Go to bottom ... or go wipe your bottom .. take your pick
================= ============== ====================
"capt.bill11" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Feb 16, 11:21 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
Hey Steve .. blah blah blah .............. what a pile of dog ****.
Boats
from florida have been visiting Cuba for YEARS.

Tell the US Government to go stick it up their ass. Christ, the federal
government can't even control the border between the US and Mexico!

I don't know what your problem is but if you post your address I will get
you a Cuban T Shirt..

It will say: "The Weather is Here ... Wish you were Beautiful".

============================================"steve _hayes_maine"
wrote in message

oups.com...



On Feb 15, 1:13 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
Dave ,, funny you should ask. I actually have plans on heading for
Cuba,
as
soon as old Fidel takes a dirt nap. Shouldn't be too long, my guess.

Just in case this is more than the ordinary BS, you might want to
consider the following from the Coast Guard site:

Failure to comply with the Coast Guard, Commerce, Treasury, or other
Federal government regulations regarding travel to Cuba will subject
violators to federal criminal prosecution, as well as possible
administrative proceedings by the Department of Commerce and
Department of Treasury. Penalties for violations of these Federal
statutes and regulations can result in fines, imprisonment, vessel
seizure and forfeiture, and denial of future export privileges.

If you do not have all of the appropriate permits and licenses
required by the Department of Commerce and the Department of Treasury,
and you make a voyage into Cuban territorial waters, you are
subjecting yourself to any and all of these sanctions. You are hereby
advised that, in compliance with direction from the President, the
U.S. Coast Guard will be stringently monitoring maritime traffic to
and from Cuba in order to ensure that vessels subject to U.S.
jurisdiction have complied with all applicable licensing requirements,
laws, and regulations, and will take aggressive enforcement actions if
those conditions are not met.

Steve Hayes- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

No, sadly it's not a "pile of dog ****" the US government has made it
much, much harder to travel to Cuba by boat. Or any other way for that
matter.

In fact they have made it technicaly illegal to think about going
there. Because unless things have changed, if you are caught with
charts and other items that show your intent to go to Cuba, you could
be held in violation of federal law.

And by the way, try not to top post. It tends to mess up the flow.

=========

The bottom .. or bottom post ... whatever..

I have no idea what you smoke, or where you work [ US government employee? ]
....

Cuba may be "opening up" in the foreseeable future to U.S. Cruisers. In the
interim, it's not illegal to go - - only to spend money there. (Note the
recent crackdown (summer 2004) by the Bush Administration on boaters going
to the keys - even activity that seems to fall within the scope of current
law) . Cruisers come and go all the time from the U.S. - though it is true
that the Bush Administration in enforcing current regulations with some
degree of passionate intimidation. If you go just don't even think about
bringing things back, like Cigars or anything else - unless you have a
specific Treasury Dept license. Bring back nothing, and since you're not
going to spend any of your US Dollars in direct cash anyway, as is accepted
in Cuba, there's no reason for you to get or keep any receipts for anything.
Recently though US Customs has been cracking down on casual travel to Cuba -
presuming that you spent money with proof or not, and levying large fines.
According to OFAC (Office of Foreign Asset Control - Dept of Treasury), more
than 150,000 US citizens visited Cuba last year (2000), and only two thirds
were licensed under provisions for cultural exchanges and limited commercial
activities. Travel to other communist states, such as China, Vietnam and
North Korea, is permitted. For an article from Conchord Cayo Hueso's
newsletter about current (02/02) efforts to lift travel restrictions, Click
Here. (If you went to Cuba and now have intimidating letters from the
Treasury Dept - see the Response Letters below before responding to
anything) At the bottom of this page you'll find US government documents on
travel to Cuba. The Coast Guard can issue a special permit for leaving the
S. Florida area for Cuba. With only 90 miles of water between Marathon and
Cuba, Boot Key Harbor is the ideal port for Cuban & Caribbean bound
cruisers. Marathon, and Boot Key Harbor is the ONLY fully protected large
Harbor in the Keys. Go on to Key West if you're looking for a major party
port, lots of tourists and can deal with unprotected, rolly anchorages - -
But if you're a serious cruiser who wants the protected anchorage and
marinas of Boot Key Harbor, with easily accessible supplies and provisions,
Marathon is the only consideration. You'll probably want to reprovision and
wait for weather in Marathon. We recommend Nigel Calder's Cruising Guide to
CUBA (available through Bluewater Books listed below, & other Marine
stores).

=====================

There ya have it ... not illegal to go,, just illegal to spend US Money.
For Bush to even think about fining cruising boats because they have a chart
on board it unbelievable. Wait: Denocrats took over the House, and the
Senate ........ holy ****! Time to make a phone call.

=================

Truth is posting: I voted for George Bush TWICE ............... oh well,
could not vote for a phoney war hero and mr global sweating.

=========================================

Any day, it could happen as I write this // Fidel Castro is about to go
visit Che. The poor man is very sick.

Tell us all: after Fidel goes to the big sugar plantation in the sky, what
reason will there be for telling Americans they can't visit Cuba.

Since my boat is in the North East USA, I wasn't planning to get to Cuba
until next winter. Should be just about right for a perfect schedule.

Now,, time to go and talk to my golfing partner ....................... he
is the NEW CONGRESSMAN FROM THE 2ND DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.


VIVA LA CUBA!