Our departure from St Thomas was overcast and choppy seas with 20 knt winds. We had a couple more cruise liners going past us heading for Charlotte Amalie, making 4 for the day.The sail was a pleasant down wind trip with only the head sail. Clearing in at Culebra, which belongs to Puerto Rico, we were told a couple of scenarios, both different and both from Customs and Border Protection officers. First one: you need to clear out of the USVI and phone the office in Puerto Rico to notify arrival before physically going to the office at the airport.
When we came to clear out the Second one: no you don't need to clear out and you just turn up at the office. A phone call by No2: verified yes, we must clear out...so we did.
Arrival in Ensenada Honda, we tried to phone the numbers given with no success, so we thought to go ashore and find a public phone. Found a phone minus the handset.....walk on and asked a guy in a servo where we could find a phone. When he understood we needed to phone the airport he laughed and said why ring when you can go across the road and speak to the person. Into the airport(maximum size plane is 10 seater) and spot a public phone. Okay we'll do the right thing and ring.....sorry it is out of order and there are no public phones on the island. What to do now? A nice security lady took us to the customs office and waited with us til the officer came. He wanted to know why we hadn't phoned. Told him the story and while he seemed abrupt and just a bit annoyed, he finally agreed to process us. He made the phone call. Apparently the number is to a central office on the main island, then you still have to go through it all again for this local guy. As the time wore on with questions and more questions he became more relaxed about his dealing with us. I got concerned when he wanted to know about fruit and veg purchased in St Thomas. Finally we were told if we didn't eat it don't bring it ashore, scraps as well. Cruising permit in hand we left for the walk back to the dinghy dock after 3 hrs.