Spanish Virgin Islands

We just got back from a great sailing trip in the Spanish Virgin Islands. Our friends Bruce and Karen went with us and the charter company was Sail Caribe. I have nothing but high marks for Sail Caribe and they even changed out their schedule so we had our briefing on Saturday night instead of Sunday morning. This allowed us to make the sail out to Culebra on Sunday instead of Monday. Gracias to Magdalia, Captain Brian and all the staff at Sail Caribe.

The trip including sailing from the East coast of Puerto Rico to Culebra where we first anchored at Playa Melones. Nice little anchorage and we picked up a mooring ball there. The first day was motoring directly into the wind but after that it's all beam reaches or runs.

Our boat for the week, a 34'9" Jeanneau

Ferry between Culebra and the mainland

Playa Melones

The next day came with 25 knot winds and we sailed around the bottom of Culebra and into the main harbor, Ensanada Honda. This is an extremely protected anchorage and we founds lots of other boats there. We spent the night on the hook and toured the little town of Dewey. There wasn't too much open so we ate lunch and dinner at the famed Dinghy Dock Restaurant.

Lots of boats tucked out of the wind and waves

Town of Dewey

Non-raising draw bridge

The next day we sailed over to Isla Culebrita and went to one of the top 10 beaches in the Caribbean. We spent the day snorkeling and exploring before heading over to the South coast of Culebra again to get ready for the passage to Vieques. There was only one other boat in the anchorage and we had a very quiet and peaceful evening. 

Mushroom cloud

Light house on Culebrita

Beautiful scene from the beach

Tortuga Beach

Anchorage for the night

Sunset

Sunset

Double rainbow and the only other boat in the anchorage

The following day we sailed over to Vieques. Without much wind we had a beam reach and averaged around 4 knots for the crossing. Finally at the end of the crossing our boat speed dropped to less than 2 knots and we motor sailed the rest of the way in. The Eastern edge of Vieques is pretty rough and we gave the coast a wide berth. There are also a lot of unexploded ordinances (bombs) from the US Navy days so we elected to sail into Sun Bay and anchor there. The Western Edge of Vieques is safer for anchoring.

We spend two days in the Sun Bay and Esperanza area and toured the bio-bay. If you've never been to a bio-bay it is well worth the experience. From Esperanza we sailed to Green Beach on the Western side of Vieques and spent the day snorkeling and beach combing. We left after lunch and sailed out to Isla Palomino. A few squalls made the sailing interesting and we were chasing sunset so this became a motor sailing trip to make it in time. The next day was a short sail back to the Sail Caribe base in Puerto Del Rey Marina.

Karen at the helm

Eastern side of Vieques

Ruth sailing along

Sun Bay

One other boat, this place is crowded!

Sun Bay

Dinner and sun set in Vieques

Bruce in charge

I'm at the helm

Green Beach

Sundowners

Isla Palomina

This was a great trip and a lot more rustic than the British Virgin Islands. There are also more reefs to avoid and you really have to be sure of your navigation and location at all times. Next year we're back to BVI, but we will be back SVI!