Today, we left for Puerto Rico, but an hour out of port Companion’s starboard engine failed (oil in the bilge and smoke). So we came back to Casa de Campa – a port on the south east side of Dominican Republic. Casa de Campa is a GaZillion dollar port with mega yachts and little tender dinghies that lead you in and out of the Marina. Yesterday, we had new oil filters, oil and fuel filters replaced, and they found the fresh water pump was bad on one of the engines, but still operational. Ship yard didn’t have part so decided to get to Puerto Rico and get part when we met Kim. Did the custom and navy check out. The Dominican Republic has been the worst in regard to extra fees that need to be paid to the government officials. EVERYONE wants an American $20, so fees were to be $63 to Customs and $20 X 2 to Navy for Sailing and exit documentation, but it has been just over $200. So here I sit on a Saturday afternoon updating the blog, because it will be Monday before they can look at the engine.
I need to catch you up on our journey from Jamaica. Again on Nov. 17 we arrived in Montego Bay Jamaica. We stayed at the Montego Bay Yacht Club for 3 nights, met with 8 immigration, custom and other officials (no exchange of money, just a lot of time spent waiting for officials to arrive). We then were going to travel east on the north shore but winds were blowing at 22-28 knots in our face and after three tacks and a net gain of 4 nautical miles the choice was either beat our brains out tacking, go back to the harbor, or turn around and do a counter clockwise trek around Jamaica (which we did). Anchored that night in Negro Point on west side of island, and then onto Kingston, Port Royal Jamaica (during pirate time the port of Captain Morgan). Today it is very much run down, and Kingston is not much with lots of poverty and crime.
We left Port Royal at noon Nov. 24, after checking out (4 officials, but again no extra money paid). From Nov. 24 to Nov. 30 we sailed the south shore of Hispaniola (combined countries of Haiti and Dominican Republic). Again we had mainly winds in our face, so it was hard sailing so we averaged just less than 100 nautical miles a day. On the first day out at about 10 O’clock a storm came up and even though we had the main reefed a block on the traveler failed so we had to bring down the Main Sail, so we sailed mainly with just the jib and motors . So it has been probably more work and less relaxed than I thought it would be, but we are making our way to the Islands where the winds will be on our beam and much easier to sail, plus anchorages most every night. But to get there has been difficult, but Mike and Max have been outstanding. As long as I keep the supply of Rum and Cerveza (beer) available, I think we will make it.
We are about 240 miles from St. Thomas and the American Virgin Islands so we hope mid week we can finish our journey toward the islands. Hopefully, I can meet up with Kim, either having her fly here, or at the end of the week in Ponce, Puerto Rico. We have travelled approximately 1590 nautical miles and left Rio Dulce a little less than a month ago. Max has done a great job, feeding the crew and he is becoming quite a wiz at meals with the pressure cooker. I'm sure someday you might be able to purchase his sailors cookbook. The weather here is in the low 80's, with winds today out of the north.A little frustrated, in paradise - Dale
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