Conch Republic Cup/ Key West Cuba Race Week Set for April 27, 2010 Peter Goldsmith recently announced that there will be another race to Cuba next year, to be called the Conch Republic Cup/Key West Cuba Race Week. It will be held April 27, 2010. These dates are tentative, depending on government support or opposition. Organizers are anticipating travel restrictions will be lifted by then, or at least that the government requirements will allow the regatta. The races will be the same format as the previous Conch Republic Cup races 1997-2003. Race one, the Michele Geslin Memorial Trophy, will leave Key West Harbor at 5:00 p.m., arriving at Veradero at sunrise. Race two, the Veradero Cup, is an around-the-buoys race. The last leg is a spinnaker run down the full length of Veradero Beach. Race three, the Commodores Review Your Boat SOUTHWINDS is looking for boaters to review their own boat. We found readers like to read reviews by boat owners. If you like to write, we want your review. It can be long or short (the boat, that is), a racer, a cruiser, new or old, on a trailer or in the water. Photos essential. If it’s a liveaboard, tell us how that works out. Or—is it fast? Have you made changes? What changes would you like? Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com for more specifics and specifications on photos needed. Articles must be sent by e-mail or on disc. We pay for the reviews, too.
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Cup, is an 80-mile spinnaker run along the coast from Veradero to Havana Harbor, the finish being a few hundred yards from the Malecon. Race four, the Havana to Key West race, will start outside Marina Hemingway, finishing in Key West Harbor. Each race will be awarded separately, and points from each race will accumulate toward the Conch Republic Cup overall race trophy. Layover dates have yet to be set. (SOUTHWINDS will print more on this race as we learn more. See the racing section for news on the Sarasota to Havana race that is being planned for 2010.)
Florida Passes Law Allowing Non-Resident Boatowners to Remain in Florida up to 180 Days From Trade Only In May, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed a law allowing non-residents who purchase a boat in Florida, or bring a boat into Florida for repair or alteration, to remain in the state 180 days before becoming liable for the sales and use tax. Beforehand, the tax applied after 90 days.
Beneteau Appoints Yachting Vacations Charter Company as Beneteau Fractional Dealer in Southwest Florida Beneteau Fractional Sailing, the fractional ownership program of the Beneteau Group, has appointed Yachting Vacations in Punta Gorda, FL, as its dealer in southwest
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