Moorglade might be a little short of.
Supper on board and alarms set early to get ready
to clear out with the authorities, pay our dues and leave.
  View from the
bottom
Approaching the top
  Puerto Plata viewed from the
top
Looking East along the North coast of D R
 Statue copied from Brazil
 View of Ocean World from the
top.
Moorglade is on the right hand dock.
 Ready to descend
  Ross comes
aboard
and goes for a swim
  The somewhat bizarre resort and casino at the
marina.
The way out tomorrow. Don't like the look of those waves.
 And finally our neighbours. What do you think of
their ensign?
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