American sailors, in the form of the Sarasota Yacht Club, want to sail to Havana, Cuba. The fact that Cuba has been off-limits to American citizens for over 50 years only seems to make it more attractive, but their hopes will be dashed if they don’t get positive word from the US government this month.
Sailing to Havana in the Sarasota to Havana Regatta used to be a fine tradition, until it was stopped in the late 50’s because Fidel Castro’s takeover of Cuba and then the frozen relations between the USA and island.
American sailors, in the form of the Sarasota Yacht Club, want to sail to Havana, Cuba. The fact that Cuba has been off-limits to American citizens for over 50 years only seems to make it more attractive, but their hopes will be dashed if they don’t get positive word from the US government this month.
Sailing to Havana in the Sarasota to Havana Regatta used to be a fine tradition, until it was stopped in the late 50’s because Fidel Castro’s takeover of Cuba and then the frozen relations between the USA and island.
Sailors of other nationalities who have been sailing there in the meantime tell of idyllic anchorages and welcoming people, with a relaxed lifestyle ‘reminiscent of the 50’s’. But this didn’t mean anything for Americans until President Barack Obama loosened restrictions on US citizens travelling to the island last month.
Even though they have been lobbying – and failing – for years to make the revival of the annual regatta a reality, some in the Sarasota Yacht Club think that 2011 could be different
‘This could be the year,’ Donald Payzant, president of the SYC Foundation, told the Herald Tribune recently. SYC organizers say politics do not play into the plan to voyage en masse to Havana in May.
‘Our interest in the race is not political, but Cuba is obviously a destination of interest in the sailing community,’ he added. ‘Everybody and their uncle wants to go to Cuba.’