This post is also available in:
Spanish
Sailboats never go out of fashion. Considered as the first means of long-distance maritime transportation, today they are still used for recreational, sporting or educational purposes.
Eduardo Otero knows this reality very. He is a boat captain who is fulfilling his dream together with his partner Erika Peláez, by offering excursions in his sailboat known as “Areito” from Casa de Campo Marina or Bayahíbe to different destinations inside the Cotubanamá National Park, located in the Eastern region of the Dominican Republic.
Otero was born in Peru but has spent most of his life in the Dominican Republic. Peláez is Dominican. Both are pleased to offer sailing experiences to those interested in learning about this fascinating means of transportation and, why not, teach some sailing techniques for those who wish to gain more knowledge.
Their passion is the sea. Otero says that he has always been attracted to sailing since he was a child. It was at the age of 13 that he got on a sailboat for the first time. From that moment on, he understood that he had to be a captain.
His knowledge of sailing was acquired empirically, on private excursions he made in the 90s on the east coast of the country, which at that time began its tourism boom. However, it was when he was offered a job at a sailing school in Italy that he validated his knowledge.
“I thought I knew how to sail, but when I arrived at the sailing school in Italy, I realized I knew nothing,” Otero joked, after assuring that he managed to acquire in-depth knowledge of cartography, navigation techniques and others that allowed him to obtain his unlimited coast captain’s license, which authorizes him to sail sailing and motorboats all over the world.
In Italy, Otero participated in prestigious international regattas and even opened a small summer sailing school on the well-known Albarella Island. This school was focused on young people eager to learn how to sail this type of boat.
After his experience in Europe, he became a long-term charter skipper in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, until, through a chance in life, he and his partner were able to buy their own sailboat.
A Hollywood sailboat
Otero’s sailboat “Areito” is not just any sailboat. It is a vessel that was acquired exclusively for use in the filming of a Hollywood movie called “Dangerous Waters”.
The cast includes actors such as Odeya Rush (known for her leading roles in the movies The Giver and Goosebumps), Eric Dane (Mark Sloan in the series Grey’s Anatomy), Cal Jacobs (Euphoria series on HBO Max), Saffron Burrows and the late Ray Liotta, who died suddenly during the filming of this movie in Santo Domingo last year.
“During the coronavirus pandemic, while I was in Santo Domingo, I was asked to take a sailboat to Samaná. I stayed there working and, on one of the excursions I made as captain, I met a couple of filmmakers, John Barr and Suza Hovart, who told me they were working on a film. They asked me if I wanted to be in the film and I agreed,” said Otero.
Otero’s role in the film was to move the sailboat from St. Thomas and to control the ship’s logistics, according to the instructions given to him by the film’s directors.
As it was an action movie, the boat, which in the film was called Annalisa, was used as a set and suffered some damage, fortunately only cosmetic, so it was later put up for sale. “We took advantage of the opportunity, bought the sailboat, and repaired it until we got it to the state it is in now,” he said.
Non-motorized sailing
Sailboats have their benefits. Otero says he likes sailboats because they can travel long distances without using fuel, just the wind. That is why it is the most ecological means of maritime transportation, since they only need to use the engine to enter and leave the dock, when there is no wind at sea or in an emergency.
He also considers that “the journey is as pleasant as the destination”.
But not everything is rosy. Sailing a sailboat is a challenge of maneuvers and knowledge. The force of the wind challenges anyone who has the helm in his hands.
On the other hand, Peláez loves sailboats for their aesthetics and design. She understands that sails make them look more elegant. “It’s a totally silent and pleasant way to enjoy the sea, the wind and nature. The sensation provided by the swaying of the waves is much more relaxing than other means of maritime transportation,” she says.
Sailing tips for sailboats
Otero likes to teach the sport of sailing, so he took the opportunity to offer some recommendations to those who are interested in sailing sailboats. These are:
-Always consult the weather forecast and sea conditions before going on an excursion.
-When sailing, it is essential to identify the wind direction in order to be able to position the sails.
-Hoist the sails when you are at a safe distance from the marina or starting point.
-Always hoist the mainsail first, pointing the bow of the sailboat into the wind. After the mainsail is up and the wind is up, the other sail, known as the jib or genoa, is set.
-Before setting sail, it is important to confirm your coordinates. Currently this is done by means of digital nautical charts or GPS.
Captain Eduardo Otero, his assistant Andy Morales and Erika Pelaez invite everyone to enjoy a fun ride at sea on their wonderful sailboat “Areito”. Those who wish to get more information, can contact them through their instagram @areitosailingdr.
The photographs used in this article were taken by Mairobi Herrera.
