Re-anchoring in Spanish Waters

Curacao has a great and quite large harbor called Spaansche Water (that's Dutch for Spanish Water). It has a tricky entrance but once inside it opens up into several anchorage areas. Since 2001, when we were here last, the anchoring rules have changed a bit. Now you need "permission" to anchor in certain areas and some areas are no longer allowed. This meant we tried one place, but before we got the anchor down someone told us - "can't anchor there." So we tried another - but didn't like how we sat - too close to a "thoroughfare" (a small channel into another area). So we moved again and anchored in this spot a few times until we liked where we were. (More on this later).

On Tuesday, we did our clearing in. We got the dinghy in and headed to shore to catch a bus. We met Lily and Otto from Vagabond who would be making the trek as well. As we were waiting for the bus, we met another few sailors - one spoke like 10 languages- fluently. He was filled with great info and could go from Hungarian to Spanish to English without blinking! We unfortunately missed the 0900 bus (it must have gotten there a tad early), so we waited and chatted until the 1000 bus. The bus is 1.60Naf (less than a dollar US). It was a brand new big bus, air-conditioned and very roomy and clean (eat your heart out Frank - these were no Grenadian minivans). We got to town and started the process. First customs. No problem (in fact it was new employee who gave everyone the wrong forms and had to chase us down the street to switch them). Then across the floating bridge (which opens and closes with people on it- no OSHA here) to immigration. No problem. Then on to the next building. We went upstairs to the Harbor Authority which gives you permission to anchor in the various harbors. A bit of a problem. We decided to ask for permission to anchor in each of the harbors in case we wanted to visit them on our way out of here. But you have to give specific dates for each location or the coast guard will make you leave. We said - it depends on weather - they said "give us specific dates." So we made it up!

We had a nice lunch with Lily and Otto and then split with them. We did a bank stop and picked up some nice fruit from the Venezuelan veggie market (watermelon - yum!!) Then headed home - finding the right bus. We got back to the boat in time for Happy Hour at a nearby sailing club. Before we left, the gentleman (Bill) from boat we were anchored near, came by and introduced himself and told us - he tried to move today but when the wind shifted, we were over his anchor. We told him we'd move in the morning.

Nice Happy Hour - we got lots of local info from Bill, Louis and Tom - all single-handers who have been in Curacao quite awhile. Tom was the only cruiser we've ever met who knew that Astarte was a goddess!

When we got back to the boat, Sweet Dreams was very close to us, having just anchored in the spot we were planning to move to the next morning. Bummer. The next morning, we re-anchored. Once. Twice. Three times. Now we were far from Bill's boat and not on anyone's anchor. The water was deeper - so we had to let out more chain. (Now freshly painted and easy to see - though the paint is chipping off quite quickly!)

On Wednesday, Michael ordered his fuel lines and our mail to be delivered here (Pricey!). Barbara did some baking (she made up a recipe for a mango/papaya bread). Then we invited some folks over for sundowners. Our Bamboozle friends Lucy and Jamie arrived - but they had other commitments. We invited the folks from "Casa del Mar" (from Portland OR) and "So Cal. So Good." It was a fun (although a bit long) night. Sundowners lasted until 2200.

Today, we'll go grocery shopping and more exploring. All require bus rides.

Happy Birthday mom (Gen) and Dad (Peter).