We will be bringing our AP36
ketch back from
Puerto Rico this spring. On the way down we went
offshore to
BVI. Coming back we plan to take the ‘inside’
route via the north coast of the
Dominican Republic and the
Bahamas. The first leg will be along the south coast of
Puerto Rico then aross the Mona
Passage to Samana. This will be in late march, early april.
There’s plenty written about going east, with many cautions about how nasty it can be in the Mona
Passage. But what’s it like going east to west?
I assume it’s better to get round Cabo Rico and go up the
west coast of Puerto Rico. Clear out at Mayaguez and
head NW from Punta Higuero, leaving Isla Descheo well to port. It doesn’t look as if there is any advantage to be had by going all the way up to Aguadilla.
Given leeway and the
current, if we stay on a close reach, heading as much north as we can, we should end up due east of
Bahia Samana and well clear of the shoals.
Any
advice from people who have done this passage would be much appreciated.