route nassau to st thomas

What exactly do you mean by "close calls"?!... Navigation Issues? Resupply (e.g. fuel, water) issues? Weather issues? Bureaucratic issues? Colleagues of Capt. Jack Sparrow issues (piracy)?

It sounds like they were USING Jack sparrows hand held compass to navigate during these "close calls" LOLOLOL

Yes, you do, anytime you touch land in both places. DR is a royal pain in that regard as 4 different people come to the boat to clear in (Customs, Immigration, Navy, and Narcotics). You also have to clear out with the Navy and Narcotics and you're on their schedule and have to leave immediately once they clear you out. But, they'll do that at the same time when you fuel.

US. Customs, you have to clear in only. They're usually quick and easy to get along with.

Close calls refer to boats that came a little to close. Several times we have had to take action to avoid items approaching on radar. We can carry as much fuel and water plus a water maker to make the trip without having to cut corners.

You pretty much have to take action to avoid items approaching radar on just about any ocean voyage.

If you look at how the currents are, 5 different currents converge just North of the Mona Passage and it makes for a very very rough way to go and that's why most people don't go that way. You endure a 60 mile crossing across the Mona between DR and PR and you're out of it.