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Sailing to Cuba
I am planning to sail to Cuba next winter, and hope to hear from
sailors who've been there and done that. I am interested in all practical aspects: legal, navigational, logistics, etc. Four years ago, when I was preparing my cruise to Labrador and Greenland, I got useful feedback from several memebers of this group. I hope there are some old Cuba hands around, too. Logs and pictures of my earlier cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Arctic are on my web site. Thanks! Geert van der Kolk http://www.geertvanderkolk.com |
Sailing to Cuba
Should be an overrun cruising ground for U.S. sailors, Geert. But,
that'd ruin it's pristine nature and true character - another BVI. Maybe a few Canucks can lend you a hand here. Any American who's cruised there would deny it if they were caught in the act! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful experience. wrote: I am planning to sail to Cuba next winter, and hope to hear from sailors who've been there and done that. I am interested in all practical aspects: legal, navigational, logistics, etc. Four years ago, when I was preparing my cruise to Labrador and Greenland, I got useful feedback from several memebers of this group. I hope there are some old Cuba hands around, too. Logs and pictures of my earlier cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Arctic are on my web site. Thanks! Geert van der Kolk http://www.geertvanderkolk.com |
Sailing to Cuba
US Citizens aren't aren't barred from going to Cuba, but they can't spend
any money there and the hassle is quite great. Nice website, btw. -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com wrote in message oups.com... I am planning to sail to Cuba next winter, and hope to hear from sailors who've been there and done that. I am interested in all practical aspects: legal, navigational, logistics, etc. Four years ago, when I was preparing my cruise to Labrador and Greenland, I got useful feedback from several memebers of this group. I hope there are some old Cuba hands around, too. Logs and pictures of my earlier cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Arctic are on my web site. Thanks! Geert van der Kolk http://www.geertvanderkolk.com |
Sailing to Cuba
In case anyone is interested, here are a couple of links that tell you what
you have to do if you're a US Citizen and want to travel there. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2886.htm http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforce...uba/cuba.shtml http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforce...uba_tr_app.pdf -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com "Capt. JG" wrote in message ... US Citizens aren't aren't barred from going to Cuba, but they can't spend any money there and the hassle is quite great. Nice website, btw. -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com wrote in message oups.com... I am planning to sail to Cuba next winter, and hope to hear from sailors who've been there and done that. I am interested in all practical aspects: legal, navigational, logistics, etc. Four years ago, when I was preparing my cruise to Labrador and Greenland, I got useful feedback from several memebers of this group. I hope there are some old Cuba hands around, too. Logs and pictures of my earlier cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Arctic are on my web site. Thanks! Geert van der Kolk http://www.geertvanderkolk.com |
Sailing to Cuba
Mys Terry wrote: On Wed, 10 May 2006 09:30:51 -0700, "Capt. JG" wrote: US Citizens aren't aren't barred from going to Cuba, but they can't spend any money there and the hassle is quite great. That was true quite a while back. It is no longer true. The US can sieze a boat permanently if they merely suspect it might be capable and/or planning to go to Cuba. There is no "due process" involved. They can just stop you and take your boat at their discretion from any place in US waters. You don't even have to be anywhere near Cuba, or pointed in that direction. Thats just not true Robert and you know it! I will sail Heart of Gold, my new 35s5 from LIS to Cuba soon, and there is not a thing the Shrub and his puppet goverment or the USCG can do about it. Capt. Suzy Heart of Gold 35s5 NY |
Sailing to Cuba
Good on you, Suzy. Pleae keep me informed. How do you plan to handle
the restrictions on spending money? BYOB, and all your food, too? I believe even paying for your visa is considered a transaction, hence the gimmick with "fully hosted events." Geert "Sea Scout" Dufour Arpege 30 |
Sailing to Cuba
I know that Morgan Stinemetz, a Florida sportswriter, sailed to Havana last year. He had what is called a "general license" as a journalist. His adventures, and much other info on Cuba sailing are on the web site: http://www.cubacruising.net/index.html I am also shooting for a general license as a writer. This requires that you can document that you were in Cuba for professional reasons, but you don't have to apply in advance. Obviously a geat plus. A Canadian couple I talked to happily cruised the North coast of Cuba for three weeks. They sailed back not to Key West, but to the Dry Tortugas. They hung out there for a week, and then sailed to Key West. Nobody stopped them or asked any questions. I don't believe they volunteered information themselves. Technically the embargo is administered by a branch of the Treasury called the Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. Being Dutch, I somethimes have trouble with the correct pronunciation, but I thinks it is "Oh f..k!" Geert "Sea Scout" Dufour Arpege 30 |
Sailing to Cuba
Cuba is supposed to be a great place. It's on my list of places to visit.
-- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com wrote in message oups.com... I know that Morgan Stinemetz, a Florida sportswriter, sailed to Havana last year. He had what is called a "general license" as a journalist. His adventures, and much other info on Cuba sailing are on the web site: http://www.cubacruising.net/index.html I am also shooting for a general license as a writer. This requires that you can document that you were in Cuba for professional reasons, but you don't have to apply in advance. Obviously a geat plus. A Canadian couple I talked to happily cruised the North coast of Cuba for three weeks. They sailed back not to Key West, but to the Dry Tortugas. They hung out there for a week, and then sailed to Key West. Nobody stopped them or asked any questions. I don't believe they volunteered information themselves. Technically the embargo is administered by a branch of the Treasury called the Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. Being Dutch, I somethimes have trouble with the correct pronunciation, but I thinks it is "Oh f..k!" Geert "Sea Scout" Dufour Arpege 30 |
Sailing to Cuba
"katy" wrote in message ... wrote: I am planning to sail to Cuba next winter, and hope to hear from sailors who've been there and done that. I am interested in all practical aspects: legal, navigational, logistics, etc. Four years ago, when I was preparing my cruise to Labrador and Greenland, I got useful feedback from several memebers of this group. I hope there are some old Cuba hands around, too. Logs and pictures of my earlier cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Arctic are on my web site. Thanks! Geert van der Kolk http://www.geertvanderkolk.com Nice website...wish I could help. I think Mooron has been to Cuba... I hear they won't let him back in because he ate someone's raw kidney while there. Oh, and he clubbed some poor kid's little white puppy to death. Max |
Sailing to Cuba
"Mys Terry" wrote in message ... On Wed, 10 May 2006 09:30:51 -0700, "Capt. JG" wrote: US Citizens aren't aren't barred from going to Cuba, but they can't spend any money there and the hassle is quite great. That was true quite a while back. It is no longer true. The US can sieze a boat permanently if they merely suspect it might be capable and/or planning to go to Cuba. There is no "due process" involved. They can just stop you and take your boat at their discretion from any place in US waters. You don't even have to be anywhere near Cuba, or pointed in that direction. I'm beginning to think that maybe Castro asked W to ban Americans from visiting Cuba in order to keep his island from turning into another USVI. Max |
Sailing to Cuba
wrote in message oups.com... I know that Morgan Stinemetz, a Florida sportswriter, sailed to Havana last year. He had what is called a "general license" as a journalist. His adventures, and much other info on Cuba sailing are on the web site: http://www.cubacruising.net/index.html I am also shooting for a general license as a writer. This requires that you can document that you were in Cuba for professional reasons, but you don't have to apply in advance. Obviously a geat plus. A Canadian couple I talked to happily cruised the North coast of Cuba for three weeks. They sailed back not to Key West, but to the Dry Tortugas. They hung out there for a week, and then sailed to Key West. Nobody stopped them or asked any questions. I don't believe they volunteered information themselves. Perhaps that Canadian flag flying from the main roach had something to do with that. Technically the embargo is administered by a branch of the Treasury called the Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. Being Dutch, I somethimes have trouble with the correct pronunciation, but I thinks it is "Oh f..k!" LOL. I think you got it right. Max |
Sailing to Cuba
"Capt. JG" wrote in message ... Cuba is supposed to be a great place. It's on my list of places to visit. Send us your cell number at San Quentin and we'll send some chocolate chip cookies. :-) Max |
Sailing to Cuba
This idiot, who is pretending to be someone else's wife, is wrong. It's best
to just ignore him. I posted the links from the gov't site. It is possible for a US citizen to travel to Cuba legally. -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com "Maxprop" wrote in message k.net... "Mys Terry" wrote in message ... On Wed, 10 May 2006 09:30:51 -0700, "Capt. JG" wrote: US Citizens aren't aren't barred from going to Cuba, but they can't spend any money there and the hassle is quite great. That was true quite a while back. It is no longer true. The US can sieze a boat permanently if they merely suspect it might be capable and/or planning to go to Cuba. There is no "due process" involved. They can just stop you and take your boat at their discretion from any place in US waters. You don't even have to be anywhere near Cuba, or pointed in that direction. I'm beginning to think that maybe Castro asked W to ban Americans from visiting Cuba in order to keep his island from turning into another USVI. Max |
Sailing to Cuba
Why? It's not illegal for US citizens to travel to Cuba.
