As of early February 2023, it is not possible to clear in at Mayaguana. The most convenient port of entry for boats arriving from Turks and Caicos, not wanting to go southwest to Great Inagua, is probably Clarence Town on the southeast side of Long Island.

We attempted to clear in at Mayaguana, and failing, then sailed from Mayaguana to Attwood Harbor on Acklins Island, about a 60nm downwind sail. We spent two nights there (good snorkeling at the entrance reef) and before leaving called the Flying Fish Marina in Clarence Town, listed as a contact for the port of entry.

Flying Fish was not especially friendly or eager to help. We next called the customs office at Stella Maris directly, at +1 242 338 2012. The customs agent there, in turn, gave us the number of his supervisor, “Ms. Hunt”, +1 242 472 0358. We called Ms. Hunt, who was very friendly and professional. She asked us to text her the “PCR” number from the click2clear web site and asked us to get in touch once we were actually at Clarence Town.

We sailed the next day from Attwood Harbor to Clarence Town, about 65nm downwind, and arrived near sunset. We texted Ms. Hunt (the number is a cell phone), told her we were at Clarence town and wanted to clear in the next day.

Shortly after 9AM the next day, having heard nothing back, we called Ms. Hunt. She agreed to meet us at the Flying Fish Marina between 11 and 12. As it turned out, there were three other boats also clearing in the same day; we all texted out PCR numbers to Ms. Hunt, who was suitably prepared when she arrived.

Clearance was straightforward; the only additional paperwork (besides click2clear) was an immigration form for each person aboard, which requested essentially the same information we already provided to click2clear. The form was available at the Flying Fish marina office, so we had them filled out and ready when Ms. Hunt arrived.

It seems that the fishing permit is automatically supplied with the cruising permit, so no separate application was needed.

Our advice to cruisers clearing in at Clarence town is:

* Complete the click2clear process on the web, and pay the $300 cruising permit fee online.

* Call customs at +1 242 338 2012 BEFORE arrival and advise them that you wish to clear in. You will likely be given Ms. Hunt’s number, +1 242 472 0358, and you should call her. She says that she prefers to do clearances between 11 and 12 each weekday.

* Call Ms. Hunt the morning you wish to clear in to confirm your appointment.