sailing from key west

[Ken]

Tambo ,
Actually it was NINE years ago! and even Ken makes mistakes - Tut Tut Ken - (Platinum Member! Does it Hurt?) Quoting KEN- "To Olly, you may have a photo from 2003 showing boats, but chances are, if they are sailboats, they are waiting for a weather window to cross the Mona to Puerto Rico, unless they were charter boats"
That may be so but some were moored here for some long period because I knew the owners. But many of the tourist Fishing boats have gone ,many of the glass bottom boats have gone and visiting sailors very seldom come here any more -just go onto Scuttlebut and have a look at the blogs about DR!!!

And Tambo - I DONT care if you give us a like or not!!!!

Olly and the Team

Yes, I make mistakes. However, before I agree that I made a mistake in this case I would have to know how many cruising boats you were talking about. In Samana, or any harbor, where the best chance to make money for an independent is the cruising boats, not those that have already established a relationship with somebody local.

Up to the mid 1990s, Samana was a good possibility because lots of cruising boats stopped there and stayed for extended periods. But no longer, as you indicated in your post.

Now they do an additional overnight and go to Boqueron, if headed south, and stop in Samana only when necessary to wait for a weather window.

 

[mountainannie]

well i may have old adages. Back in the day before the bubbles and their bursting. But I have only lived aboard in Australia and then only for nine months. No experience in these waters. I worked for scuba dive operations so it is just gossip from the dock.

 

[flyinroom]

............hmmmmmm.
Recent headlines regarding the murder on board a sailboat in the harbour of Samana might suggest avoiding that particular port of call, at least until the investigation has been completed.

 

[mountainannie]

............hmmmmmm.
Recent headlines regarding the murder on board a sailboat in the harbour of Samana might suggest avoiding that particular port of call, at least until the investigation has been completed.

Yes but that was not a random attack, not a robbery as they left the laptop and cash.
That man evidently had made some serious enemies.

It is good to note, however, that there appears to be no military patrol.. no sorta Coast Guard or even armed harbor master.... no protection..

But it is too long a haul to the Mona to not stop here from Key West, is it not? Could one just head over to the Turks and Caicos and do a straight shot through the Mona?

Most of the yachties that I met in Boqueron, PR had stopped in Luperon and LT or Samana before making the passage which is reported to be a very rough patch.

 

[Empiric]

cooktires

5where are you now?, let me see your 51ft, are you still interested in DR and the Caribbean?, btw dont listen too much to non sailors or

non business persons without the experience

 

[Hillbilly]

This has got to be one of the dumbest post on record.
Dude! Ken has been a real sailor for more years than you have been alive.
And if my author friend Bruce (Palaut)decides to chime in on the OLD thread, he is like the author of
three of the best cruising book EVER on the Caribbean and Sailing in general.

So shut up!

HB

 

[Empiric]

"Hillbilly",

are you being true to the meaning of your "name"?

did I mention Bruce or anyone?

are my statements false?

 

[ramesses]

"Hillbilly",

are you being true to the meaning of your "name"?

did I mention Bruce or anyone?

are my statements false?

It always amazes me when new people come on the board and take shots at our most respected posters.

 

[Empiric]

ramesses,

what shooting?

or

who is shooting who?

is is not my style, I 'shutup' when not having any positive to say

on a POSITIVE note, the original poster -and any really interested person- could benefit from this info

Best free info I have found about sailing in DR and other big islands
Free Cruising Guides ? Frank Virgintino

GUIA DE NAVEGACION PARA LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA (A Cruising Guide to the Dominican Republic 5.0) now available at FreeCruisingGuides.com

August 19, 2013: FreeCruisingGuides.com announced today the release of the Spanish language version of A Cruising Guide to the Dominican Republic 5.0,GUIA DE …
===

Free Cruising Guides ? Cruising The Caribbean in Quadrants: The North Quadrant
Cruising The Caribbean in Quadrants: The North Quadrant
Submitted by Frank Virgintino on April 14, 2013 – 10:01 pm

=======
Recent Reviews for A Cruising Guide to Cuba August 13, 2013 – 7:02 pm | No Comment
Recent Reviews for A Cruising Guide to Cuba - A Cruising Guide to Cuba by Amaia Agirre and Frank Virgintino covers everything a cruiser needs to know to explore the Caribbean’s largest island by boat. Marinas, anchorages, …

 

[artistdani]

Why not list also the Gentleman's guide to Passages South by Bruce van Sant (aka Pelaut) ?
The Thornless Path
This one is not free but as the guides listed above may also give the OP insight as to where boaters and cruisers congregate. The OP however did not ask about guides to get to the DR or sailing directions around it... he asked for current local knowledge about working in the boating industry.

 

[IslandDreaming]

"Hillbilly",

are you being true to the meaning of your "name"?

did I mention Bruce or anyone?

are my statements false?

Sometimes if people only knew

 

[Empiric]

off the top of my head

artistdani,


"Why not list also the Gentleman's guide to Passages South by Bruce van Sant (aka Pelaut) ? The Thornless Path" [http://www.thornlesspath.com/]

With due respect to al concerned parties...

1- Because DR is not mentioned in that page,

2- google wont show for sale book content -about DR sailing- unless quoted by the vendor or promoter.

