Blogging the Caribbean Aboard Top Shelf: Providenciales Turks & Caicos

Writing this aboard Top Shelf at the Blue Haven Marina in Providenciales (Provo) Turks & Caicos.

Grace Bay Reef

Had a nice Christmas back in Norwell and got back to Top Shelf on December 29th. Jackie, AJ, Sophia (Jackie's friend) and Julianne are staying on the boat. AJ of course brought his golf clubs and played almost every day at the Provo Golf Club. He played with a former European PGA Tour pro most days, and beat him one day shooting 2 under.

Jackie and Sophia took to the water sports. jet skis, parasailing,

Parasailing

snorkeling and beach walking. Julianne and I were the support team, driving the kids where they needed to go. Now that they are no longer at home, being needed for a ride is a pleasant experience.

Jackie & Sophia Snorkeling

I got all of the repairs done on Top Shelf. Windlass overhaul, watermaker
oil change, garbage disposal and leaky faucet repair. Top Shelf is back to 100%

We had brought the old Top Shelf here in 2012 for the season to fish for Wahoo. Wahoo fishing is definitely big business here as all the large sport fish boats arrive from Florida every day. I guess they left for Provo after the holidays.

Harbor Tour - La Famille Wreck

Provo has changed since 2012. Back then the restaurants were expensive, but the beach side condominiums could be had at a reasonable rate. Now 1 bedroom condos are going for $1,000 to $1,500 per night. We didn't even ask about the 3 bedroom that we rented in the Palms six years ago.

Mail Boat Wreck 5 ft depth

I can only imagine that to keep developing this island, the rental prices must continue to be raised to show prospective investors that Provo is still a good investment. It seems to me that the price/value proposition just isn't there anymore.

In 2012, I said that this place was "just short of a good fleecing", now both the rooms and the restaurants are "beyond a good fleecing". Breakfast for 4: $139; 4 ice cream cones:$32; Dinners all well over $350 for 4 with no drinks. I'm glad the 50' Viking next to us is catching Wahoo. We get offered 4-5 pounds every day. Julianne has made us some great meals.

Hanging at Blue Haven Dive Shop

We originally planned to retreat back into the Bahamas, but that has changed. We leave Wednesday afternoon for the 18 hour run to the Dominican Republic, then maybe on to Puerto Rico. We
are going to have a chance to test our Spanish. Next Stop: Ocean World Marina, just east of Luperon.