[Chris]

Most boats stop off at Luperon Harbor. You have to cart the fuel to the boat, but it is fairly safe and a good place for a rest, before you tackle the Mona Passage. There are a few slips at the marina. Most boats stay on anchor in the harbor. (I assume it is a sail boat? If not, suggestions for the passage are still valid)

The passage under sail - budget 18 to 24 hours. Leave Sapodilla Bay (T&C) (not one of the harbors, but anchor in Sapodilla bay the previous day) early in the morning to get the sun behind you as you go over the Caicos Banks. Leave Sapodilla Bay early in the morning. Do not do this at night and follow a well-charted course - it is quite shallow and the elk coral will scare you. Keep a sharp eye out. If you have to stop, salt key is a good place.

Make sure to be somewhere off the coast of Hispaniola early in the morning as you'll probably have to beat up to Luperon. Late in the day, the waves and winds pick up and you'll battle steep swells and winds on the nose. About 30 miles from shore, you'll start to smell the smoke from woodfires - it is a good feeling. Your next stop before the Mona and Puerto Rico, is Samana, if you choose to stop there.