As you can see from the chartlet here, it's a straight shot south. About twenty miles out, you see the mountainous coastline appear in the haze.
Your port of entry is Puerto de Vita; the former port at Naranjo was shut down in 1999, shortly after Calder's book was published.
My Garmin charts clearly showed the entrance - and the buoys were in position, making for an easy entrance. However, the charts do not show the route to the marina which turns to starboard off the big ship route to the docks.
In fact, the harbour charts were all quite accurate - more so than I had expected in each of the harbours I visited. In fact, the only one in which I had a problem was Guillermo, where the markers are not shown on any chart. In fact, the only advice I had was that from Calder's book, which was still accurate enough to go with - and the marina, which finally responded to my calls for assistance in entering. More on each entry point later.
Tying up at Puerto de Vita
You back into the docks, as in the Mediterranean. You have to catch a mooring ball, then maneouver your boat backwards into the dock. If your boat does not back up well, or there is any wind, it's quite a challenge. If you have crew, it's easier to have someone in the dinghy bring a line to the dock, then just haul yourself in.
Waypoints into
the marina at
Puerto de Vita
Entry
from the sea is into a river channel. It's quite
deep and well marked. After several turns, you
approach the commercial docks; there is a marked
channel to starboard. Take this channel, keeping in
mind that some of the buoys are broken nearly at
the waterline - when this channel opens up to the
right in front of you, about 300 yards in, you'll
see a channel to port leading in to the marina.
To the left and directly in front are the
commercial docks and Guarda post. Don't atttempt to
anchor here.
Checking in at Puerto de Vita
After
docking, you'll be greeted by Tina, the
effervescent manager. Put yourself in her hands,
she'll take great care of you. Clearing in will
involve about 8 people, plus a drug sniffing dog
and take about one to two hours.
As of mid-2009, there was no problem with most
foodstuffs, including eggs and beef. However, due
to the H1N1 (swine flu) epidemic, you will be given
strict instructions on garbage disposal. Also,
fresh, unfrozen meat might be a problem. Make sure
yours is clearly and well frozen. Produce, provided
it is fresh will also not be a problem.
Portable GPS units will be sealed in a locker for
the duration of your stay, after which they'll be
unsealed. Radios, including portable VHF and SSBs
are no problem. The big deal is guns: if you have
them, declare them.
The search is very minimal and not the least
obtrusive. After all this, you're free to
explore.
Provisions at Puerto de Vita
As
you'll have (and intelligently so) provisioned
before leaving the Bahamas, you're not likely to
need much. There is a boat provisioning facility
here, but it's not what you're expecting, no siree!
It's for the commercial boats, not yachties.
Beef? It'll be hacked out of a chunk of frozen
Argentinian beef with a machete and chunk of iron.
Milk? Powdered only, not fat free and only in bulk.
You'll measure and weigh it out. Toilet paper? Who
you kidding? Also not available will be any sort of
cleaning product, produce, sodas...but there will
be lots of rum, cigars and sugar.
Bread is something Tina can likely get for you,
from town, as long as you give her a day or so
notice.
Yet for some reason, there are people in this world
who think socialism is a great thing. A bit hard to
understand when even the poorest town in the
Bahamas has more to offer than most villages and
towns in Cuba. Shopping rule # 1 in Cuba: if you
see it and might need it, buy it right then. Don't
wait.