Seaworthy.com

Located at Puerto Real on Puerto Rico's western coast, the new Marina Pescaderia (formerely Pescaderia Rosas) welcomes cruisers with 97 slips, a fuel dock, restaurant, all new docks, full electric and water, free pump outs, 24-hour security, laundry facilities, free Wifi, fishing gear, a dive shop, a mini-market, and Twin Marine Electronics who can help you with your electric and airconditioning problems.  But the best news is that you can clear Customs here.  Upon arrival the marina will contact Customs and Immigration officials and the officials will arrive at the marina to handle the paperwork.  In cases where the skipper and/or crew are not American citizens, they may be asked to appear at the Immigration office in Mayaguez, a short cab ride away (the marina can also provide transportation).

The entrance to Puerto Real is now marked by three pairs of red and green buoys.  Draft is limited to 6' at MLW although the marina frequently hosts vessels with drafts to 7' and lengths to 83' LOA.

For more information contact Marina Pescaderia at 787-717-3638, or email them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Their web site is www.marinapescaderia.com.

The National Insurance Board of The Bahamas, and Reef Construction, have signed a contract for $14 million to build a hospital on the island of Great Exuma.  The hospital will be built in a new township just outside George Town.  Plans are also in the works to build a new government administrative center nearby.  The Prime Minister, Hubert Ingraham, has also promised residents of Exuma cable TV service.

Several months ago we mentioned that the Berry Islands Club on Chub Cay in The Bahamas was closed.  We are happy to announce that the marina is up and running once again.  The club offers 15 moorings for $25 per night, dockage, gas and diesel, and a wonderful restaurant.  They can even arrange transportation to the Customs officer on the island.  For more info call the club on VHF ch. 16 or telephone Howard at 242-357-5617 or Harry at 242-466-9364.

This has just come in from Melodye of the Caribbean Safety and Security Net:

This report comes from 7belizenews.com:

Belizean Police and Coast Guard members are investigating a pirate attack on Sunday, March 18, 2012, in southern Belize.  Reports are sketchy so check back with Seaworthy.com and we'll post the lastest news as we receive it.

A Moorings charter boat based in Placencia with eight on board was anchored in the Pelican Cayes area.  The vessel was boarded by four men on March 18.  Of the right tourists on board, two, a husband and wife, were badly injured.  Reports state that the couple was stabbed, the husband in the neck and the wife in the abdomen.  Another report stated that the woman was also raped (please note that this is not an offical release by the Belizean Police).  The other six members of the boat's crew hid in their cabins and were not assaulted.  After the robbery on charterers called in a "Mayday" on the VHF and the stabbing victims were rushed to Dangriga Southern Regional Hospital.  The husband was released on Tuesday, March 20, and his wife was released on Wednesday, March 21.

Moorings are now mandatory for visiting vessels in the harbor at Le Bourg, Les Saintes.  If all the moorings are taken you are permitted to drop anchor.  For the rate schedule visit our Customs and Immigration page for Les Saintes or click here.

This just in from Melodye at the Caribbean Safety and Security Net:

Shortly after midnight on December 14, 2011, four masked men armed with at least one machete boarded a yacht anchored in Tyrrel Bay just after the crew returned from shore. The boarders tied up the captain, beating him severely, and tied a plastic bag over the head of the woman. They then proceeded to ransack the boat, looking for money and threatening more bodily harm to both. Eventually, they left with a computer, a cell phone, and cash, taking the larger dinghy with outboard to shore, where they carefully clipped it to a mooring line. The captain broke his bonds, rescued the woman and the two rowed over to a nearby boat in their small dinghy. The captain of that boat phoned the police, who came on scene promptly to investigate.

Just after daybreak, the larger dinghy was found on the beach, with a machete left inside. The police were again called and they came out a second time, retrieving the machete as evidence. The injured captain did not need hospitalization but visited a local doctor that morning.  Anyone visiting Tyrrel Bay is warned to use the utmost precautions until the perpetrators are caught. This is the first violent incident in Tyrrel Bay reported to the Caribbean Safety and Security Net.

On Saturday 17 December Carriacou police representatives of the Royal Grenada Police Force announced that four persons have been detained and charged in connection with the robbery and assault of the two yachtsmen.  The Carriacou police should be commended for their fast and efficient response to this incident.

This is just in from the Caribbean Safety and Security Net:

Under the auspices of the Carriacou Port Authority, Tyrrel Bay Yacht Haulout and Arawak Divers removed the last of the floating debris from the sinking of the Phebeana Corion on 11 September (see 20 September NEWS item for details). The debris has been piled on shore just south of the commercial jetty in Tyrrel Bay. Georg Schmitt of Arawak Divers, who did the underwater work, advises that there is still a considerable amount of debris in the form of ropes and lines, the old engine, and a couple of anchors, which they were not able to raise. The end result is the wreck is no longer a hazard to navigation but continues to be a hazard to anchoring at 12 degrees 27.490 minutes N and 61 degrees 29.134 minutes W. There are currently some seven or eight fish pots and mooring buoys around the site but none of those are permanent markers.