[alaskadog]

The book has a hand drawn chart with the compass bearings and how to line up for the approach thru the San Pedro pass. There is also a buoy that you have to leave to port as you come in. And you can see this buoy once you line up to come in to the harbor area. There are usually lots of boats in the area and there may be cruisers or power boaters who can give local knowledge if you hail on VHF. The main thing to remember is do not try to push your luck by coming thru if there are big seas. I know that high is a relative term but given the low power of most auxilliary engines on sailboats one should not try to make the pass if you can not keep control of the boat. Remember the dog leg to port. Seas from the east over 5 or 6 feet may be too much to handle for many boats. The tendency is that the strong current coming in on high easterly seas will push you toward the drying patch reef. The prevailing trade winds during the winter are out of the east or southeast and it is not unusual for seas to run high for several days. If you are approaching from Mexico then the alternative is to go south to the big ship channel entrance southeast of Belize City. That is a long day sail if the winds are favorable. Then you would have to check in at Belize City about 15 miles or so across the bay once you pass the reef which brings on another set of problems. It is certainly easier and more pleasant to check in at San Pedro but it ain't worth wrecking your boat to do it.