Boating in Dominican Republic

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Boating

Sailing conditions are ideal, with constant trade winds. Favorite excursions include day trips to Catalina Island and Saona Island -- both in the La Romana area -- and sunset cruises on the Caribbean. Prices for crewed sailboats of 26 feet and longer, with a capacity of 4 to 12 people, range from $120 to $700 a day.

The Carib BIC Center (Cabarete. 809/571-0640. www.caribwind.com) is a renowned windsurfing center that also rents Lasers, 17-foot catamarans, boogie boards, and sea kayaks. It has an Olympic laser training center with a former racer instructing. La Marina Chavon (Casa de Campo, Calle Barlovento 3, La Romana. 809/523-8646) has much going on, from sailing to motor yachting and socializing at the Casa de Campo Yacht Club. The full-service marina La Marina PuntaCana (Punta Cana Resort & Club, Punta Cana. 809/221-2262) rents yoles, small boats with outboards like the fishermen have, by the half or full day. On the other end of the spectrum, charter a 33-foot Bertram and go after the big ones -- tuna, marlin, dorado, and wahoo -- for $125 per person (4 person minimum) for four hours. A 45-foot sportsfisherman is also available for the same price.

Ocean World Marina (3 mi (5 km) west of Puerto Plata, Cofresi. 809/291-1111. www.oceanworldmarina.com) is a new state-of-the art marina, strategically positioned between the heavily traveled Florida-Bahamas region and the Puerto Rico-eastern Caribbean region. It's filling this large 300 mi (480 km) void where no full-service marina currently exists. The new 35-acre complex, when complete, will feature 120 slips, up to 200 feet. It will be a port of entry with immigration-customs services, laundry and shower facilities, a duty-free shop, food-liquor store, car-rental service, marina store with fishing supplies, plus an entertainment clubhouse, nightclub, casino (already open), and first-class dining facilities