NAVEGAR É PRECISO

Playa Del Coco, Costa Rica

Posted 2 March 2011

We left San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, early Friday morning 25 February. This was the first break in the Papagayo winds and we wanted to make the 60 nm miles to Costa Rica as soon as possible. We motored all the way with 4 to 6 knots of wind from the back. We dropped anchor around 4:30 pm on Friday afternoon. We tried to contact the Port Captain to check into the country, but there was no reply, most probably they have closed for the weekend.

Playa Del Coco is a beautiful bay with a long sandy beach and not much swell. There was quite a few sailboats and local fishing boats anchored in the bay. We went to bed rather early.

The next morning Dinis and myself got the hooka system ready so that we can clean the bottom of the boat and also changing the zincs. One zinc was totally gone, two was nearly gone and the 4th zinc OK. The last time we changed the zincs we were in Ensenada, Mexico. So it lasted about 4 months. Dinis changed the 3 zincs and then spend about 2 hours underwater cleaning the bottom of the boat on the port side. I was cleaning the bootstrap. The water was very clear and warm, very enjoyable. Dinis developed a blister on his second last toe on each foot from the fins.

Later during the day our friends Janet and John from S/V Wanderlust arrived. They also left San Juan Del Sur on Friday morning, but spend Friday night at Bahia Santa Elena.

On Sunday we continued cleaning the starboard side. It seems to be going much faster this time around. After lunch we put the dinghy in the water, put the engine on and went for a little ride in the bay.

We arranged with Janet and John that we will pick them up on Monday morning, so that we all can go to the Port Captain for check-in. We arrived just after 8 am at the Port Captain's office and the Port Captain gave us all the info what to do and where to go. So it seemed easy enough, so off we went to make some photocopies of our documents and then off the bank to withdraw money. The first bank we were not successful, so off to the next bank where we were successful getting money. The next stop was immigration. The lady immigration officer gave us forms to fill out. She then informed us to return after 11 am as the electricity is down and nothing can be done until then.

It is hot, no breeze, so we decided to get something cold and something to eat while we wait. We arrived at around 11:30 back at immigration and got all the papers signed and our passports stamped. Now we went to go to the bank to deposit the money for check-in before we are to return to the Port Captain with the receipts and be in time for the Inspection officer at 1 pm. This is were the whole check-in fell apart. We were all lucky that Dinis could speak Spanish (or as he likes to call it 'Portanol', as Portuguese is very similar to Spanish). At the bank after we stood in line for some time, Dinis asked one of the bank personnel if we are standing in the correct line for depositing the money. He told us no, we should speak to one of the staff members in a different area, so we went and stood in another line. At least this line was not too long so we were happy. The lady told Dinis that she have never seen this and that the Port Captain must be mistaken. We have to go back and speak to him again. Dinis got her name and phone number and so we went back to the Port Captain, just to be told that the lady at the bank is wrong and we need to go back. At least the Port Captain phoned her and confirmed that we should go back and do the deposit. Back at the bank we got back into the original line, which was now twice as long, will be more than 1 hours wait. We will miss the Inspection officer, so we decided that Dinis will go to another bank and try to deposit the money there, John will go back to the Port Captain's office to wait for the Inspection officer and Janice and myself will stay in line, incase Dinis was not successful.

After 1 pm Janet and myself were getting worried as we did not hear from Dinis as yet, so we decided that I will go to the other bank to check on Dinis. When I arrive there he was second in line, in the mean time John had trouble as the Inspection officer had a schedule and wanted to go. He asked the officer if by all possible for them to go and check on Dinis and the rest of us, which he graciously agreed to do. By the time John and the Inspection officer arrived at the bank Dinis was successful with the deposit for both boats. Our luck was turning as when the Inspection officer saw the receipts the bank lady gave for the deposit, he mentioned that these were the wrong receipts. So the bank lady redid the receipts. Whow.. that saved us another trip to the bank.

Finally all done and Janet and myself stayed behind at the Port Captain's office while Dinis, John and the Inspection officer went with the dinghy to the boats for his inspection. It was quite a while before they came back, but at least the inspections went well for both boats. We waited a little longer for the paperwork and finally after about 3 pm. this part of the check-in was done. There was not enough time left to take the bus to Liberia (about 35 minutes by bus) for the customs, as they close by 4 pm. We all decided that it can wait until the next day and we went to the boat and had a drink.

On Tuesday morning Janet and myself decided that the men can go to Liberia and that we will do the groceries and some internet. Janice and myself did the groceries and we manage to launch the dinghy by ourselves without any incident and went to drop the groceries at the boats. We also manage a successful beach landing. Our average just went up, but I must admit that there was not much of any wave action. We went to a local hotel/restaurant for the internet. Dinis and John had a very successful customs experience, which was great. They went back to the Port Captain afterwards for the final paperwork and also to get our National Zarpe. So we ended the check-in at around 1 pm. Nearly 2 days...this was by far the worst and time consuming check-in.

We had lunch and then went for a walk in town sightseeing. Very friendly and warm people. We went back to the boat to prepare everything as we are leaving the next morning. John and Janice came over for a potluck supper. We had a great time.

We left this morning Wednesday 2 March for Bahia Tamarindo, which is 27 nm south of Playa Del Coco. We had a great sail, the winds was gusty at times and we had 2 reefs in the main and the genoa was furled to about 100%. Our wind vane was not keeping the boat on course, but we could not find anything wrong with it. It was most probably too much sail and not nicely trimmed. We will try it again tomorrow as we planned to go another 48 nm to Bahia Carrillo.

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