In Cuba. Group shot showing 18 of the 19 crewmembers who went on the “race” to Cuba. Only regatta organizer Alice Petrat (the photographer) is not in this photo.
Bone Island Regatta Sails to Cuba May 27 By Alice Petrat, Regatta Organizer
F
our boats sailing in the Cuba Leg of the 2015 6th Annual Bone Island Regatta* returned to Key West on May 27, enjoying brisk sailing conditions in the Straits of Florida. This was one of the first regatta events with a Cuban destination port fully sanctioned by the U.S. government since the imposition of the embargo in the 1960s. The Bone Island Regatta is an annual race to Key West with starts in Tampa, Sarasota and Naples. The Cuba leg of the regatta from Key West was optional and was limited to a small number of boats in order to test the concept, Cuba logistics and the relative ease with which government requirements on both sides of the Florida Straits can be negotiated. After obtaining a temporary export license for each of the vessels from the U. S. Department of Commerce, making arrangements to be compliant under the people-to-people guidelines and then obtaining crew approval from the U.S. Coast Guard, we were ready to go. The test was a resounding success with excellent coopera-
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August 2015
SOUTHWINDS
tion in both the U.S. and Cuba. The small but enthusiastic fleet departed Key West on May 20 with a float plan endorsed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The sail to Cuba was a motor sail under benign conditions. During a gracious welcome reception hosted by Jose Miguel Diaz Escrich, commodore of the Club Nautico Internacional Hemingway de Cuba, the commodore and Alice Petrat, the founder and organizer of the Bone Island Regatta, presented awards to the boats that made the trip: Spring Fever of Cortez, H20 of Naples, Shearwater of Sarasota and White Hawk of Sarasota. All boats have Florida homeports. Three days of organized tours were arranged by Cuba Tour Travel to be in compliance with the people-to-people license. These tours, with local guides, allowed the sailors to sample the history, architecture, art, cuisine and mystique of a small part of this 600-mile long island nation. While the fleet was prepared to be self-sufficient during the visit, we discovered ample local availability of diesel fuel, water, groceries and Havana Club. The Cuban people were affable and keen to engage, and the entire experience was a sheer delight. The Cuban people were welcoming, gracious and eager to establish friendships with Americans; it felt like old friends seeing each other again after a long separation. Although the politicians on both sides of the Florida Straits still have matters to resolve, it was clear to all of us that on a person-to-person basis, there is already in place a warm and substantial bond of friendship and mutual respect. With a moderately challenging passage added to the mix, The Cuba leg of the Bone Island Regatta is an enticing option to consider. *See the article on the Bone Island Regatta to Key West in the July issue in Back Issues at www.southwindsmagazine.com. www.southwindsmagazine.com