CURRENT LOCATION: Anchored east of Cayo Mata near the villages of Playa Salinas and Playita, Puerto Rico

17 57.274' N, 066 17.474' W

Today, the anchor was aboard by 3:00AM as we departed Caja de Muertos bound for Salinas. This 18-nautical mile journey was a relatively simple motorsail. Since we were offshore, we started with considerable winds but made our first tack closer to the mainland where winds allowed us to shake the reef out of the main and unfurl a full genoa. The second tack took us back offshore, where we had to stow the genoa and reef the main. Tack number three took us to the opening of the snug little harbor near the town of Salinas, framed by the mangroves of Cayo Mata and Punta Arenas.

We sailed in company with s/v Magic and were later joined by s/v Someday Came. Since both boats draw more than we do, Sheryl and I volunteered to charge ahead into the anchorage in the pre-dawn light and report the water depths we encountered upon entering the harbor. Meanwhile the others held back for additional light and the depth details we would provide.

We saw nothing less than 7 feet upon entering and found a nice spot in which to drop the anchor in only 7 feet of water. The CQR dug well into the mangrove mud and we went about the now familiar routine of setting up house. While we put on the anchor snubber, covered the sails, and launched the dinghy, familiar boats anchored all around us. In addition to Magic and Someday Came, s/v Veleda IV arrived and dropped a hook in the harbor.

Our 2AM breakfast of oatmeal had long since lost the ability to sustain us, so we had our second breakfast (mac & cheese for Sheryl, mac & cheese with a can of tuna for me) around 8AM, a cheap and filling meal. As we were settling in, a friendly chap by the name of Steve (from s/v Nonsuch) stopped by to give us the lay of the land. Once upon a time, Steve took a year off to go sailing. Then he developed vision problems: he could not see himself going back (ba-dum-bum). He indicated that was his one and only joke, but it has worked now for better than 10 years. Steve is bound to be a wealth of local knowledge while we are here.

Once we were assured that the anchor was well stuck, we grabbed the laptop and headed to shore. We know, dear Reader, how important our regular postings are to you, and we make it a priority to find internet whenever we are able. A 1.5-mile walk found us sitting in a park in the center of Salinas. Not only was free internet available, but we also found an AC power plug. We were plugged in, both figuratively and literally, enjoying a sunny day in the park, no less.



The only disadvantage to our location in the park was the 'political ad trucks.' Apparently, in Puerto Rico, politicians are targeting a key demographic of nearly deaf voters. Trucks for various candidates roll by with HUGE stacks of speakers on top, each trying to outdo the other in volume. And we were sitting in the city center, where they slowly made repeated circuits around the park. Sheryl and I winced each time they passed, the volume was that obnoxious. The locals didn't even seem to take notice. It makes you wonder how effective noise pollution is as an advertising tool.

In addition to being able to post our blogs, we are able to gain access to e-mail when we are fortunate enough to be online. We would like to take a moment to thank all of you who wrote with words of encouragement for us during our recent dip in morale. Believe us, dear Reader, you are a very important part of Team Prudence. Please keep on reading and send us an e-mail every now and again, just to let us know that you are doing well and are enjoying what we have to share. For our part, we will keep on living this dream and sharing with you as best we know how (both the ups and the downs of the cruising lifestyle).