Tag Archives: ABC Islands

Aruba

In the morning the 8/3-16 we took the 6A wifi bus to Punda to clear out of Curacao and also take the dingy to a nearby harbour to get gasoline for the dinghy. After a swim and a quick shower we were of to Aruba 16:30. We had an average of 15 knots of wind and sailed 5-6 knot during the night with one reef in main and the jib. We arrived to early to Oranjestad and had to wait outside until the fifth cruise ship had docked in there. The customs and immigration came driving out to the pier with forms to fill in and customs boarded Alexandra for inspection. The latter we never experienced before. On the anchorage outside Oranjestad we were us and a large schooner with the dutch flag. The latter stayed for a couple of days and then we were alone again until the British SY Moonraker arrived from Curacao. We had most enjoyable sundowner with them before they sailed of for San Blas. Thanks for the water Chris! We had to wait until we had a good weather window to Cartagena, Colombia. Aruba was a strange place with lots of jeweller stores and designer clothes stores. They had no reef and the water was not so clear as in Bonaire. The tourists were sailed out in small speedboats to a little island with huts with palm leaf roof. We did not enjoy there passing us at anchor, making big waves. Radio-shack had not the specific capacitor we needed. The check out were the same procedure as the check in so Lars backed in so we only have black marks on star-board side.

Curacau

On the 28/2-16, after clearing out with customs and immigration in Bonaire, we sailed of to to Curacao and to the anchorage bays in Spanish Water, were we arrived before dark 17:00. Jesper advised us to lay anchor in the A sector and told us were to find custom and immigration and most important were do the bus depart to town. Willemstad is divided in 2 parts Punda (customs) and Otrobanda (immigration and harbour authorities for cruising permit 10$). The two parts are connected by the pontoon bridge “Queen Emma” for pedestrian and Queen Juliana Bridge for cars. In Otrobanda we visited Kura Hulanda Museum and an interesting part that dealt with the slave period. It was not nice to see or hear about but that period is important to know about. There were some beautiful sculptures, al picturing black people in front of the museum and in a sculpture garden, not taken care of so good, unfortunately. During the stay here I had a plan to get all laundry washed, but suddenly the water-maker stopped to work. After we had checked, rinsed or shifted filters it still didn’t work. Lars think that it could be the capacitor, on the electric motor for the high pressure pump, that is faulty. Hopefully we can get a new one in Cartagena. Thanks for advice from Willem and Hans. In Spanish water we had no contact with other sailor except two Swedish boats, Kairos and Alma, that arrived in the end of our stay there. Hope to see them later on.

Bonaire

On the 9/2 14;30, after a tedious clearing out of Granada in the new fancy Marina/Resort, we finally hoist the anchor and sat course towards Bonaire, one of the three ABC island in the Netherlands Antilles. We had two days and 20 hours in front of us starting with very good winds and one reef in main. Friday the 12/2 at 10 o’clock we arrived at Kralendijk and got help from a Dane, Jesper, with the mooring and tips about burger evening etc.. On Bonaire you are not allowed to droop anchor because the whole island is surrounded by corals. Later on we got to no Jesper, his family and friend and the stay on Bonaire turned out to be one of our bests, thanks to them. Alexandra was surrounded by corals and lots of colourful fish to look at, that gave us hours of nice snorkelling. Also touring around the island on a scooter and the national park up north in Jespers car gave lots of adventures. The greatest event was probably that Lars, together with Katerina, got the padi diver certificate. It was super and not at all easy. I am glad for passing the padi theory so I can make sure Lars’s diving equipment is okay. Maybe later on I can try again with the practical tests. Snorkelling is grate for me now!