Westbound from USVI.

As a non-US boat, we’d needed to jump the hoops to get into the USVI. Well documented – do the ferry hop to get your non-US passport stamped in St Thomas. Having done that, we not only had an easy entry to the USVI, but this set us up for check-in to Puerto Rico as well.

After check-out of USVI, we checked-in at Culebra Island airport. You are supposed to phone ahead, but we got no signal, and they were fine (but do phone if you get a signal). US stamps acquired in USVI – good for them also. Fees – $74 total. For the dog, they just checked the health certificate we’d got the day before on St Thomas. Friendly service, and welcoming.

Culebra is pretty good (ref. hurricanes). Lots of room in the harbour; super holding (quite shallow); restaurants open near the canal (opposite side of the bay from the airport). It’s definitely worth entering Puerto Rico this way, and it also makes it an easy two-step hop from the USVI to the mainland.

General information about Mona Island as of June 1st 2015.
– 5 Free NOAA Buoys available inside the lagoon
– Entrance (narrow, 6 feet deep) to the lagoon marked by 2 aligned orange / brown signs on shore
– National park guard and rangers are very nice and have lots of stories to tell about the island.
– Excellent snorkeling on both sides of the reef
– To walk the trails on the island you need a permit you can get in Puerto Rico (main island)
– You might get water (bring your jerry cans) from the rangers if needed
– It’s definitely a great stop to rest during your crossing between Rep Dominicana and Puerto Rico. Cliffs and bird watching are amazing.

Posted on behalf of Scott Fratcher:
Air Conditioning/Refrigeration

We tried a couple of different guys and settled on May Day Marine 787-637-0756. They came when they said they would, found the leak, cleaned up after themselves, and did a really good job on the soldering. We would use them again.