After three days in lovely Palmilla anchorage we had to weigh anchor,encircle Saona Island and head north up through the infamous Mona Passage (the strait between Puerto Rico and Dom Rep). With winds from NE between 15-20kts circumstances were reasonable but seas very confused due to strong currents and passing through Mona Passage in gale winds must be dangerous.

Once reaching Cap Cana Marina the entrance is both shallow (2,1m) and very narrow. This is obviously not an entrance to neither approach or depart in heavy weather.

Once coming into the marina we were advised a berth for visitors and as soon as mooringlines were tied up all officials entered the boat for clearance.

There were 6 people coming onboard and I never understood who was who. Ships documents and passports were passing around between different hands and my major concern was that we would get our stamps in the passports as well as clearance and despacho.

All officials were very friendly and allthough it all seemed chaotic to me, they obviously knew what they were doing. A great help is of course that Mercedes speak Spanish.

Once cleared in we were picked up by an electric car to check in to the marina.

The whole place is a gated community with resorts and marina in one huge Disneyland  complex. Few cruisers go here and the majority of boats are power boats for high seas fishing and American tourists.