Sunriser

….and the winner is Stone Free, followed closely by Happinez, with Sunriser last but luckily arriving right on time before the storm hit Samaná.

This was our longest passage with just the two of us; nothing extreme, just 3 nights, and thanks to the ten days waiting for a good weather window it went really smooth.

A pod of dolphins waved us goodbye

The crossing of the feared Mona passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic went as well without event; we stayed close to the Dominican coast to have the least wind and waves. We then entered the bay of Samaná with wind in the back and we raced towards the harbour with ominous pursuing clouds, to arrive in the dark and throw anchor just outside of the harbour, next to Happinez, just in time before the sky went open with the worst rain we have ever seen.

To escape the storm we took refuge in the National Park Los Haitises, well protected from the waves and Eastern winds by the mangroves. The following morning we woke up to calm waters in a paradisiac jungle. Just our three boats and an occasional fishing boat passing through.

The following days we relaxed and explored the coast by kayak and dinghy (at a slow pace). There are long rivers among the mangroves reaching far in the inland and lots of caves which can only be accessed from the sea. The Cueva de La Línea has interesting drawings made by the indigenous people long ago.

Jill, the dog from Stone Free, had the most fun of everyone.

Los Haitises is a beautiful marine park with spectacular rocks raising from the sea; it has something of Thailand or Vietnam, according to people who have never ever been there.

After these quiet days at anchor we have moved to the Marina Puerto Bahía to join our friends Ivo and Annemieke on Tiki Mas who arrived from Puerto Rico and Lindsey on Britt, sailing from Curaçao.

We’re curious about how a tropical Christmas will be, but also sad missing our families back in Europe.