We were leaving Georgetown Bahamas when we heard the call on the Cruisehiemers net issuing a boat watch for the sailing Vessel Annie II. It was two weeks over due and it did not sound good. A week later I heard Annie II was found and in Caicos albeit dismasted. He was motoring south to Luperon with another vessel and I figured that would be that.
When we got to Luperon we were anchored close to Annie II and met Ken and his wife, who was flying home so Ken could single hand the boat to St. Lucie. Ken had a plan to cannibalize a mast and rig from a similar sized boat which was sunk in the harbor. The Comandante decided to get in on the action and told Ken he needed to pay him a couple thousand dollars for it. It was a BS move to take advantage of Ken like that and Ken decided he wasn't going to play the game. He decided to motor his 28' vessel into 5' seas and 15 knot winds for as long as he needed to.
As the window arrived and we were all preparing to exit Luperon Ken got a call from MV Spectra (a 53' Krogen). Joe the captain said, "Why don't you toss me a line and I'll tow you". Ken played it off as a bit of a joke from a fellow Yachty and Joe said," I'm serious"
It was a truly kind and generous offer to tow Annie II all the way to PR, and that kind of generosity should always be recognized. Not that Ken would have been killed or anything but it would have been a very nasty crossing for him. Three days after departing Luperon Annie II made landfall with Spectra in Mayaguez PR.
Were all glad Ken made it unscathed and were also pleased to know that fellow boaters are always there to help each other. For we all know, those we help today may save our bacon tomorrow.
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Comments [3]
Here's a neat little trick. Seems the people of Luperon don't need huge waste management trucks. They place their household scraps and other trash outside their front doors and let the town goats clean it up. I'm sure these are the same goats who end up as the dinner special in the local restaurants, as well. People often take laundry to town and the ladies will clean it very well then hang it outside on the barbed wire fence to dry. It doesn't even need clothes pins. Very ingenious I think. I suppose it might be a problem when the goats eat your pants, and that may be the reason that stewed goat is so popular here.
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After a night of revelry and good food in Caicos we set out the next day for Luperon. It was another very quiet night of little wind and smooth seas. We were warned about a large North swell and how that may effect entry into Luperon which sits on the north coast. One guy had done it before in larger swells and convinced us it would work out so off we went. We hooked another Mahi, this one being the largest this year and set out over night once again. As dawn broke we made out the ominous outline of a mountain. We haven't seen one in three years of cruising out here and let me tell you it seemed quite majestic. It was cloaked in rain and gray clouds. Seemed kind of surreal to see that sort of thing after spending so much time in the Bahamas and it's low lying scrubby islands. The swell was probably 6 to 7 feet but very well spaced. We made a single file line and crept in to the entrance. All seemed so easy until I turned to look back and saw a huge wave developing. It was like one of those Hawaii 50 type of waves and it looked huge to me. I was getting concerned about how to manage it as it quietly vanished along a shoal. Not even a small ripple followed us in and we rounded the corner into Luperon. Like many a cruiser I have heard the good the bad and the ugly of this place. I expected a filthy harbor, boat boys offering to reliev us of any extra money and the dreaded Comandante and his entourage of officialdom looking for bribes. None of this could have been further from the truth. Instead we encountered a nice harbor with no more pollution than any other, The nicest people one could hope to encounter and the many officials we were required to meet were all very professional, courteous and not one of them hinted for a bribe of tip. We have only been here a short while and already we feel as if we could spend the rest of our lives here. Being always restless though I'm sure it will be just a mater of time until we move along.
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