Cuba?

[Trekka]

Originally Posted by .

...blame the restrictions on Kennedy and every President and Congress since then.

No, blame it on W. During the 1990's restrictions were relaxed and a lot of travel developed, including sailing regatta's to Havana, and cruises around the island. Expats with relatives there had liberal travel priviliges and could send such money as they wished to their relations. W brushed all that off the table and put in place the tightest restrictions we have had in decades.

[cardiacpaul]

what a load.

http://www.cubacruising.net/html/shipwreck.html
http://havanajournal.com/travel/entr..._boaters_held/
http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y04/jun04/14e5.htm


if you want to go, knock yourself out.

[jldooley]

Last year or was it 2-3 years ago ..
tampa or Miami Fl newspaper started a story about some sailor who sailed to Cuba. then websites linked to him he was in one of the sail rags he started a legal defense fund becasue
upon his return to 'the land of the free' the US govt. took his boat, questioned him, sued him. He had the $ to get a lawyer ..

trying to remember more?? anybody know anything about him?? what happened?

[Slooptattoo]

The article was almost three years ago, I'll see if I can find a copy of it. They seized his boat and auctioned it off, he was fined $10 K and sentenced to ten years probation. I'll do my best to find it. Touchy subject down here, if Castro doesn't get you the locals will make sure you have a bad hair day for giving money to a despot. It's really not a joke, the govt. and the local political groups will have their pound of flesh. Under no circumstances would I go or give one thin dime to his regime. I'd give anything to see the pristine cruising grounds, but the price is too high at the moment, both dollar wise and morally.

[LynW]

... and sailed back from Havana to Key West. US Customs were definitely NOT amused and gave us a hard time before finally admitting us. But then we are British and there was no reason preventing us. As Valiente says, they just blustered when they couldn't find the rules. They quoted endless regulations applying to US citizens, and I'm sure any American trying it would be in deep, deep sh*t. I gather things have tightened up considerably from 2004 when there was the last yacht race from Florida to Havana.

Even so, there were a couple of US boats in Marina Hemingway. They had gone via Mexico or Dominican Republic to avoid Big Brother. Cuba doesn't stamp your passport.

[camaraderie]

They had gone via Mexico or Dominican Republic to avoid Big Brother. Cuba doesn't stamp your passport.

Americans better be aware that the eyes in the sky can read boat names and track 'em. Simply entering the country from another does not mean you ain't gonna get slapped if you try to get around the law. Those fishing boats off the keys ain't all fishing boats! Remember if you lie on entry and are caught...it is perjury. Big fines/big lawyer fees and big trouble.

[sailaway21]

It's actually kind of funny. "I want to go to Cuba!" "Why?" "Because I want to see the unspoiled beaches and indigenous culture." Begging the question, aren't there plenty enough Caribbean islands with a 1950's economy and pretty beaches? Can you count 'em?

It's probably more along the lines of Mom says, "don't touch that". As soon as Mom turns her back, the kid....

[OkSanJuan]

I don't know about cruising there, but it is possible (and inexpensive) to catch a commuter flight there from Jamaica... and as said, they don't stamp your passport.

Not that I would condone violating any US imposed sanctions against visiting Cuba, just pointing out a way it can be done without much risk of getting caught.

[kwaltersmi]

For what's it's worth, here's what Wiki has to say on the matter:

"Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy imposed travel restrictions on February 8, 1963, and the Cuban Assets Control Regulations were issued on July 8, 1963, under the Trading with the Enemy Act in response to Cubans hosting Soviet nuclear weapons, which led to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Under these restrictions, Cuban assets in the U.S. were frozen and the existing restrictions were consolidated.

Multilateral sanctions were imposed by the Organization of American States (OAS) on July 26, 1964, but these were abandoned on July 29, 1975.

The restrictions on U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba lapsed on March 19, 1977; the regulation was renewable every six months, but President Jimmy Carter did not renew it and the regulation on spending U.S. dollars in Cuba was lifted shortly afterwards. President Ronald Reagan reinstated the trade embargo on April 19, 1982. This has been modified subsequently with the present regulation, effective June 30, 2004,[4] being the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 515.[5] The current regulation does not limit travel of US Citizens to Cuba per se, but it makes it illegal for US Citizens to have transactions (spend money or receive gifts) in Cuba under most circumstances without a US government Office of Foreign Assets Control issued license."

[pegasus1457]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

It is not legal for Americans. You can get a big fine and lose your boat. It is no longer possible just to say you didn't spend money and get away with it.
Whether or not you agree with the law...I suggest you obey it.

US law now states that US citizens may not spend any money in embargoed countries (e.g., Cuba). They have made their stance even more draconian by asserting that the $48 you have to spend to get a Cuban tourist visa constitutes prima facie evidence for violation of the US restrictions.

If you try to enter US waters in a boat coming from Cuba they can and most likely will confiscate the boat. In addition you will be liable for fines of up to $100K and a year in prison. I think the average violator doesn't get the fine and prison punishment, but they will take your boat.

The only exception is for people participating in pre-approved cultural or commercial exchanges, including making documentary films. Michael Moore went to Cuba as part of his making Sicko, without prior permission, and is now fighting in the courts to avoid punishment. He has deeper pockets than any of us, and he still may lose his fight.

If you want to visit Cuba, leave your boat at home, and arrange to get there via Mexico or Canada. Many people do this and successfully avoid the legal tangle. It is really a shame to have to drop Cuba as a cruising destination.