Tales from Margaritaville

[lasbrisas]

Just got back from a couple of days of R & R on Coche Island. Wow, if you are looking for Aruba-like conditions without the wind shadow and high prices, this is the place. Beautiful white sand beach, crystal clear flat water, strong offshore winds, and only a few other sailors on the water. We stayed at the low rise Coche Speed Paradise , which was just great. Beautiful grounds, pool, tennis, playground for the kids. We sailed with Vela, (thanks Marco!!!) Club Mistral and Planet also have windsurfing stations at the hotel. Very mellow windsurfing scene. Plus there are island tours, bikes, quad rentals if you need something else to do. No night life to speak of, this is really a kick back, lie in the hammock, kind of place. There is a definite lack of restaurants, but the El Bohio in town has some of the best seafood we have ever had. (Their fish slept in the ocean last night, no doubt about that!) So if you are looking for flat water, high wind sailing, or need a break from the bump and jump conditions of El Yaque, a few days in Coche may be just the ticket.

For those of you who are wondering about the political climate in El Yaque, there are no tanks rolling down the streets after the coup. The only thing rolling down the streets here is sand. The wind has been 25+knots for the past 10 days. We may need another Coche vacation soon, our knees are killing us.

Lois
www.sailbrisas.com