this is by far the coolest thread ive ever followed this is the kindve adventures I would do if I hand that kind of money and boat the first time I went from long beach to catalina on my boat I thought it was the coolest thing ever I could only imagine taking my boat to cuba or cancun :-) crossing any ocean like that is not for the weak. good luck

another great adventure - be safe!

Unbelieveble Bob,

We were over in your waters today(Bonita) and it was as flat as could be.

Thanks Rick. Hope you can join FMO once again for a few runs on the Gulf this coming season. East winds make for great boating on FL west coast. My turn tomorrow. :)

While many of the pics posted so far paint a pretty picture, I will eventually be posting some that show how hard life is in Cuba and the decay of many buildings that were once so incredibly beautiful. There are some restorations complete and some underway but the task is enormous and few resources now to do it with. The architecture is so very European with plazas, and narrow streets. At times I felt like I was in Spain or Italy.
Sunday will be a travel day but I will continue to share as I have time.
Bob

Hi Bob, Have a safe trip back,cant
wait to hear more.Give me a call
and we will do lunch when you get
back.
Rick

Thank you very much for the stories and the pictures.


Thank Cuban CG vessel.... Looks like a Fountain? Did you get te story on how they have it?

Have a safe return Buddy and see you in Key West.

Thanks for sharing.

Wishes for a safe trip home to Fl and Canada.

Smitty

Got the new lower on this week, and ran out the inlet today, runs good, lets hope I can keep it that way this time:eek:

Today's highlights.
 

Arrive at Marina Hemingway shortly after 10 AM.
Takes just over an hour to clear with all authorities to leave. Bribes are limited to Tee shirts and hats.
Coast Guard officials instruct us not to run down the coast toward central Havana but rather go 5 miles straight out before setting our coarse for Key West. No reason given.
30 miles out I got whacked on the side of my face and right shoulder by a Flying Fish at 45 MPH. The guys did not see it and did not believe me until they could smell the fish on me ! Too funny. No harm to me, not sure how the fish is as he did not land in the boat. Too strange and funny. Probably not funny if it was a few inches to the left and caught me square in the face or throat.
Seas were inconsistent and miserable most of the time. Winds had picked up and were NE. Wave height varied from 2 - 4's to 5 - 7 much of the time. I think we still made it in just over 2 hrs which was great.
Arrive in Key West harbor around 2:15 ish and contact US Customs. There is a big debate on whether we have violated the embargo with Cuba. In the end and due to some technicalities it was decided that we in fact did not, however if we had brought anything back they were to be seized. I knew that could be an issue, so I had instructed my crew we were to bring nothing back, with no exceptions. Customs agreed this made our situation better. I have agreed there will be no further trips to Cuba with the boat until US regulations allow it so it looks like this adventure was a once in a lifetime thing. i can live with that as there are lots of other places to go to - like Turks and Caicos and hopefully BVI as well. It was 5:30 PM by the time I finished with them and ready to head for Marco Island.
A check of my XM weather showed severe thunderstorms on the Gulf right in my path so made a decision to get a room at the Hyatt in Key West and cross to Marco Island Monday morning. My crew had flights pre arranged out of Key West to Toronto thru Miami so they will be home this evening. I was no sooner in my room than I got a call from Hans ( rockstrmkr ) not to come due to the severe weather so looks like I made the right decision.
That's pretty well it, just another day at the office ! LOL
Bob