3- you really have to be motivated to buy a book these days, when most stuff is found free on the web, 'specially on specialized' forums

4- Not even on DR1.com you find much about sailing in DR

"This one is not free but as the guides listed above may also give the OP insight as to where boaters and cruisers congregate."

Following 'crowds' is not always the best option, 'recycling' the same destinations, you and I enjoy DR thanks to the guy who did not follow a crowd. C. Columbus

the OP said "I'm getting a little discouraged here." to the point he did not seem to come to DR at all, which is not the objective of DR!

the OP just had an option in mind, "I really hope to be able to stay"

i found that Frank mentions DR basically as an undiscovered island for sailing, and in a positive tone.

"The OP however did not ask about guides to get to the DR or sailing directions around it... he asked for current local knowledge about working in the boating industry."

does it hurt anyway?,

but, who gave the OP 'sailing directions'?


==================

IslandDreaming,

"Sometimes if people only knew"

Be specific, help us ignorants, me included... or alluded

I just learned a few things about Kent and Bruce, thanks to those who replied to my -not yet demostrated- ignorant comments

I 'try' not to contribuite to raising irrevelant questions, nor divert the real topics..., please dont take it as insult.

Sailing is great and relatively inexpensive!, a bunch can go back and forth from the old continent really cheap, ask Christopher C.

 

[Dolores1]

For those wanting to play it safe, take no chances:

Would the ports for sailing vessels be:
La Romana (river and Casa de Campo Marina)
Boca Chica (Club Nautico, Marina Zar Par)
Puerto Plata (Ocean World, Luperon?)
Samana (Puerto Bahia)
Punta Cana (Cap Cana, Puntacana)

Others?
Santo Domingo (Sans Souci)
Barahona has a new yacht club
There is one in Salinas, Azua
Haina (Santo Domingo) has a yacht club

 

[dom]

when coming from the turks or usa the way you would do is the following.

puerto plata oceanworld
samana puerto bahia
cap cana / casa de campo

these are high quality marinas, with fuel security etc.

and from there

these are no low budget sailor marinas, so basically you get what you pay for when staying in public ports as luperon, samana etc.

 

[frank12]

Almost two years to the day, i sailed from Samana to Charleston, South Carolina aboard a 42ft sailboat. The captain's name is Ohion Jeff and lives in Samana, the other guy's name is Hawaiian Tom and used to live in Samana. These two men were true sailors, i was just on board to lose weight. I lost 14lbs in 12 days. No joke. Most effective diet ever.

Leaving Samana Bay
1.

Arriving in Turks & Caicos
2.

4.

5. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y516/Husabergfrank/Sailing Trip/DSC02453_zps0d45f01b.jpg

Heading west down the North Coast from Samana before turning north towards turks & Caicos
6.

7.

8.

9. Turks & Caicos

Captain Jeff & Me
10. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y516/Husabergfrank/Sailing Trip/DSC01104_zps4f7d233e.jpg

11.

12. http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/y516/Husabergfrank/Sailing Trip/DSC01111_zpse82a7286.jpg

13. Tom repairing a ripped sail

14. Catching lunch

15.

Catching Dinner
16.

17.Catching Breakfast

18. Here is where i am in the middle of my very effective vomiting diet. Highly recommend it if you're having trouble dropping weight.

19. The largest single mast sailboat in the world (we docked right next to it in Charleston, SC.) We looked like a small lifeboat next to it. Do a Wikepedia search (type in the name "Mirabella 5) and look at the length and width, tonnage, etc.

 

[Bronxboy]

11.

Alter Ego and now you!!!!


Give me a break!!!!

 

[Empiric]

The OP got scare... I am sure that was not the intention of those who replied to him...

next time advise to go and see for himself, he/she may see the whole thing from another angle, or at least enjoy the island on the way...

to me the gov has not promoted sailing and related business very much, as they did with cargo ships, building huge facilities, despite punta cana seem to have one the best, if not the best marina in the caribbean, am i wrong?, Puerto del
Rey did you say? lets compare

 

[Criss Colon]

On the Dr's North Coast, I LOVE the "Ocean World Marina"!!!!!!
Sooooooooooooo much to do when you get "Off The Boat"!
Beautiful/Safe Marina, and large gated area of hotels/Casinos/condos, etc.
On the DR's South Coast, I Love the "Casa de Campo" marina, and resort/Condo/house, Stores/Bars/restaurants/entertainment, areas.
I don't have a boat, but I'm looking.
"Looking" for a friend with a boat that is!!!!!!
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

 

[Mountaintrout]

I see I made an error. My boat was in Samana from 86-99.

To Olly, you may have a photo from 2003 showing boats, but chances are, if they are sailboats, they are waiting for a weather window to cross the Mona to Puerto Rico, unless they were charter boats. I doubt very much there still were the number of cruising boats staying there for an extended time like up to the mid 1990s. Than Samana was like Luperon after it opened. Luiperon was not an option so cruisers wanting to stay for a time in the DR did so at Samana.

After Lupron opened, many cruisers kept going across the Mona if conditions permitted rather than stopping in Samana do to worries about security.

Too bad security problems killed what was a good business source for Samana, just as it is now killing Luperon,

Ken, did the authorities allow you to stay in samana bay free of charge? Do you know of any length restrictions?

Thanks

 

[MelisaK]

I'd love to know what you decided! I'm hoping to find a day charter later this week out of LT/Samana. Just for fun and area cruising education. Contacts?


melisa kirby
jax beach, fl