We were motoring along and realized we hadn't seen Bocaron so we turned around

YEAH , , , RIGHT. . . You believe that then I  can sell you my ocean front property in Arizona!

We were motoring along just fine and the closer we got to the corner of the Island the higher the wind and waves.  But 3' waves with 7 knots of wind forecast, no problem, but then the wind topped 18 knots with gusts to 27 knots on our nose slowed us to 2.3 knots when we should be at 6.5 - 7 knots at 2400 rpm.  Then the tenth waves started breaking over the bow, when the third in a row sent water & foam half way up the wind screen, I tucked tail and ran into the protected anchorage at Boqueron.  It is not as protected as Pescaderia but much much closer and when you are being hammered close counts.

getting hammered

Boqueron town and anchorage

As we were leaving Pescaderia Marina, Vannesa, the manager of the fish market gave me her lucky hook to catch mahi-mahi with.  As soon as we left the harbor the lure was in the water.  The hooks luck was as good as the weather forecast, I only caught two seaweed bass which I will try to filet the next ones,  Maybe tomorrow!

We got up for a leisurely start at 7:15 and motored out to round the southwestern tip of the Island to proceed with our trip.  I had both trolling poles out and once again caught my limit of seaweed bass.  Someday I will learn how to filet them, but not today.  A dolphin escorted us out of the bay and another around the tip, we hoped they were good omens.  Once we rounded the Southeast tip of P.R. we had a clear view of Fat Albert, the nickname for the USCG blimp.  They are tethered and can be stationed from 500 ft to 45,000 ft and are a down looking radar platform to catch smugglers trying to evade normal radar.

Fat Albert on duty at about 3,000 ft.

At 8:05 I received an email from a couple I met on the dock at FYC when I was working on Encore.  They are Chuck & Micki Harding who have homes in Michigan and Puerto Rico and I will copy the email below.  Of course it was too late to heed today but tomorrow I hope for a daybreak start since the outlet is marked "caution narrow pass use only in ideal conditions"

"Welcome to the Eastern Caribbean and the PR SLOG. Tip: leave very early and take small bites daily...about til 11 AM, then get in protection and let it blow the rest of the day. It's called the Gentleman's  path and will keep you and ur boat out of the repair shop!"      Thank you Chuck!

At 1100 hrs sharp the wind picked up to 18 kts gusting to 24 with waves 4' - 5' at 4 - 5 seconds, just like sailing in the Gulf of Mexico in a storm, but it didn't make me homesick!  We tucked into our planned anchorage at Cayo Enrique and watched the waves crash over the reef in front of us instead of the bow of Encore.  I rowed the dinghy a half mile in 20 knot head winds to the beach only to find it was coral and volcanic rock.

the beautiful white sand beach I worked so hard to get to

 I walked it anyway and saw some interested stuff. I took a few pictures through the lookie bucket just to see if it would work.  One of the stuffs was a grub looking creature 2" - 3 " diameter and 6" - 10" long.

 I first thought it was a dead tuber in the water till it moved.  If it had moved fast I would have hurt myself.