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Bobthebuilder's next adventure - Key West to Havana, Cuba
- Thread starter Bobthebuilder
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Bobthebuilder
Charter Member
Bobthebuilder
Charter Member
Bobthebuilder
Charter Member
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
Sunday will be a travel day but I will continue to share as I have time.
Bob
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
My Bro-In-Law is a Cuban who's father was jailed when Castro took over for 23 years. He was in Batista's ministry. He, his sister, mom and grandma, aunt and cousin escaped with nothing and lost all of their estates etc. Started over here.
I've chatted with him about it because he has relatives there obviously. He says there are so many corrupt Cuban's with lots of money in the states who already have their underground rings set up, it will be a major mess if that happened without some sort of government control.
And, like his family, who owns what?
And all I wanted was a 55 or 56 Chevy......:sifone:
I've chatted with him about it because he has relatives there obviously. He says there are so many corrupt Cuban's with lots of money in the states who already have their underground rings set up, it will be a major mess if that happened without some sort of government control.
And, like his family, who owns what?
And all I wanted was a 55 or 56 Chevy......:sifone:
JupiterSunsation
New member
Make sure you order a pallet of bondo to go with it!
Most of the stuff has been so bastardized to keep it running it wouldn't be worth having. If I was rich with an collection of odd stuff then I would have wanted the old green 50's pickup that they turned into a boat. I am 99% sure the USCG turned that into a swiss cheese submarine though.
Bobthebuilder
Charter Member
Flying Fish and 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
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
JupiterSunsation
New member
Bob you are the man! Nothing like a Canadian riling up the US Customs boys in KW (vs the north end of the border). Not sure they have met many speedboats from Cuba that actually check in at their office!
Glad to hear the boat performed flawlessly with the exception of fish dodging.....I would bring that flaw to Terry's attention and maybe the boys at Nortech can figure something out......
Glad to hear the boat performed flawlessly with the exception of fish dodging.....I would bring that flaw to Terry's attention and maybe the boys at Nortech can figure something out......
Expensive Date
New member
Thanks so much for sharing the pictures.Glad you got through customs sorry to hear they gave you a rough time.So is Barbados next?might need bigger fuel tanks.
Bobthebuilder
Charter Member
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
I cannot wait to hear the rest of the story.
Jay would love to have that camera. Where's the USB port connection??????
And next time safety glasses to protect you from the flying fish. Wasn't there a guy down there killed my a manta ray or something like that???????
Jay would love to have that camera. Where's the USB port connection??????
And next time safety glasses to protect you from the flying fish. Wasn't there a guy down there killed my a manta ray or something like that???????
PatriYacht
Charter Member
Great story and pictures, Bob. Thanks for posting this for us to see.That is the kind of adventure that few people are even brave enough to try. Life is a participant sport and you are a winner.
dd24skater
New member
Best post I have seen in a long time.....Nice job Bob!!!!
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