I would rather you bake me a cake with a file in it. I know a nice approach from the bay. :-) -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com "Maxprop" wrote in message nk.net... "Capt. JG" wrote in message ... Cuba is supposed to be a great place. It's on my list of places to visit. Send us your cell number at San Quentin and we'll send some chocolate chip cookies. :-) Max |
Sailing to Cuba
No good on you geert. I've ordered one of your novels BTW.
I'll keep you up to date, I plan on spending nothing in Cuba, no way would I let that commie ******* Castro profit off my cruising ventures. I taking a trunk load of blue jeans to barter for cigars and rum. Going to load the boat with spam and squirty cheese. Capt. Suzy 35s5 NY |
Sailing to Cuba
Thanks, that's very useful. My Canadian friends were perfectly legal,
as you pointed out, and prepasred to answer any questions, but also happy to avoid the hassle. I am Dutch, but a US resident. So I have to deal with the embargo. Did the Coast Guard cutter that was on your tail also question you about the standard things like number of life jackets, holding tank, flares, etc.? Geert http://www.geertvanderkolk.com |
Sailing to Cuba
No. I'm sure the routine safety items, etc. would have been handled
quite thoroughly, had we been boarded, including what direction our 'Y' valves were pointed. The 'proctology exam' we got over the VHF focused upon who all of us were (Captain and crew), where we'd been, where we were going, and upon ownership of the boat. They also asked for my date of birth. I had been expecting a birthday card from them, but they missed it last year. My chances of receiving one this year seem to be a bit more remote. |
Sailing to Cuba
"PrefersOffshore" wrote in message oups.com... No. I'm sure the routine safety items, etc. would have been handled quite thoroughly, had we been boarded, including what direction our 'Y' valves were pointed. The 'proctology exam' we got over the VHF focused upon who all of us were (Captain and crew), where we'd been, where we were going, and upon ownership of the boat. They also asked for my date of birth. I had been expecting a birthday card from them, but they missed it last year. My chances of receiving one this year seem to be a bit more remote. This sounds more like potential drug interdiction than the usual anti-Cuba patrol. Ever since the USCG became the anti-trafficking cops, they've been worthless for nearly everything else. You must have convinced them you weren't a trafficker, or they'd have ushered you into port somewhere. Max |
Sailing to Cuba
Tough call as to why. I expect just curiousity on their part. Due to
conditions, over 25 kts sustained and gusts in lower to mid 30's, we were the only recreational boat out there. They just wanted to know what our business was, since most people wouldn't think that to be much fun. At the Tortugas, many commercial fishermen stayed in a few more days until the wind came down. Had the prettiest fresh grouper for dinner the second night at Garden Key - generous pair of fishermen, would take nothing for it, so we returned the favor the next day with a complete roast port dinner. Drugs - Immigration - Cuba - Terrorism. The USCC has their hands full and is doing the best they can with what they've got. I applaud them, and felt no 'infringement' of my rights by their inquiry, which was 'all business', and no monkey business or power tripping screwin' around. |
Sailing to Cuba
"PrefersOffshore" wrote in message ups.com... Tough call as to why. I expect just curiousity on their part. Due to conditions, over 25 kts sustained and gusts in lower to mid 30's, we were the only recreational boat out there. They just wanted to know what our business was, since most people wouldn't think that to be much fun. At the Tortugas, many commercial fishermen stayed in a few more days until the wind came down. Had the prettiest fresh grouper for dinner the second night at Garden Key - generous pair of fishermen, would take nothing for it, so we returned the favor the next day with a complete roast port dinner. Drugs - Immigration - Cuba - Terrorism. The USCC has their hands full and is doing the best they can with what they've got. I applaud them, and felt no 'infringement' of my rights by their inquiry, which was 'all business', and no monkey business or power tripping screwin' around. Cuba. We got boarded early Sunday am SW of Key West heading NE, same script, names, dob's, though we were scrutinized a little more when the officer figured out that the place we had sailed from, Providencia, was part of Columbia. The CG doesn't stop boats going to the Bahamas or north, only boats going to/coming from the general vicinity of Cuba, which renders excuses like immigration, drugs and terrorism moot. The boat got boarded in the same vicinity about a month ago, headed in the opposite direction. John Cairns |
Sailing to Cuba
John Cairns wrote:
