The pilot to the ABC Islands we used was one of the Gotto Go Cruising Guides; “The ABC Islands” written by D. Waterson & D. van der Reyden (ours was an old edition). Another possibility is using “A guide to the ABC islands” from Frank Vigentino; this is a free download on  free cruising guides web page.

________________________________________

Pdf File Curacao (sept 2019)

Curaçao

The island Curaçao has several anchorages at the south side, from east to west as the ABC-pilot will show. Nevertheless most cruisers are anchored in Spaanse Water. It is a very safe and enjoyable anchorage.

Spaanse Water anchorage: 12° 04′.835 N 68° 51′.743 W

When you enter Curaçao waters, anchor in Spaanse water flying the Q-flag. The next day you do the check-in at Custom & Immigration in Willemstad. That’s the easy and official way.

Spaanse Water is divided in several sectors where you are allowed to anchor. Between A and B anchorage is a fare way, which should be free at all the times. VHF hailing channel is in 2019 74, with a cruisers net 3 days a week at 8 a.m.Monday, Wednesday & Friday (sometimes it stops due to lack of netcontrolers)

For more and specific information and pictures about the Anchoring areas, see the Facebook page; Curaçao Cruisers Information. This is a closed group but join them and you will have access to all the important information. although a bit old last update off 2017. In the file section Documents, or follow the link and you will go directly to the Pdf file. In the Pdf file is all the important information you like to know; for example, where to find Custom & Immigration and where to obtain the anchor permit (USD 10,=) and many other things. To repeat it here is useless for it’s too much.

The information below is our experience during the time we have been there in 2018 & 2019.

We were anchored at the above coordinates which is in sector A, the nearest to the dinghy dock at the fisherman’s harbour. The holding in mud was excellent, but be aware that some places have grass where the holding is not that good. Zeezwaluw was anchored in + 6m with 35m of chain in the water. Have a swim to be certain where your anchor is. The winds are commonly from the E between 15-20kn. In the afternoon the wind picks up but dies at sunset again. Occasionally a reversed wind will turn you 180°, so anchor a safe distance from your neighbours. Zeezwaluw was anchored in B just at the corner of the channel which divides Anchorage A and B, from mid 2019, holding good in mud.

The dinghy dock in the fisherman’s harbour is where the free of charge shopping bus to Vreugdenhil supermarket is, leaves Mon-Sat at 8.30 a.m. next to the gate. He returns from the supermarket at 10 a.m. Other shops (Budget, IWW, Pharmacy, laundrette, hardware shop etc.) are in walking distance of Vreugdenhil and can be reached with the same shopping bus. We were very content with the bus and the supermarket’s extended and very good stock and prices.

Bus to Willemstad number 6A stops at the roundabout opposite Pirate’s nest. Latest schedule of all busses (change regularly) is available at the main bus station in Willemstad. (pay with local money Naf or US$)

Internet: Free Wi-Fi at the restaurant Pirate’s Nest and you can tie-up at their dingy dock, ask if its allowed for sometimes ist restricted as a sign tells you. We used Digicel 4G prepaid SIM card for the internet. You have to buy the SIM card in Willemstad at their office at Brion Plein, just across the Pondjes Bridge to the Otra Banda side. If you visited Bonaire before Curaçao, the SIM card will work without roaming cost. Just top-up through the Digicel app (different packages and prizes) as you were used to.

Seru Boca Marina 12° 04’ 20.48” N – 68° 50’ 35.96” W

Seru Boca marina is situated inside Spanish Waters. After the entrance channel twice a SB turn and you will see the little marina tucked into the mangroves underneath the conspicuous Tafelberg (Table Mountain). This little marina is part of the Santa Barbara Plantation Golf and Beach Resort. The second marina, for larger yachts, is along the entrance channel into Spanish Waters. For more information about the two marinas surf to their website: https://santabarbaraplantation.com/factsheet/

The little marina has wide floating pontoons is clean and peaceful. Every berth has a finger pontoon with enough space left between boats.

The gate to the pontoon is card operating and has a camera for safety. At every berth is water and electricity (110/220V). It has all necessary facilities you need like; showers and toilets, washing and drying machine (tokens), book swab, free Wi-Fi. 2-3 times a week a free shopping bus runs to Vreugdenhil Supermarket and back.

