Charter Notes ##From Dewey overlooking the canal through town.
Spanish Virgin Islands & St. Croix By Tracy Leonard
Over a leisurely President’s Day week, my family of four joined some friends to charter a catamaran for a quick jaunt through the Spanish Virgin Islands and St. Croix. First Stop: Culebra
After a debriefing at the charter base in Fajardo on Puerto Rico’s east coast, we set sail for Culebra, one of the larger islands comprising the Spanish Virgin Islands. Since Culebra is east of Fajardo, our initial “sail” was really a motor upwind, but soon the calm waters of Ensenada Honda welcomed us. Exuding chill relaxation, Culebra is home to 1800 Puerto Ricans and several wildlife refuges. That leaves development at a minimum and high-rise condos nonexistent. A meander through the main town of Dewey reveals some small, but 68 April 2020 SpinSheet.com
##Anna and Hannes at Zaco’s Tacos.
ample grocery stores, a dive shop, and several restaurants. A driftwood sculpture of a giant man now greets visitors at the ferry terminal where a narrow canal splits the island in two. Culebra is home to one of the world’s celebrated beaches, Playa Flamenco, and many visitors flock to its mile-long crescent of fine white sand, gorgeous water, and abandoned American tanks. Alas, our stomachs were growling, so we skipped the beach for a much more
obligatory stop: Zaco’s Tacos. We first set foot in Zaco’s six years ago, and it remains one of our favorite Caribbean restaurants. The outdoor patio hosts resident roosters alongside patrons. After munching on tacos, a trip down to the tire swing off the back patio finishes off the meal. From Dewey, we made our way to the ever--tranquil Bahia de Almodovar. Several moorings are available, and it is also possible to anchor in the grassy bay.