Cuban Paper Charts

[wclink]

Hello all,

I am wondering if anyone has sailed to Cuba with paper charts. I will be sailing to Cuba and looking for paper charts to use.

What are the best type of charts to use? NGA, British Admiralty, Cuban, or some other brand.

[Seamule65]

A chart (of Cuba) is only as good as the corrections you make to it...
NGA or BA are both usable, but be cautious as Cuba waters are loaded with unreported hazards...
If your intent is to sail around Cuba, carry with you the following:
Most recent Notice to Mariners
Light list (USCG for US waters)
List of Lights (Foreign countries)
Tidal Current tables (For N America)
US Coast Pilots (for US)
Sailing Directions (Foreign countries)
And (if you can afford it) World Port Index......
Cheers, Smitty

[Hudson Force]

I recall that Nigel Calder was producing a cruising guide for Cuba. From the standards of his other publications, I would think this would be one of the best items to have on board for cruising Cuba.

[Benz]

When I sailed there (close to 20 years ago, though), you could walk into the hydrographic office in Havana and buy them for about $5 each. They were beautifully hand-corrected, and as accurate as any charts for the western Caribbean (which means any approach required careful eyeballing and sounding). In spite of the country's poverty, all the navaids were up-to-date as charted, there were ranges marking bigger ports, and the country's maritime life was conducted very professionally and competently. I still have a copy of the Cuban Coast Pilot (in Spanish), that I picked up at a bookstall in Havana. It is as well made as any coast pilot I've seen for anywhere else. Of course it's sadly out of date, but perhaps a current issue would be available, along with more current charts, at the Havana hydrographic office.
Again, my experience there is from 20 years ago--things have probably changed.
Ben
zartmancruising.com

[Octopussy]

Addison Chan, who runs the Cuba Land and Sea FB page, and who is a major contributor to the upcoming Waterways Guide book on Cuba recommended the NV charts to me. He said they were the best.

Cuba Northeast (Paper & Digital)

Cuba Southeast (Paper & Digital)

Cuba Southwest (Paper & Digital)

Cuba Northwest (Paper & Digital)

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
O

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