Where in the World 39
October 2016 The-Triton.com
etched our alloys and stainless onboard. The locals in Port Antonio, Jamaica, call it Santiago chicken pox. They were standing by with a remedy to clean up our paint work upon our arrival. Port Antonio is a rundown port, but the marina is nice with a little bar and restaurant, nice pool and secure. But put your head out the gate and what a shock. We left Jamaica, dropped down to Providencia Island, an island in this group off Nicaragua, where we stayed for a week as we wanted to move on down
toward Panama. Our main sail broke at the top of the mast and the only sailmaker within many miles is on this island, so we came here to repair the sail. Small job, and we got it back within 24 hours. Most of the anchorages we’ve traveled to so far are polluted. Santiago de Cuba was badly polluted with fuel oil. Port Antonio was almost as bad. The trash in the ocean between Cuba and Jamaica (the windward passage) was the worst we have ever seen in all our years at sea.
Providencia Island was quite nice, the water was at least clear and we could get out and about without any issues. Once we depart from here, we hope the real adventures begin; that's what we've been told, anyway. We've met some nice people with good advice and good tips. The networking side of yachting is always great, no matter what size or style of yacht. It’s still a nice community to be involved with. Veteran yachting captains Brian and Sue Mitchell are off sailing their 53-foot ketch
A view of the port at Santiago de Cuba (oppostite page, top) is different from the view inside (opposite page, bototm). The western side of the entrance to the port (above) and the ferry that gets people around the harbor and port PHOTOS/CAPT. BRIAN MITCHELL (inset). S/Y Lola, eventually winding up home in Australia. Comments are welcome at editor@the-triton.com.