If you ask Juan he will say half the passage was good the other half not, I think two thirds were good and the other third rolly but not bad. But a third of a half, once we crossed the banks we looked at the ocean and it looked good, so we just went on.We always say if we don't like it we go back, but we never do. The wind did a full turn on the clock and we went from downwind to close hauled, but while it was on a reach we turned off the engine and sailed for a few hours. As we were approaching the island the wind had turned to the SE and we had it on our nose, but no more than 13 to 14 knots. We were all happy, tired but only 6 miles away from the marina when we started to smell diesel. There was a hole on one of the hoses and diesel was pouring from it. After some debating, and some tape that did not stick, we decided to sail to the marina and turn the engine on just to go in. But we were very underpowered because at night the wind had picked up a little bit and we had taken two reefs on the main, so Juan went to try to hoist it again and with the effort did something to his shoulder! Worse than the hole which he has already fixed.
The marina is big, modern and empty. A pity, somebody had grand designs that did not pan out. There is a swimming pool, restaurants, casino, great showers, laundry and their large office building also houses immigration, the navy, and everything you need to clear in and out of the country. A far cry from Luperón.
So now we are poring over weather charts again to see what we will do. If Juan's shoulder is not better we might try to go into Puerto Plata tomorrow for a doctor to see him and then leave the next day. Some cruisers have been trapped here for ten days and are taking advantage of this window, one left after we arrived, and another couple is planning on leaving tomorrow. We would like the company but overnights exhaust us. We must be getting younger...
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