Cruising in Puerto Rico?

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Roger Long

Roger Long

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
I was discussing Puerto Rico in another context the other day and suddenly realized that I can't recall every hearing anyone mention or talk about that island as a cruising area. Given the advantages for U.S. citizens cruising in an area with common laws, etc., I would expect to have heard more about it. Is there a reason?

No plans to go there, just curious.
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
have you heard mention of vieques and culebra?? those are part of puerto rico....culebra is beautiful--i havent been to vieques----is excellent place to go and cruise and even use as a base for cruising....
 
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Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
Well the there might be some reasons:

1) The north part of the island is exposed to the Atlantic Ocean and safe harbors are few.
2) The west part of the island is exposed to the Mona Channel, one of the most treacherous bodies of water in the world.
3) Puerto Rico is no small island, it can be considered a Metropolis of 4 million people and although it is tourism oriented it places its emphasis in land based resorts and the marine facilities available are mostly for the locals.
4) The official language is spanish and most americans prefer the US Virgin Islands even though they also hardly speak English if you know what I mean.
5) I believe the main reason is Puerto Rico's proximity to the Lesser Antilles which offer such rich sailing grounds that PR can hardly compete.
6) There are cultural differences. Marine facilities in PR do not cater to beach bars where you can drink a shot from a maid's navel.

Having said all that the Fajardo area on the eastern side offers great sailing as well as the offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra. Puerto Rico offers some very good regattas in the Rolex circuit and has some excellent yacht yards for retrofits and repairs.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,138
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Benny said:
4) The official language is spanish and most americans prefer the US Virgin Islands even though they also hardly speak English if you know what I mean.
Click to expand
Gee, Benny, a lot of folks say that about the Bronx and Brooklyn, too, but there are still people sailing around there! :):):)

Yup, the eastern end of PR is still relatively undiscovered and many US Virgin Island yacht charterers are starting to go there, now that they finished up using it as a major US Navy big boat big gun firing range.
 
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Big Windy

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Jun 2, 2004
1,077
Several Catalinas C25/C320 USA
I've cruised the east side of the island, it is definitely the best. Lots of smaller islands to visit as well as those mentioned above.
 
B

Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
Stu, very funny, the Bronx and Brooklyn are fine communities and have visited both as well as having cruised the East River. I'm sure those same folks, you overheard, may have also mentioned Miami, FL as a place where you might need an interpreter and a passport to travel to. But don't believe everything you hear as the majority of the businesses there have signs of "We Speak English" on their doors. If you can do Miami, you can do Puerto Rico but don't believe the English spoken in Kansas is the same English spoken in the VI.
 
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