Prince Rupert Bay, Portsmouth, Dominica

Saturday we went to check in with customs and took our spot in the dingy dock which is given shelter by the wreck of one of the six large vessels wrecked on the shore in one of two hurricanes in the last 10 years and just left to rust there ever since. The dingy dock is actually at the entrance to the Indian river which we have booked a tour of for early Monday morning, as the trip can only be done under electric motor or oar, petrol outboards not being allowed. We eventually found the customs & immigration officer at his house, this being the weekend and the service being conducted on overtime from the young and friendly officers from room which was filled with the crews from four boats. His friends were outside playing basketball in the backyard and as he was dressed from head to toe in American basketball team gear, as was his female assistant that came in the process was done very speedily and efficiently. When asked how long we were staying we replied until Tuesday morning when the forecast is due to improve for our next longer hop north. We were told then that we could check out at the same time as well, we have been given a two week pass now, so can leave at anytime during that period, requiring a visit back only if we wish to stop longer. An excellent system which should be adopted elsewhere, to prevent the needless paperwork and two visits at each island on the chain which for short visits are a real inconvenience and for what real value it is hard to tell.


Wrecks line the shore in Portsmouth

We went along the main street of a time to explore, there being a market that day, however we were not keen to be gone long after Kevin had heard whispering outside the boat last night (which must have been very close considering the volume of the music). He got up and switched on a light and a pair of guys rowed away rapidly from the boat. We also found on the internet that there was an attempted boarding and a robbery from a boat whilst the couple were sleeping last month. We were told by the guide with whom we booked our tour on Friday night, Albert that the local vendors pay for a security service of two guys to operate every night, however we have still not yet seen any signs of then operating. We had a look in some of the small shops and several snack bars but Dominica is certainly one of the poorer islands we have been to and the selection is very limited. Kevin was also sworn at by two youngish teenagers whilst waiting for me outside a shop, obviously trying to provoke a reaction which is more sensible not to give but to honest we were not feeling to welcome by now.


Classic yacht alongside us perhaps in the area for Antigua Classic week soon, under the newly restored Fort Shirley over looking Prince Rupert Bay

We went back to the boat and enjoyed a pleasant afternoon in the sunshine with a bit of reading and a visit from Peter, an retired fireman from Wisbeach who has singlehandedly sailed his 20ft boat across from Portugal via the Canaries and Cape Verdes who popped over to do a book swap. We exchanged a few travelling tales and compared experiences and the dates we’d visited the same ports, he heads back to Portugal via the Azores around May.