Comments on: Saona Island (National Park)

By: Frank Virgintino

Frank Virgintino — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:18:27 +0000

Carlos,
Thank you for your comment and the detail on the passage at Saona; it is much appreciated by everyone.

By: Carlos Galavis

Carlos Galavis — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:17:18 +0000

This passage through Catalinita and Saona can be very tricky specially for boats that need more than 5 to 6 foot clearance.Once you see the 2 tugboats that are aground you want too get close to the Saona Island (if you are looking at the tugboats its the one to the left).Once youre there just stay parallel to Saona and watch your depht they will be places that get as low as 3 ft.Go slow and dont panic,it will save you a lot of time instead of going all the way around.Surprisingly your gps will not have any readings for this passage.

By: serge

serge — Fri, 14 May 2010 09:05:58 +0000

Hi,

We will soon set sail from Saint Martin to the DR, with the intention to sail the south coast from Saona to (Haiti) Ile a vache.

Two questions only:

1- Please confirm we have to clear in at Cap Cana Marina (should we expect high or low season rates end of may?)

2- We are unclear if we can anchor overnight at Saona Punta Catuan or Las Palmillas. How many nights could we spend here without making the rangers or coastguards “nervous”?

Thanks
Martine&Serge
catamaran D’ISLE EN ISLE

By: Tony Torres

Tony Torres — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:37:16 +0000

This Passage is called “Paso de Catuano”. Is betwen Saona Island and main DR Main Land, 9 KtMilles long passage with beautifull and wild views. Entering from the west to east are two way to croze the sand banks are betwen Saona and Palmilla Beach. One is getting into Palmillas and run with your engine 1.9 south, you are already pass the sand barrier, then folow Saona north coast until Cayo Raton. I pass in sailboats until 5.5 feet draft and under engine.

Another way to get into the Passage is coming from west to east, from the blue water, viewing the Passage you will see one point in Main Land at the closer and another end point from Saona Island, then you will need to put those point toguether and sail to east then you will visualize a small passage betwen the Sand barrier, this is about 6 feet deep.

Then you will need to close to Saona north coast alway until you find Cayo Raton.

Behin Cayo Raton is a really calm anchorage. We overnight during sailtrip from Romana to Punta Cana. Is beautifull and you will see some local fishermen catching lobsters and conch around. Cayo Raton have two way to get in and out, east and west. If you are only passing W to E live Cayo Raton to your starboard side and keep to the channel living the two wrecks to your port side, then you will be in Mona Passage.

Like Tom Said you will see two vessels wrecks, stay south, is a channel there betwen the clift and Catalinita Island.

Sail My Country, is Beautifull

Tony Torres

By: Tom Verry

Tom Verry — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:37:18 +0000

We anchored near Isla Catalinita for some exploring on our way to PR. We really didn’t want to go back and around Saona so we followed the reef south from Catalanita till the breakers subsided. I recall a wreck at the south end of the reef that we kept about 200 yards off our port side.

On the above chart we would have anchored at the (12) then gone south following the 4 and 5 to the “n” in raton then headed east toward Mona.

We draw 3.5′ and had decent visual piloting conditions. Coming up to the opening it really doesn’t look like there is an opening, it appears that breakers go all the way across but we really didn’t want to backtrack so we explored a little and found what we considered a safe passage through.

I believe Tony Torres has been through as well, he might have more info and is a little more local:-)

By: Frank Virgintino

Frank Virgintino — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:45:22 +0000

Tom
Thank you for this comment. I have not addressed the “inside passage in this guide” because it is not marked and can pose a problem for boats drawing over 5 feet. However, it is a wonderful passage, filled with wonderment and intrigue.
Your participation on this site, makes the Dominican Republic Cruising Guide better for everyone.
Frank

By: Tom Verry

Tom Verry — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:40:26 +0000

[QUOTE]It is worth setting aside a full day to explore the channel between the island and the mainland which has a depth of no less than five feet all the way to the eastern end where it shoals. There is at the east end reefs all the way across between the land masses.[/QUOTE]

Concerning the passage between the mainland and Saona we have made it through with no problems. There is a deep channel just off Pt Balaju, maybe several hundred yards wide.

Thanks for the guide!