Cuba - advice ?

[seansea]

I am hoping to charter a yacht in Cuba in March and do some cruising off the beaten track. I would be interested to hear from anyone with experience of chartering or cruising the south coast. The only charter companies I have found are unfamiliar companies. I am assuming that Moorings/Sunsail don't operate there due to the american embargo but I don't mind using a one boat operator as long as the boat is sound of course.

 

[chinita]

Google: Cuba: A Cruising Guide - Nigel Calder

 

[graham]

your wise to check out the charter companies credentials.Not all their boats are up to scratch.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

picture nicked from Lake Sailor /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[ianabc]

I rented a Hobi Cat in Cuba some time ago.

The jib was inoperatable and I was told by an older fellow who spent a lot of time on the beach there, that he had offered to repair the jibs for free but the Cubans did not want them repaired.

A boat that is difficult to sail is difficult to Cubans to sail to freedom.

 

[chrisb]

i borrowed a laser on the cayos.the rudder dropped off. not bavaria for a change. lovelly country. santiago de cuba looks good

 

[Sy-Revolution]

Not all Cubans want 'freedom'.

 

[chinita]

Brilliant.

 

[jonic]

We took our own boat there a few years ago.
Full story and pictures here

A fascinating country, we stayed on the beaten track with the boat, but off it on land via buses. Lots of permits are required so I would stick with a larger charter co. I'm glad we went.

 

[seansea]

I like the image !! Only thing is I don't think old Fidel would be able to paddle anywhere even if he wanted to in his current state ofhealth

 

[Twister_Ken]

"Not all Cubans want 'freedom'."

Those in Guantanamo Bay seem to.

 

[Koeketiene]

Yes, but they're not Cubans

 

[seansea]

Thanks for the advice and link. Easier said than done to find a 'larger' charter company. Found one by the dubious name of wowcuba with a Beneteau 36 and captain included although I don't know if that's a good thing necessarily. I am not worried about the navigation itself.

 

[Twister_Ken]

"Yes, but they're not Cubans "

They are by now!

 

[Sy-Revolution]

They're not Cubans. Foreign combatants or summink, not to be confused with POWs or so we're told. Oh and the rest are damn yanks......

Sorry, we have digressed.........