Passage: Spanish Waters, Curacao, to Oranjestad, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles [ 78.60 nm ]
Bootlegger of Mann Log
17.07.10
12:31.002N 70:02.298W
Passage: Spanish Waters, Curacao, to Oranjestad, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles [ 78.60 nm ]
Crew: FN ( Solo )
Conditions: Weather: 100% Cloud with occasional rain. Wind : E 07 kts
06:50: 12:04.286N 68:50.599W, Suru Boca Marina, Santa Barbara Plantation,
Spanish Waters, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
Slipped my berth lines and made my way across Spanish Waters and
down the Cut with its twisting narrow channel, past the new Hyatt Regency
to port and out into open sea.
Using pre-plotted Route 23. I set the course to 300 degrees
which took me on a pretty parallel course with the island’s western
coastline, With just 5 kn of wind from the west I am on motor only ,
with a SOG of just 7kn at 2100 rpm.
07:45 12:05.410N 68:56.980 W Passing entrance to Willemstad harbour as I see the sun break
out for the first time, be it a watery one. Noted tug boat coming out
of Willemstad to assist in bringing in barge already under tow was
on a converging course with Bootlegger. As he closed he turned
toward me forcing me to change my course, he carried on forcing me
into a 360 degree turn to avoid a collision.
10:30 12:11.480N 69:16.100W Wind has picked up to W 10kn; nice day now; motor sailing with all
three sails out, SOG 7.8kn.
Noon 12:15.590N 69:26.270W Wind remains W 10kn SOG 7.8 – 8.0kn; roughly halfway there with
some 40.6 nm still to go to end of route (Oranjestad). No sightings since
the barge and tugs. Lovely day now.
Made myself lunch – crab and tuna ( from separate tins ! ) salad.
Dang, forgot to buy mayonnaise. Followed up by Vanilla dessert with
banana; like a babies meal but very tasty.
Still getting GSM signal and good strength FM radio from Curacao.
14.15 12:21.771N 69:42.675W Sighted Aruba. Tall chimneys noted. COG 290 SOG 7.7 – 7.8kn
15:45 12:24.794N 69.53.990W Just passing industrial complex on SE coast of Aruba as we proceed
up the coast headed for Customs and Immigration in Barcadera Haven
17:00 12:28.834N 70:00.430W Arrived Harbour Buoy , Barcadera Haven entrance. Radio’d Sea Port Marina
office to see if I had to bring boat in here or whether I could visit later by taxi
as place full of Venezuelan fishing boats. Told I had to take boat in and
that they would stay open for my arrival.
!7:15 12:28.855N 70:02.340W Barcadera Customs ( + Immigration ) Dock. With assistance from a boat
crew I tied up alongside a very dirty and smelly Venezuelan fishing boat.
Both the Customs and Immigration officers suddenly appeared on the
deck of the fishing boat to give me and Bootlegger the once over.
After being questioned by both on such things as weapons, drugs, where
had I come from, destination etc I was asked to accompany them to
their offices where, after production of ships papers and lots of form
filling, I was officially ‘Cleared In’ and good to go.
The Customs man seemed quite worried and concerned when I indicated
my next port as being Cartegena, Columbia. It is now very dangerous, many
pirates between here and there he said. Don’t go there, go up here instead
he said, pointing on a wall chart to the British Cayman Islands, some 850 nm
to the north !
18.20 12:31.014N 70.02.340W Sea Port Marina, Renaissance Resort Complex, Oranjestad
I arrived off the Marina entrance to be met by a RIB from the marina who at my
request put someone aboard Bootlegger to guide me in through the tricky
approaches and assist in the tying up of Bootlegger on arrival at the berth.
I was put stern to ( north facing ) near the sea wall and protected from t
he strong southerly’s when they come by a building adjacent to the dock.
just a few feet away. The passage including visit to Customs/Immigration
in Barcadera has taken 11.5 hrs, a total distance of 78.6nm.
My plan is to leave Bootlegger in the water here for the next three months.
It’s a lovely location with lots to do.
Dined at an Italian restaurant overlooking the marina just opposite the
Renaissance Hotel. The resort seems full of mainly overweight young
American families and honeymooners who are catered for here by just about
every American fast food joint you can name from Taco Bell to Dunkin
Doughnuts !
Now comes the 1001 things to do before leaving the boat including of course
the big clean and tidy up / put away; shutting down systems and instructing
fully those responsible for looking after, maintaining and possibly moving the
boat in my absence, etc etc.
FN 170710