My anchorages in Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire
8 May 2025 · 11 min · 2K views · Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire
What this video covers
Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire serve as primary stopovers for cruisers transiting between the Eastern Antilles and the Panama Canal, particularly during the Caribbean hurricane season.0:39 In Aruba, cruisers often gather to exchange spare parts and route information, though the anchorage features challenging holding in hard sand, coral, and seagrass.1:29 Curaçao offers a secure, hurricane-protected anchorage in Spanish Waters, though the narrow 8-to-10-meter entrance channel can be difficult to identify without digital charts.4:14 Bonaire provides a more rugged, nature-focused environment with strict regulations requiring the surrender of spearfishing gear to customs upon arrival.7:28 The island’s anchorage is uniquely convenient, placing boats directly adjacent to local markets and services.8:07 During the transit between Curaçao and Bonaire, a screwdriver left in a cup holder near the compass caused a magnetic deviation that altered the boat's heading by 10 degrees.6:14 Following these stops, the Venezuelan coast, including Las Aves, Los Roques, and Isla Tortuga, provides significant shelter for vessels, with Puerto La Cruz offering extensive marina infrastructure and maintenance facilities.9:16
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