A Day in the Life of Astarte: Clearing Out

We have several folks who have asked about the day to day routine of cruising. We thought we would share with you what it is like to have to clear out of customs in a foreign country while sailing on a crusing boat. Just writing all the details would be too boring so we have borrowed (okay, we stole it!) an idea from Geoff and Pat on the sailboat "Beach House." What follows is a photographic record of what it takes to get officially "cleared out" of a country. Specifically Curacao.

It all starts fairly early in the morning. Getting the dinghy ready is a daily routine. You see dinghies do have a tendancy to "disappear" in the night if not tied up and locked up. So, between morning "radio nets" (the local net, weather net, cruiser nets), the dinghy prep starts.

Michael has to pump up the dinghy(really!)

Followed by Barbara cranking the halyard to raise "Air Mary" off the deck.

So Michael can push it out over the side and Barbara slowly releases the halyard to lower it into the water.

Then Barbara unlocks the outboard and. . . .

The outboard gets lowered onto "Air Mary"

Barbara unties,

and we're "off like a june brides pajamas"

In this particular anchorage we have quite a way to go to the dinghy dock. There is often a stop here and there to chat with a fellow boater.

The dinghy dock awaits - gotta find a "parking space."

Tie it.

Lock it.

Opps, don't forget to drop off the garbage!

Wait for the local bus.

Load on

Our traveling companions from Tumshi- also checking out today.

Arriving in Willamsted - about a half hour bus ride.

The walk to the first stop - customs. (Called Douane in Dutch)

The pleasant official and the paperwork.

Then off to the second spot...across the water. Two options - the floating bridge or the ferry. The ferry works only when the bridge is open - which it is - so onto the ferry...across the water...

The open floating bridge, the reason we take the ferry.

Off the ferry...then up the hill to the next stop..."immigration."

Must clear in at the gate then the long, long, long walk down the dock to the immigration office.

Into immigration.

More paperwork and passports get stamped.

The very nice immigration officer - quite helpful and friendly (not always the case!)

And this is the harbor authority office where you get the anchoring permits.

NOW - reverse it all and head back to Astarte. The walk back, ferry across, wait for the bus, take it back to the dinghy dock, retrieve (untie/unlock) the dinghy, get back to the boat...and you've just spent six hours with the crew of Astarte.

Welcome to our world.