We have arrived in the DR (Dominican Republic) not the PR (Puerto Rico).

Plan A was to leave South Side Marina at 0700 on Friday. We left closer to 0800, at low tide! Just outside the marina we touched bottom (sand luckily) a couple of times but Jorge was able to wiggle us free on all occasions. After about 45 minutes of dodging rocks and coral heads we were in the main channel of the Caicos Banks and on our way.

We motor sailed for only about an hour with the genoa and then the wind died. It was a perfect day for motoring as there was very little wind and the waves were less than 1'.

We arrived at the end of the banks by 1600 and entered into big water again, motoring another 4 hours to Big Sand Cay. We arrived and set anchor at 2000. The anchorage was free of rocks and coral heads so no problem! There were two other sailboats in the anchorage when we arrived. When we left the banks I was beginning to feel a bit queasy, more on that later.

Saturday I was really not feeling good. Maybe I lost my sea legs while in the marina for 2 weeks? The sailboats left towards the Turks in the morning but this was our buddy boat for the day.

Our buddy boat in Big Sand Cay, TCI.

Uninhabited Big Sand Cay.

Beaches at Big Sand Cay.

 

Jorge transferred fuel from the jerry cans to the tank and calculated how much fuel we had used running the engine at 2500 rpm to maintain 6 knots. The engine was not kind on the fuel consumption! PR was out of the question due to distance.

Plan B was to make a run to Samana, DR. 55+ hours giving us about 7 hours of diesel to spare. Jorge erred on the side of caution so . . .

Plan C - make a run to Ocean World Marina (Puerto Plata, DR). Besides I was sick all Saturday - not able to keep anything down. Do we leave Saturday night and arrive in daylight hours to the marina or leave in the morning and arrive at night? Since the wind was blowing 15+ kts in the anchorage and I was still not well we opted for leaving Sunday morning.

We left Big Sand Cay at 0600. The winds were 15 to 18 kts and the seas 4'. We motor sailed almost all morning - pinching. I was still sick. Not a good morning! By noon I was feeling much better. It must have been a 24/36 hour bug. The winds died and the seas calmed. It turned out to be a perfect afternoon and evening.

Sunset approaching Ocean World, DR.

Ditto.

 

We arrived at Ocean World Marina and tied up at the fuel dock at 2300. The entrance was well marked and we had no problem.

Yesterday morning we cleared customs, had showers, and enjoyed some cool drinks pool side. We met another cruising couple and their buddy from the DR. We took a taxi into town and had dinner at a local restaurant. Good time!

Seal show from outside the aquarium at Ocean World.

Kim at Ocean World Marina.

Villas in the mountains of the DR.

Pool side at Ocean World Terrace.

Ditto.

Our new Plan A was to leave Ocean World on Wednesday morning. Plan B is to leave this afternoon , the winds are more favourable. Weather, weather, weather!