As the marina is on a large private resort, you have to get from the marina to the main road for public transport or use a hire car. If you do not have a car, the marina staff is willing to drive you the 2,7Km from the marina to the bus stop at the main road. Bus numbers for Willemstad are 6B and 5A. As soon as you are back by bus, ask the security guards at the entrance of the Resort to call the marina office to pick you up. We liked this marina very much, for its surroundings in the middle of nature and clean air.

Curaçao Marine, marina & hardstanding 12° 06′.5 N 68° 55′.3 W

Curaçao Marine uses trailers of different sizes for getting boats in and out of the water which works great (2018). The staff is very careful in handling your boat. The yard is divided in long term storage and short term. At the short term storage you are allowed to stay on the boat and do your own work. Short term storage is a few $ cents more as at the long term. They provide a ladder to get on and off your boat for free. There is water and electricity 220/110V near every boat. Free Wi-Fi. Toilet and shower block. No washing machine but a laundry service. As off mid 2019 there will be 2 washingmachines outside the lady’s schowers. A free shopping bus runs from Mo-Za to Vreugdenhil supermarket. The chandlers Budget Marine and IWW etc. are in walking distance of the above supermarket. Guarded 24/7.

You can get more info at their website: www.curacaomarine.com or sent an email to: info@curacaomarine.com       Telephone number: +599 9 465 8936

There is a small marina too with the same facilities and prizes as on the hard standing.

We have been in Curaçao Marine on the hard for just over 4 weeks doing our own work and were pleased by the staff. Afterwards we spent 4 weeks in the marina. They are very friendly and helpful. We can highly recomand Curaçao Marine.

Klein Curaçao, mooring ball: 11° 59′.30 N 68° 38′.823 W

The island Klein Curaçao (means little Curaçao) is approximate 6 Nm E-SE of the southern tip of Main Island Curaçao. This island is as flat as a pancake, with only a working lighthouse some trees and bushes. There are no people living on the island except the security guards for the day tripper companies who frequent the island every day from ± 9.30 A.M till 3 P.M.

At the west side of the island, approximate due West of the lighthouse are many mooring balls in 4-6m of water. It is easy to spot the buoys when you head straight for the lighthouse. Most of them are from the day-tripper companies but after they are gone for the day, you are allowed to use them. Vacate them before 9.30 A.M. the next day.

The 4 white ones (north of the other moorings) with the blue band are for visiting boats for free. The blue band will brightly reflect after your search light hit it in the dark hours.

3 white mooring balls have long thick lines with a loop to pick-up and attach your lines through. The moorings are safe to use.

Note: The 4^th mooring ball (second from the north of the island and opposite the wooden dock) has no line attached. This one has been claimed by the tripper boat “SV Serendipity”, which will use the mooring 5 days a week.

They chased us away on a Tuesday with: “You are using our mooring ball, you have to move”. Well, we are Dutch so we said in Dutch: “These white mooring balls are supposed to be for visiting yachts and are not owned by private companies”. There were still 2 other white buys available. The reply was: “We have to run a long hose up to the shore to supply water and we can’t reach shore from the other buoys”. Apparently they have no own mooring ball like the other tripper boats have and use the free white ones for their convenience. So, we moved to another white mooring buoy.

Monday’s and Saturday’s are “SV Serendipity’s” days off, so you can use all 4 white mooring balls. Tie a line to the mooring ball without the line, through the eye on top of the mooring ball, it’s a bit of a hassle but doable, we did (in the dark).

We have been at the third white mooring ball at Klein Curaçao for 8 days (May 2018) without a problem. We were waiting for a good weather window to sail northeast to Sint Maarten. It is safe and was only a bit rolly in 25-30Kn of wind. Only a few nights we had company of another sailing yacht. No mobile phone signal consequently no internet or weather forecast in an easy way. We used our Iridium sat phone instead to get new Gribfiles. We liked it here, but did not go ashore to see the wooden structures with roofs with the palm tree leaves the tripper boats had build for their guests. The view is like a picture out of the holiday catalogues!

ABC-Islands, Curacao update September 2019

___/)___