So here we are some 30 miles across the water to Curacao having had a great down wind frolic on Monday.  We had spent a lovely day on Sunday with some friends from ‘Strider’.  We dinghied up round the mangroves and looked at how the other half live. Need a lot of money to own a property around here.  A lazy lunch and a glass or two of rose and we were all quite mellow.  We had a great snorkel just of the marina wall and even saw a lion fish.  Fascinating spiky things with a very toxic sting – they are busy being predators to most of the sea life in the caribbean as they have no natural predators here. Naturalists are worried about bthye rate of spread and the effect this will have on the local species. They have arrived here from the pacific probably in the water ballast of cargo vessels.  We got a pic but didn’t go too close.

Back on the boat we were enjoying a siesta when we heard a lot of shouting.  Kids having fun we thought – then realised it was a couple of kids in a capsized dinghy being swept down out of the bay and in a panic as one was in the water.  John shouted to them but one of them just kept screaming.  So it was in to the dinghy and away he went with his instructors cap on.  What a carry on he had trying to get them to listen and do what was needed.  One of them just hysterical and almost beyond doing anything.  There was no rescue cover for them. (we learned later that the rescue boat had been pinched a few weeks ago!!)  Fortunately they got the boat sorted and sailed themselves back with John following on behind to be sure they were safe.  Who says life on anchor is boring.

We left early on Monday morning having cleared customs the day before. We sailed by a huge cruise ship which was just entering the bay.  Another hectic day in Bonaire.  The wind was blowing about 10 knots so we put up the main and the gib, poling the gib out which allowed us to goosewing most of the way across.   The seas got a bit turbulent just of the end of Curacao so as we gybed round the headland we put the pole and gib away and just used the main for the last 6 miles or so.  Finding the entrance to Spanish Waters was interesting.  The entrance is well concealed and very narrow.  We had charts and an old reference book which is now out of print to guide us.  Much has changed since the book was published as there is now a beautiful resort built on the edge of the channel and even a small marina once you are in the channel.  Apparently they charge you to go onto the beach.  It looks like they might have imported the sand as most beaches are very rocky normally!  Anyway we stuck to the deep section of a twisty channel which has serious shallows on either side.  Once safely inside we found plenty of anchoring space and picked a spot which to date has given us good holding.   It is a very sheltered anchorage and described as an excellent hurricane hole  (hopefully we won’t be needing that!)

We had just gotten ourselves organised to head into the main town of Willemstad to do the customs and immigration bit when we were approached by a customs and excise speed boat.  They requested that they board us.  We explained we had only just arrived and were heading in to do the business etc. Anyway they allowed us to go and headed to another boat.  Apparently over 40 boats have been inspected recently and some of the long term cruisers are decidedly miffed about the hassle.  Some directive from the new government apparently  – ah the joys!

Fortunately we asked our neighbour how to get to town and where to go once there – his info was invaluable as I doubt we’d have found it in a hurry otherwise.  They don’t make it easy for you with the various departments a mile or so apart.  Anyway we are now legal and we got to see a lot more of the main town than we had planned to on our first trip in.  We quickly realised that it was a tad more cosmopolitan than we had seen on the other islands.  There is a very heavy Dutch presence on the anchorage.  This is a romantic island, at least thats the impression we got on St Valentine’s Day. Lots of people, both young and old were carrying valentine’s gifts and were dressed in red and white. Far more shop windows were devoted to it as well.

The local speak Papiamento here as well but it seems much faster and so very difficult to understand them. Willemstad is so busy with cruise ships it is even busier than Bonaire.  There must be thousands of people each day.  There are quite a lot of bridges in the town and the floating (dating from 1888) one which swings open frequently during the day to allow boats in and out creates must amusement as folk try to get on to it as the bells ring to stop people.   We treated ourselves to a cappucino in Delifrance yesterday – unaldulterated luxury and yummy!!!  Well yes but then we had a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream – utter decadence!

As a result of there being very little to do in Spanish Waters we will probably hire a car and have a look around the island before we leave. There is a a greater amount of history here and we have been told that the museum is a must.  The water we are anchored in is green and murky and not really very inviting especially after being spoiled by the waters in Bonaire.  We did have fun last night watching some of the kids out from the local yacht club in oppies and adults in Yingling( Shirley Robertsons gold medal boat) though.

Curacao is still using the NAf (netherlands Antilles Florin) and the US$ so conversion is taxing our brains somewhat. They also refer to the NAf as a guilder which adds to the confusion.

Enough for now so it’s back to lazing in the sun before guests arrive for a sun-downer. Well someone’s got to do it!