Activity in Luperon Harbor
September 10, 2007
The past few days have been eventful in Luperon Harbor. We finished the first half of our varnish job in the interior and, much to Mik’s delight, we also painted the interior fiberglass white. The results are spectacular and Whisper looks like a proper yacht. After finishing, we moved Whisper out to the outer harbor, away from the endless scandals and gossip of the other boaters anchored in the main harbor. The cruising community is developing a severe case of cabin fever. The tensions are high and small fights and scuffles have broken out. It is like a middle school cafeteria: person A won’t talk to person B because person B offended person C who is friends with person A. It doesn’t help that half of the people start drinking at 10AM every morning. It also doesn’t help that many people have not taken the initiative to explore the country, learn Spanish or keep themselves otherwise occupied. There is also a large number of people who suffer from KIAS (“know-it-all” syndrome), which seems especially prevalent with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. At any rate, it was nice to be in the other harbor, anchored by ourselves for a few days.
Sunset at outer anchorage.
However, on Saturday night, as we gathered with some friends (none afflicted with KIAS) for a small campfire, Renee and Michael’s boat “Jacumba” was robbed and the thief made away with $1300. Of course, everyone in the harbor had immediate onset of KIAS and unwanted and unuseful advice poured in. Michael went to the Comandante (the local harbor master, employed by the Navy) to report the theft, however the Comandante said nothing could be done since there were no witnesses. Needless to say, Michael and Renee are very frustrated. As a result, we’ve left the tranquility of our private harbor and have moved back into the main anchorage for the additional security we may receive from the proximity of other boats.
Starting the campfire.
In addition to the theft on Jacumba, Renee and Micahel’s cat, Shaka, is very sick with kidney failure and they are probably going to euthanize him today. Life is far from cheery on Jacumba. When it rains, it pours.
