Caribbean here we come - Plan your cruising itinerary carefully
by Noonsite 1 Dec 2020 10:23 UTC
Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) © Noonsite
November 2020 will be known as the month of the second wave, when most of Europe went into lockdown again.
It hasn't stopped warmer waters beckoning however, and while the number of cruising yachts barrelling towards the Caribbean are greatly diminished this year, major rallies such as the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), Salty Dawg Rally and Panama Posse are all operating with a good injection of new boats into the Caribbean this winter.
Aruba opened its borders to a corridor list of countries this month, Costa Rica eliminated the need for testing and the British Virgin Islands are hopefully opening their sea borders in early December.
Cruise the Caribbean with confidence this season and find out what to expect with our summary of yachting protocols in Caribbean countries.
If you are still in the Mediterranean planning to head across the Atlantic over the new few months, bear in mind that Spain has changed its rules very recently and now requires anyone arriving by sea to have a Covid test before disembarking - and the Canary Islands will likely follow suit.
Plan your cruising itinerary carefully
We are not out of the woods yet and country protocols are in a constant state of flux. Consider carefully where you cruise this season with the thought in the back of your mind that you may not be able to leave should borders close, so make your choices wisely.
Christine Myers of SY Delos recounts her last few "insane" months in South America when a short trip inland to Peru from Ecuador coincided with lockdown and left them unable to return to their boat (their home) which faced a hefty fine for overstaying.
It is vitally important to step-up your communication with other cruisers during these unstable times, often the best source of real time developments and changes in ports. Most popular islands and ports have cruiser Facebook pages as well as daily VHF nets and in some ports WhatsApp groups, and if you have an SSB on board there are many valuable nets to choose from. Some useful links below:
This article has been provided by the courtesy of
noonsite.com.