January 8, 2015

We left Jost Van Dyke around 0700 and headed to Culebra. It was a beautiful morning with the exception that the winds were very light. We motor sailed to keep the boat speed at 5 kts. We travelled north of St. Thomas and only when we were about an hour from Culebra were we able to sail with no engine.

Leaving Jost Van Dyke

We arrived and anchored in Ensenada Honda early afternoon. After putting the dinghy down we headed into town to clear customs. While there, we met a couple from Toronto who leave their boat in the Virgin Islands during the summer and cruise during the winter. We later met them at a bar and over a few beers decided to walk to Flamingo Beach the next day.

January 9, 2015

We met with Ian and Lorilee at 1100 and walked 45 minutes to the beach, (some 4 km one way). We enjoyed the beach for a bit before heading to a restaurant for lunch. Afterwards, we went back to the beach for a few more hours before walking back to the dinghy dock. Over beers again, we made arrangements to meet at the dinghy dock the next morning at 0600 and take the ferry to Fajardo.

 

Ian, Kim and Lorilee enjoying Flamingo Beach, Culebra.

Flamingo Beach.

 

January 10, 2015

As planned, we met at the dinghy dock at 0600 and walked to the ferry terminal. We caught the "cargo" ferry (carrying vehicles) to Fajardo which took 1-1/2 hours. We then found a bakery and had breakfast before making our way, via a discount taxi, to West Marine, Wal-Mart and a grocery store. As we spent too much time shopping, we took a regular taxi back to the ferry terminal, stopping at the bakery again and picking up empanadas which we ate while waiting for the ferry. Once back on Culebra, Ian and Lorilee joined us for happy hour aboard CS'ta Time.

Approaching Fajardo by ferry.

Kim, Lorilee and Ian aboard the ferry to Fajardo.

January 11, 2015

We weighed anchor and left Culebra at 0700. It was a motor sail until we got to the island of Viequez. When we rounded the island we were able to get a better direction on the wind and sail only to Puerto Patillas. We set anchor at 1600 hrs. We didn't go to shore, just anchored for the night as we were heading to Salinas the next morning.

January 12, 2015

Upon awakening at 0600, it was raining and windy. We decided to wait out the storm and sat tight until 0830. We weighed anchor and arrived in Salinas at 1230 after mostly motoring. The southern coast of Puerto Rico is just as I remembered it, big wind and big waves! At times the winds were gusting to 33 kts and coming directly from behind. On a number of occasions while surfing down a wave, CS'ta was gybing all by herself. We decided to bring the sails in and just motor until we got into Bahie Rincon when we were able to sail, about an hour to the anchorage. We put the dinghy down, went to the marina, had real showers, did laundry and arranged to rent a car for the next day.

January 13, 2015

We picked up the rental car at 1000. The first stop was to find propane as one tank we empty, Mission accomplished. We then took the highway into Ponce, once more visiting Wal-Mart (provisioning big time) and Home Depot. Just can't seem to stay away from the big box stores! After lunch and shopping, we took a secondary road, through rural Puerto Rico, back to Salinas. It was a busy day and an even busier night as we tried to stow away our purchases.

January 14, 2015

We had the car until noon so we did a bit more shopping before returning it. In the afternoon, Jorge changed the antifreeze in the engine (sounds strange doesn't it, in these latitudes!). It was an all afternoon job. We are now at a bar but getting ready to head back to the boat, put the dinghy up on the davits in preparation for moving tomorrow.

Marina de Salinas from our stern.

 

Rainbow over the anchorage at Salinas, PR.