I'm Sailing to Cuba baby

Phiggins · Feb 10, 2009

GO even if its not approved.! Cuba is one of the best destinations in the Caribbean. I'm a Canadian and sailed there from the USA a few years ago. It definitely was the highlite of our trip. The people are wonderful and very friendly There were many American boats there and they were treated the same as the rest.

I hope for the sake of the Cuban people the bill is passed but also feel that it will never be the same afterwards. If I were you I would go before the bill passes.

Paul

Jim · Feb 10, 2009

Don't count on it happening. The Cubin vote is a big deal and they don't want travel opened up.

Jim · Feb 10, 2009

PS, this maybe should be moved!

higgs · Feb 10, 2009

I am hoping for trade to resume so I can get those cuban cigars here in the states.

Benny · Feb 10, 2009

Phil, allow it to continue; the Cuba issue has been a topic on all sailing rags and forums and it seems that there may be some new developments. Havana being 90 miles away from the US mainland makes a desirable sailing destination. There is a different culture, great food and music. Why should the Spaniards and Canadians have all the fun. It is time to put to rest those cold war communist muppets. It would defineitely make easier the passage to the Caribbean. The yearly regatta from Tampa Bay to Havana could be resumed. It would also be good to see the Deparment of State stop their harrasment at a few brave individuals that have gone there. Being able to stop at Cuba does open up new routing possibilities to springboard to other islands and Central America. There is alaways a downside and that would be the reduced presence of the USCG in the Straights. Well the savings in diesel and aviation fuel perhaps could be funneled into better equipment and salaries for the rescue teams. Go Cuba!!!

Patrick S/V Shangra-La · Feb 10, 2009

I was fortunate enough to sail in the Havana Cup race twice before it was banned by the Govt. It's a wonderful place to go to, and I would love to go again. The people are wonderful, the climate is great.

I really don't care what kind of government they have there, it's their business. I do know it is fun. If the Cubans in Fla want a change they can go back and try to change it. They should not however, expect the rest of us to feel as they do, or to support their agenda.

Go it's a great place, and you'll have a wonderful time.

Rick D · Feb 10, 2009

Re: Cuba

Don't go...at least until regs are changed. Why risk large fines and impoundment? Don't think for a second the US wouldn't know you went. BTW, I went two years ago to Santiago on the SE side. I went legally. The Colonial architecture is wonderful to see, the people are friendly and beautiful. The buildings are crumbling and the people are short just about everything. We went to the Yacht Club with Cuban relatives. Nice facility. Lots of French boats around as there were German. Of course, the armed guard wouldn't let the Cubans in, so we passed on going in too. The DR and PR have most of the same charms except for the distance to the Keys. Oh, and the great vintage cars! :dance:

Phil Herring · Feb 10, 2009

If we can keep this thread from wandering into US foreign policy I'd like to leave it here. Thanks for your cooperation!

Ron20324 · Feb 10, 2009

Maybe Marriot Corp will turn Gitmo into a resort and we can ALL go?

themacway · Feb 10, 2009

Phil Herring said:
If we can keep this thread from wandering into US foreign policy I'd like to leave it here. Thanks for your cooperation!

what foreign policy?

Hermit Scott · Feb 10, 2009

Is it illegal to sail to Cuba by US law?

sailndive345 · Feb 10, 2009

I was under the impression that it was an "economic" ambargo; i.e., we can't spend US currency in Cuba... Does it include travel restriction as well?

May be this is no longer happening, but I thought there was a flotilla of volunteers that went to Cuba annually, delivering medical supplies and such... I thought they started from the keys someplace (Key West, perhaps?) Is it still goes on, it may be a way to have the old cake and eat it too...

Chuckbear · Feb 10, 2009

Under current US law signed by the Bush Administration it is illegal for any US citizen to travel to Cuba without express permission by the treasury Department and that permission is given only to qualified journalist. Travel for any other reason is denied. The US Coast Guard has standing orders to board and confiscate any US vessel that they "believe" is traveling to or coming from Cuban waters. In addition to confiscation the vessel owner or Captain is subject to substantial monetary penalties. Detailed information can be found here
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html
The Bush administartion further suspended licenses granted under the Specific Licenses for Educational Institutions and the Other Specific Licenses as part of there further restrictions to travel. To date this policy has not been suspended.

Rick D · Feb 10, 2009

Sailndive

You have to have permission to travel to Cuba as a US citizen regardless. There is a bar to travel but for exceptions such as humanitarian, religious, cultural, education, etc. However, those are construed more narrowly than broadly. Understand that travel restrictions work both ways. However Cuba welcomes tourist dollars and so they are broader in their travel interpretations. Having said that, you don't want to get crossways with them. We had a difficult and stressful exit which may keep us from returning for a while.

This is intended as information, not commentary.

Hermit Scott · Feb 10, 2009

I thought in one on Michael Moore's docudramas that they took a boat to Cuba for some medical procedures. I guess he somehow qualifies as a journalist.

Larry Neese · Feb 10, 2009

We are all for it down here, it would help the economy in the Keys, my father used to take the Key West to Havana ferry before the revolution, by the way we are not the mainland. Oh, and the poster from cali was right DO NOT go until its legal unless you like being boarded and risk losing your vessel.

CalebD · Feb 10, 2009

Thanks for the topic Franklin.

Cuba would be a very interesting place to sail/cruise around if it were legal. Since it is not legal to go there most Americans fly to Canada or Mexico to get flights there without State Dept. approval. The Cuban authorities know the deal and usually will not stamp your passport if you request it. This is also how Cuban 'refugees' get around the embargo and visit their relatives no doubt.

Edited to remove all political content. Now isn't that sanitary!

Rick D · Feb 10, 2009

Caleb D

Why don't you self-sensor and delete your own post and start a new one on the 'War Room'? Rules is rules. Besides, it's obvious there are strong political/economic/cultural opinions folks would like to share and that's the right place for it.

CalebD · Feb 10, 2009

Rick,
The word you were looking for is: censor

Censorship, the control of speech and other forms of human expression
Roman censor, a magistrate for maintaining the census, supervising public morality, etc.
Censor Librorum, a Church official who approves and, if necessary, removes material from texts for publication

Not: sensor - that would be part of your depth sounder mechanism.
Thanks for the suggestion and I have taken it to heart as you will probably note.
Self-censorship is difficult when the emotions and ideas regarding such subjects do vary widely.

I'm Sailing to Cuba baby

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