Beautiful Sheltered Port Antonio
We arrived in Port Antonio at daybreak after slowing down 20 miles out. The entrance is well-marked with lit buoys. The Port consists of two harbours the eastern and the western. We were headed for the marina on the western side. We called on the radio thinking it was very early and there was no answer but as we approached we could see that the marina staff were up and waiting for us.
The harbour was so calm after the days of wind we had endured during the previous two weeks and the trip down the coast. The surroundings are hills and bush with houses spread out up the hills and the scenery is very beautiful. The area has been the site of many films, and at one stage Errol Flynn owned the island at the entrance called Navy Island.
The Western Harbour and Marina Area
Hew and I walked over to look at the Cruise ship terminal which is in manicured grounds, and has its own little beach just beyond the pontoon and then a further walkway out to see the harbour entrance. I did not take any photos of the beach that day as it was full of relaxing army personnel – local and american.
The coast guard had three ships in the harbour but we never saw them move.
We needed fuel and the fuel terminal is beyond the Coast Guard terminal. Unfortunately, the day we wanted fuel was the day the fuel man was going to be on holiday so we had to take it the day before and it was very windy. Unfortunately, the fuel terminal is in a straight line from the harbour entrance. The seas that day were running 2-3m outside and the wind was whistling down the channel (see picture below). It took three goes to get on the dock without damaging the yacht. Friends of ours on the marina said they wondered what we had been doing?? Two days later they went to get fuel, the had same issue with the wind and damaged the bow of their yacht!
We were going to leave the next day but in the process of trying to manoeuvre into the fuel dock tthe starboard prop seal started leaking and all the bilge alarms went off. Luckily with Mr Google and the help of a local man Hew found a solution and it was fixed. However, we lost that weather window and were in harbour for another three days.
Port Antonio Town
Port Antonio is an old town and it appears that it has seen better days. There are some really great buildings, a good park, and then many others that are really decaying which is very sad to see.
Rafting on the Rio Grande
We had a couple of days to fill in waiting for the weather so we decided to go on a tour around the island. While we were looking for the right one we found one that there was a rafting trip on the Rio Grande. Off we went with our friends Petra and Alfred. It was brilliant. We were poled 8 miles down the river. Stopped for a swim in a lovely spot with rock jumping if you wanted it. Then a local lunch on the riverside. Finally coming out of the river at the coast. I have made a video which I will add the link to later but here are a few photos. We have decided that we need to build some in New Zealand to take them out on the local raft days. A project for the future.
Video to come:
After leaving Jamacia our next destination was to be the British Virgin Islands but we accomplished this in several stages as described in the following blog.
