LETTERS “Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.” A.J. Liebling
Changes in Cruising the Bahamas I just read your editorial in the May issue, “Changes in Cruising the Bahamas,” which mentions the travel advisory issued by the Dept. of State. I’m British but live in the U.S. and own a 45-foot brigantine schooner based in Cape Canaveral, FL. I’ve only been to Nassau once by sailboat and that was enough. What a garbage trip! I thought many times about trying a cruise in the Bahamas, but I now think I’d sooner go to Cuba. I don’t mind paying for the privilege of sailing their waters, but it sounds to me like the Bahamian authorities think they are now onto a cash-cow winner. A $300 on-thespot fine, without any recourse, wheedled out of a sailing couple on pain of imprisonment—for having one less shotgun round than they declared?! We used to call that piracy and hung them from the yardarm (which, by the way, I actually have on my boat). They’re not getting any of my money, either for goods or fines. If BoatUS is the American representative of the sailing community in those parts, they should proclaim an embargo of the country and suggest boaters boycott the whole place. I’m sure the avaricious authorities would quickly change their tune when the locals start shouting about loss of income from already ripped-off, (rich) American boaters. Roger Hughes SV Britannia Boating Writers International Association Roger, BoatUS did make a big inquiry of the inspection, and it appears the Bahamian government defended the police actions as legal, which is not a surprise. But maybe they learned something from how it was handled. We’ll have to see. And BoatUS is only one of the representatives of the sailing community. The others are the sailors that go to the Bahamas. Editor
E-mail your letters to: editor@southwindsmagazine.com
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