Vieques and Puerto Rico - And Turtle Rescue!

After checking out of the BVI, we  made a short hop to Christmas Island where we anchored before setting off on the next leg of our trip - starting the trek home! It was a nice feeling.......while we love the BVI, it feels good to be getting back to "real cruising" rather than the morning rush for mooring balls at the better bars and playing "dodgem" with the Credit Card Captains - which for the record, seem to be getting worse!....I can't believe some of the charter companies entrust boats to people that:  can't dock the boat; raise sails correctly; and anchor with running lights and every other light know to man turned on!.......but they obviously do!  OMG we saw some near disasters - especially with boats attempting to dock at Leverick Bay on a breezy day.  It was very eye-opening.  Now I am not knocking credit card captains - having been there myself  (well maybe I am) - just seems the charter companies are keen for business and letting the standards of seamanship needed suffer.

But back to the trip.  We had excellent pizza from the famous "Pizza Pi" in Christmas Cove.  I am not sure how they make such great pizza on a boat - but hats off to them, it was excellent!  https://www.pizza-pi.com/

Ensenada Sun Bay

The next morning we headed out to Vieques.  A short 30-35 mile sail, but the winds died and we ended up motor-sailing.  Still it was a nice easy passage.  We anchored in a nice wide bay with 2 other boats in Ensenada Sun Bay.  The bottom was grassy but we held well.  One boat next to us drug anchor.....but it turned out they had hardly any chain out.  This seemed to be in a state park area, but being Sunday most things seemed closed, so we stayed on the boat.

Turtle Rescue

On the way, we were able to help a turtle in distress.   I have some video of the adventure and will try to put it together and insert - it was a very satisfying little addition to the trip to help out one of these wonderful sea creatures.

Puerto Patillas - sleepy seaside town on Monday

Puerto Rico

The next morning we had a brisk sail to Puerto Rico - winds 18-25, with pretty healthy swells  made for a fast sail.  We again anchored for the night at Puerto Patillas and this time we checked in using the CBP Roam app, which made immigration and customs clearance a breeze.......but I am still not sure why you need to check in from the USVI to the US Puerto Rico?  Even the government weren't sure if we needed to!

The following day - light wind, so we motor-sailed to Ponce going though the mangrove islands at Boca del Inferno, with a stop at the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club.  This turned out to be a nice place, but we could only get an overnight spot on the fuel dock.......which was a bit rolly due to swell.

We then moved on to Ponce - where, yes!  there's a Walmart....back to , oh no, US "civilization" - or not!

Then on to Gilligan's Island - a wonderful anchorage, that we thoroughly enjoyed........but it gets better, we then moved on to Puerto Real and found what has to be one o the most friendly towns and marinas we have visited so far.  Marina Pescaria has to be the best!!  Quaint fishing town marina, friendly staff, helpful CBP personnel......and a great bar.  What more could you ask for?