Manzanillo Bay
COMMERCIAL WHARF—-MANZANILLO BAY
The shoreline of this large bay has the commercial port of Manzanillo to the south. As you leave the mangroves, head SW to cross the bay. Behind a beach restaurant to the southeast of the commercial pier is a saltwater lagoon. This lagooon is called Estero Balza. Favor the eastern shoreline since a sandy shallow extends along the restaurant side; you may find ten to twelve feet to navigate through to the lagoon (depending on wind and tide). This is virtually undiscovered territory but you will have a few sailboats anchored about. There are two other cafes apart from the restaurant and a small village two miles away.
Be careful with Manzanillo Bay, once the wind gets up in the morning, and until late evening, because of the size of the bay and its fetch to the East, a chop can build. If you plan to anchor in this bay at the western end, it is best to enter the lagoon. However, if you draw more than 6′ of water, it can be tricky. In that case enter only on a fair tide, and before the wind comes up. You may find a set a stakes to guide you in. Once inside, this is an excellent hurricane hole and your vessel will be well protected.
19°46.76N 71°49.59W
17.0 nm from Montecristi
Closing Punto Manzanillo, from the East, you will see a large Canadian ferry stranded and abandoned. Give the point a wide berth and watch the depth increase to forty feet immediately after. Round up behind the point and anchor on a weedy bottom. Here you can take the dinghy to the small beach and go ‘gunk holing’ amongst the mangrove festooned inlets. You may rest easy here well protected and in total isolation. This area is part of the National Park.
ESTERO BALZA———-”The Lagoon”
Manzanillo is the last Dominican port going west or the first proceeding east. Either way it is a decent stop, albeit somewhat commercial. And it IS an official port of entry.
The town behind the bay is called Pepillo Salcedo and is a dormitory town for workers in the banana plantations and various other food industries inland. The commercial dock also provides employment. A very neat and clean town, there are two large calmados (grocery stores), a pharmacy, a hardware store and several small shops. This is not a major shopping centre but it is a good town to shop for basic foods and grocery supplies or if you want an additional jump off point to go through the Windward Passage to the Caribbean side of the island.
Heading west from Manzanillo, stand offshore a few miles from Isle de Tortue (Torture Island) and let the trade winds give you a broad reach around to the Caribbean side of Hispaniola. If the trade winds are blowing like they most often do and you like to sail, this is ‘Trade Wind Sailing’ as good as it gets! If you are heading EAST and try to get out of this bay after the Trade winds come up in the morning, you either own a huge powerboat with two very big engines, or just like to beat your brains out.
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