05 May 2012; Corinto, Nicaragua.

We had a scheduled 10 am arrival and thus we arrived at 09:00 at the pilot station. Corinto is reached via a long narrow channel leading through shallow waters and then located behind a natural boundary of islands. It offers a nice sheltered harbor but is difficult to get to as there can be a large swell running in the outer channel, and once in the inner channel there is a lot of current from constantly changing directions. I had not been here since my cadet ship in 1979 so I had to prepare myself carefully with all these variables. Input from other captains had warned me that the pilots were not used to highly maneuverable and low draft cruise ships as they were only dealing with heavy tankers, bulk carriers and container ships. So they tended to be a bit heavy handed with ships that only need a gentle touch.  I had decided to sail the ship in myself and “pump” the pilot (as far as the language barrier allowed) for all local information that I needed. We did swerve and yawned on the following ground swell in the channel as expected, but with two rudders that was controllable.  All worked out well and at 10 am we were safely docked.  Guests were going ashore and we had 40 children from a local school coming on board for a day out. 

Thumbnails to click on. All photos courtesy of Hotelmanager Bert van Mackelenbergh.

With help of the tour operator the poorest school was selected, located in the neighborhood just outside the gate. Mostly children from single parents (ladies of the night and others less fortunate) and I think the way they did it was that the best class was invited.  So they were treated by the Ex. Chef to hamburgers and fries and then taken by the Club HAL Ladies to the Oasis to play on the computers and to use the basketball court.

In the mean time the Hotel manager and I went for a school inspection to see what help we could offer here.  The school has 400 children but with only a 200 seat capacity they run a morning and an afternoon school.  The whole place just outside the dock, is completely dilapidated and can use quite a bit of our muscle to get in better shape. I will explain in tomorrow’s blog what we saw and what we will try to provide for our next call. (05 Oct. 2012)

Leaving the ship with a yellow Club HAL goodie bag.

The children left the ship at 15.30 and that was also the time that the ship’s crew sprung into action by walking all the gifts and donations ashore. That needed about a 100 crew and lasted for about 20 minutes. Then we had everything on the shore side and we could do an official presentation to the school principals.  I had chosen 16:00 hrs for this, as it would mean that most of our guests would be back at that time and I wanted them to see it all. Many of them had donated money, clothing and other gifts and in this way it gave me the chance to say thank you.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               By 5 pm we sailed and that gave me another challenge. We had come in on nearly slack with very little current but now on departure it was full ebb. Water coming from the rivers did not get stemmed anymore by the incoming tide, and the regular tide was going out as well. Again the challenge was to anticipate the moment when the direction of the current was changing from one side to the other, caused by the various openings in the islands and the curve of the entrance channel.  The pilot was all nervous about it and not very happy about us leaving at that time but again he under estimated what a cruise ship such as the Statendam can do.  I think he still does not understand exactly what gadgets I was using on my Radar to really see and sense any movement away from the perfect track of the ship.  But then we do carry the best equipment on board possible.

The guests had a grand day as Corinto is still unspoiled. It is poor, very poor, but the people are still genuinely happy in their lives. Columbian Emeralds have not yet taken over the shopping centre and things are not about buy, buy, buy. Although today the local super market had brooms on discount but I do not know if the guests took advantage of that.

Tonight we will sail along the Nicaraguan Coast and then tomorrow morning at 07:00 we will be at the Puerto Quetzal pilot station. Again good weather is expected and as the swell hits the port entrance here under a different angle, I am not expecting any problems getting in.

Happy Teachers.