Cuba. We got boarded early Sunday am SW of Key West heading NE, same script, names, dob's, though we were scrutinized a little more when the officer figured out that the place we had sailed from, Providencia, was part of Columbia. The CG doesn't stop boats going to the Bahamas or north, only boats going to/coming from the general vicinity of Cuba, which renders excuses like immigration, drugs and terrorism moot. The boat got boarded in the same vicinity about a month ago, headed in the opposite direction. John Cairns First question asked of me was "How many aboard?", and second was "What was your last port of call?", which lead me to believe it was about Cuba. They have a lot to deal with down that way. On our return to Key West, we were on the hook W. side of Marquessas Island. A 35-ft open-hulled boat, powered by four 250-HP outboards with "Homeland Security" emblazened on the topsides in 18" high letters came from miles away directly to us and scrutinized us from 30 yards for nearly 5 minutes, but didn't bother us. The three crew, who were dressed in dark blue or black, appeared to be wearing bullet-proof vests and looked like Navy Seal types. I don't think they were concerned about fishing regulations or whether we had enough life jackets aboard. I expect they were able to confirm from a data base that our vessel had been given the 'once-over' five days earlier, and that we checked out o.k. This is good. Fifteen years ago, the USCG was boarding recreational boats in SF Bay because they had nothing better to do with themselves, and thought it was a 'public service' and good training. If they didn't like the cut of your jib, or how you parted your hair, the power tripping began, and they just had to find something that wasn't in order. |
Sailing to Cuba
"PrefersOffshore" wrote in message ups.com... John Cairns wrote: Cuba. We got boarded early Sunday am SW of Key West heading NE, same script, names, dob's, though we were scrutinized a little more when the officer figured out that the place we had sailed from, Providencia, was part of Columbia. The CG doesn't stop boats going to the Bahamas or north, only boats going to/coming from the general vicinity of Cuba, which renders excuses like immigration, drugs and terrorism moot. The boat got boarded in the same vicinity about a month ago, headed in the opposite direction. John Cairns First question asked of me was "How many aboard?", and second was "What was your last port of call?", which lead me to believe it was about Cuba. They have a lot to deal with down that way. On our return to Key West, we were on the hook W. side of Marquessas Island. A 35-ft open-hulled boat, powered by four 250-HP outboards with "Homeland Security" emblazened on the topsides in 18" high letters came from miles away directly to us and scrutinized us from 30 yards for nearly 5 minutes, but didn't bother us. The three crew, who were dressed in dark blue or black, appeared to be wearing bullet-proof vests and looked like Navy Seal types. I don't think they were concerned about fishing regulations or whether we had enough life jackets aboard. I expect they were able to confirm from a data base that our vessel had been given the 'once-over' five days earlier, and that we checked out o.k. This is good. Fifteen years ago, the USCG was boarding recreational boats in SF Bay because they had nothing better to do with themselves, and thought it was a 'public service' and good training. If they didn't like the cut of your jib, or how you parted your hair, the power tripping began, and they just had to find something that wasn't in order. Kinda funny, I was sleeping in the forward cabin and I heard the skipper reciting the names, spelling and ages of the crew, then I fell back asleep, didn't find out about the boarding until the following morning, it was a CG cutter in both cases, though not the same cutter.They really didn't give us any grief, didn't even bother to wake any of the sleeping crew up and were quiet enough not to wake me up even though the forward cabin door was open, and the officer did go below. John Cairns |
Sailing to Cuba
"PrefersOffshore" wrote in message
ups.com... John Cairns wrote: Cuba. We got boarded early Sunday am SW of Key West heading NE, same script, names, dob's, though we were scrutinized a little more when the officer figured out that the place we had sailed from, Providencia, was part of Columbia. The CG doesn't stop boats going to the Bahamas or north, only boats going to/coming from the general vicinity of Cuba, which renders excuses like immigration, drugs and terrorism moot. The boat got boarded in the same vicinity about a month ago, headed in the opposite direction. John Cairns First question asked of me was "How many aboard?", and second was "What was your last port of call?", which lead me to believe it was about Cuba. They have a lot to deal with down that way. On our return to Key West, we were on the hook W. side of Marquessas Island. A 35-ft open-hulled boat, powered by four 250-HP outboards with "Homeland Security" emblazened on the topsides in 18" high letters came from miles away directly to us and scrutinized us from 30 yards for nearly 5 minutes, but didn't bother us. The three crew, who were dressed in dark blue or black, appeared to be wearing bullet-proof vests and looked like Navy Seal types. I don't think they were concerned about fishing regulations or whether we had enough life jackets aboard. I expect they were able to confirm from a data base that our vessel had been given the 'once-over' five days earlier, and that we checked out o.k. This is good. Fifteen years ago, the USCG was boarding recreational boats in SF Bay because they had nothing better to do with themselves, and thought it was a 'public service' and good training. If they didn't like the cut of your jib, or how you parted your hair, the power tripping began, and they just had to find something that wasn't in order. They still do occasionally... especially if your crew isn't wearing PFDs and you're not sailing in control or what they perceive to be in control in a crowded area. |
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