1 February Arriving at Cienfuegos marina

We reached the entrance into Cienfuegos bay at 3 o'clock in the afternoon having left our overnight and somewhat roly anchorage north of Cayo Sal (22.07.49N 080.27.38W, 4.8m sand) at 6 am this morning. We were very naughty; we sailed two miles inside the military exclusion zone to get a better angle on the wind. No-one shot at us. No-one challenged us and later we saw two catamarans much further inside the zone. I don't think the area is patrolled.

A fast beam reach brought us to the long and deep winding channel into the big, sheltered bay where Cienfuegos town rests in the north. As we neared the entrance to the west we could see the nuclear power station which isn't completed yet and to the east a hotel. This entry is clearly marked and so straight forward we wouldn't hesitate to come in in the dark if necessary. It's five miles from the entrance to the anchorage at the marina. What a wonderful anchorage it is too. A big space, plenty of depth and mud holding and all round protection from swell.

Cienfuegos bay and anchorage

Because we had arrived from Cienfuegos we could anchor and take the dinghy in to the dock to clear in with Customs and check into the marina. Customs was a quick stop. The Guarda has a computer where he can track AIS as boats move within the harbour. He had the paperwork prepared by the time we sat down. Our check in to the marina was longer because the printer needed to print the contract is very old, a dot matrix, and touchy on when it works. Costs here are $0.30 per foot per day to anchor or for boats between 44' and 60' $0.73 per foot per day for stays between 2 and 16 days. The scale slides according to boat length and length of stay, but the concretes slips are much longer than Cienfuegos marina. The anchorage is fine for us and there is a secure dinghy dock.

While we were checking in we met a group of cruisers who are leaving tomorrow bound for Cayman Islands. They invited us to join them for drinks at the marina bar and it would have been rude not to. I already like the feel of Cienfuegos. I can see the city to the north of us and it is big and inviting. Our first night at anchor and we slept soundly.