Sailing to Cuba.

[Allan]

Has anyone sailed to Cuba? We're leaving Antigua in the morning, heading for the BVI. Our plan is to head for the east of Cuba from there. Any advice would be gratefully received and appreciated. We're most interested in advice about dealing with officialdom, security and places to visit or avoid. It will be a couple of days before I can read answers.
Allan

 

[Sea Devil]

Its a few years now but I had a really good experience visiting Cuba having given Haiti a wide berth!
On arrival a doctor was called to give the boat and me medical clearance. He travelled by moped and I had to pay him directly. I found officialdom friendly and helpful and of course had to check in with them at every port. The US dollar is king so be sure to have some. Cubans are very very poor and most things are very inexpensive or unobtainable. I think being generous is a good way to behave.

I paid someone to do washing for me and handed over half a box of soap powder. Clothes came back neatly folded but no soap powder and look at the clothes they did not see the soap powder either.
Nice people and a high point of the Caribbean experience.

I went there via Luperon in the Dominican Republic which is a large mangrove harbour and a most enjoyable place with lots to do and a very safe anchorage.

 

[garvellachs]

A few years ago we chartered out of Cienfuegos and went to Cayo Largo. As above, poor but very friendly people. The local doctor also served in the restaurant. It was hard to buy any range of food but the basics were available. Plenty of lobsters in the coral, and fish can be bartered from local fishermen. Rum by the bottle is also a convenient currency - and officialdom expected to be offered a drink or two on board in a friendly way. Havana is a wonderful city.

 

[geem]

We have cruised the South coast of Cuba rcently. Best place to clear in is Santiago de Cuba. Depending on your draft there are good places to visit heading West along the south coast. Have you got Frank Virgintino free online cruising guide? Gives details of entry to lots of harbours. We are currently in Falmouth Harbour if you are about

 

[john_q]

Worth joining the facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/cubalandandsea/ and get hold of the Waterway Guide Cuba by Addison Chan

This is a new guide that covers the entire country of Cuba. Detailed navigation, anchorages, Goin' Ashore information, over 120 charts and bonus sections on the Florida Keys and Bahamas are included in the new 350+ page guide.

Worth joining the facebookgroup https://www.facebook.com/groups/cubalandandsea/ and get hold of the Waterway Guide Cuba

This is a new guide that covers the entire country of Cuba. Detailed navigation, anchorages, Goin' Ashore information, over 120 charts and bonus sections on the Florida Keys and Bahamas are included in the new 350+ page guide.

Waterway Guide Cuba is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guidebook for boaters, fishermen and cruisers. It is co-authored by Addison Chan, contains cartography by Navionics and includes contributions from Nigel Calder.

 

[AndrewB]

We have cruised the South coast of Cuba rcently. Best place to clear in is Santiago de Cuba. Depending on your draft there are good places to visit heading West along the south coast. Have you got Frank Virgintino free online cruising guide? Gives details of entry to lots of harbours. We are currently in Falmouth Harbour if you are about

+1 for Santiago. All extremely friendly but it takes several hours to check in including a search by the Guardia Civil who will rip your boat apart - in hopes of finding what?

They removed the floatation from our dinghy, pulled the carefully packed spinnaker out and dumped it on the dockside, stuck wet fingers in packets of flour and sugar, undid several of the ceiling panels. "Don't worry, we'll put it all back just as it was." As if.

Last one to leave surreptitiously demanded a tip - we offered a box of beer knowing full well he couldn't accept as it would be too obvious to the senior officer.

Even then, they found none of the three caches where we hide emergency money, credit cards and other small valuables.

 

[geem]

We had the search. They were very friendly but keen. We gave them a Coke whilst they were onboard which they seem to enjoy. Formalities took a couple of hours. Checking out took longer as the power kept going out and their UPS for computer was faulty. They could produce the paperwork until the power came back. Power cuts there are regular occurrence.
Internet is a pain. None at marina so you have to get the bus in to Santiago and buy a scratch card. You find a hotspot and log in. Our garmin Inreach was worth its weight in gold. A friend gave us weather info. Also the SSB for Chris Parker weather was useful.