Passage to Jamaica part 2

Wing and a Prayer
Joy Hughes
Tue 17 Apr 2007 15:14

 

 

 

Passage to  Jamaica ( part 2)

 

 

17:38.36N 074:05.19W

April 15th2007

Had a frustrating nights sailing. The sailing on this trip is mainly down wind, which can be rolly dependent on the sea state and the strength of wind. Last night we found ourselves in adverse current and spent a slow night rocking and rolling, in winds of  10/15 kts... This morning we found we had 3 large rips in the Blue Peter jib. We had to get the sail down, get out the sticky back plastic (Dacron) sail repair and add a few more patches all before breakfast.

 

But back to the missive –

We left Puerto Rico for the Dominican Republic.

Our first leg was to a marina at La Romania called the Casa de Cambo about 100+ miles. An overnight sail we arriving mid morning. Having already arranged a berth we radiod on our arrival and was informed a tender would be with us shortly to see us to the berth allocated.

Sure enough we were welcomed by a young man, a bright polo shirt boasting the logo of the Casa de Camba marina resort.

Graham and I looked at each other and both thought EXPENSIVE!

As we moored to the berth we were again met by a suited gent who shook our hands and welcomed us to the Dom. Rep. gave us a glossy booklet about the marina and informed us we should not get off the boat until we had been visited by the officials – Customs, Immigration, Navy and Port Authority.  Suggesting we read the relevant passages in the booklet.

 This is not normal, usually you make your boat safe on the berth and then register in to the marina after which if needed you search out Customs and Immigration.

The first to appear was Customs and Navy with their lapel badges and clip boards they came on board. Forms were filled in and we were charged 20 $ each..

About an hour later a uniformed gent badge reading Port Authority paid us a visit. Hand shakes all-round very friendly, forms filled and then he said, No Charge. Good we thought. But maybe a little gratification he called it. 10 $.

We then waited for Immigration as it was Easter Monday It was a long wait and of course we couldn’t leave the boat. However we kept ourselves busy repatching our Blue Peter jib as it is now called with a little more sticky backed sail material.

Finally the Immigration lady appeared. Filled in another set of forms admired the photos we have of the grandchildren on the bulk head and charged us 43 $ for the boat and 16  $ per person. Total to date 126 dollars and we hadn’t set foot on land.

 We registered into the marina and were pleasantly surprise the rate was only a dollar foot for the boat per night.

  Now I must say the marina was really something. New, very smart designed by an Italian on the same lines of the large mega yacht marinas in Europe. Part of a huge hotel and golf complex. Very nice.

We decided we had earned rest and a drink in one of the swish bars. Having spent a number of US dollars we decided to get some local currency. So Graham went off to the hole in the wall and came back with 400pasoes.

We had no idea what the exchange rate was so you can image Grahams’ face when the waiter said it was 30 to the dollar. He had just got about 12 dollars, £7 for which he had been charged £2 50 transaction charges. It wasn’t enough for the two drinks we had had. You need a sense of humour.

We had two nights here before continuing to our next stop La Salinas further along the coast. Before we left we were visited by the same officials again and this time it cost us 100 $. They were very pleasant and wish us well on our travels.

Customs and immigration etc cost us 226$ in total , the marina was only 134$

I wonder why people don’t visit the Dominican Republic !!!

 

We travelled a little further along the coast and anchored in the bay at Salinas, another lovely sheltered bay and were met by Louie who Graham had spoken to on the phone at Casa de Cambo yacht club. He took us to his house on the  shore and gave us a lot of useful information regarding places to visit in Jamaica and Cuba.

So here we are on passage to Jamaica. Should make land fall tomorrow if the wind holds out.

 Ganja and Reggie says my tourist book.

Will keep you informed.

Joy

 

 

 

 

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