Gilligan's Island

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We were ready to move on to the next anchorage and explore more of the southern coast of Puerto Rico. Our next stop was Cayos De Cana Gorda, aka Gilligan’s Island, which the locals renamed after the popular tv show in the 80s. So we woke up at o’dark thirty and left at first light. It was only another 15 miles east (a short 2 hour trip) and was a great little anchorage to visit as we make our way towards the Virgin Islands. The trade winds whip thru the southern coast of Puerto Rico during the day (dead on the nose of course), but die off significantly at night (something called the night lee effect, when the air above the island cools faster than the air over the water and creates a breeze that counteracts the trade winds- very cool and a useful thing to use when traveling against the trades). So in order to work our way east we are doing what we call the Puerto Rico Two Step, which is where you leave at first light (taking advantage of the night lee effect) and get into the next spot with anchor down by 9 am (before the winds pick up again). This breaks the trip along the south coast of Puerto Rico into 2-3 hour hops, hence the nickname. It is a very effective way to work along the coast and avoid bashing into the strong trade winds, a cool sailor trick, eh? And there are great anchorages along the way, making this area a lot of fun to explore.

So with our anchor down by 9 am and with a second cup of coffee in hand, we were ready to explore Gilligan’s Island. Actually, Gilligan’s Island is a set of 3 islands that curve around a bay creating not only a very protected anchorage but also provides lots of exploring as well. These mangrove islands have creeks that run thru them and little beaches tucked into small coves here and there (our first beach we have seen since we left the Bahamas- Kona was psyched). And the locals come out to the island on the ferry or on their own little boats to party on the weekends. Seeing that this was a holiday weekend, Gilligan’s Island was packed with people and boats- what fun. There was a beach volleyball game in Punta Bellena Creek and thousands of people enjoying the surf and sun and snorkeling just about everywhere you looked. We had a great time though, Kona got to go swimming which makes him a happy pup and we just took in all the sights and sounds of it all.

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Photos

First Light
Jay hoisting anchor at first light, doing the Puerto Rico Two Step.

South Coast of Puerto Rico
Sailing along the beautiful southern coast of Puerto Rico.

Gilligan's Island
Holiday weekend at Gilligan's Island, can't believe all the people at the beach!