May I Sail to Cuba ?

[capngeo]

Ah the benefits of a Canadian GF.... When questioned by ICE, I just point at her and say "SHE paid for everything!"

[captainKJ]

years ago I called the treaury department about cube,, they said as long as I do not spend money there Ic ould go, I then called the state department and they said american ere forbidden to go,,, i know that several people ahve gottne large fines for going but in the court of law they were dismissed, big brother does not like it when its citizens do not listen them,,,,,,i would go anyways,,, from the bahamas,,,, jst do not let the US coast guard catch you,, never knwo what will happen,,,,online there is a law you can look up, i forgot which one but it says you are able to go for certain purposes,,A flortilla from florida had coast guard problems and was stopped by the US for trying to bring aid to cuba (medical) but I think they were allowed to go after a small court battle,
Cuba

How to travel to Cuba step by step - everything you need to know. Information for US citizens.

Boaters charged over race to Cuba

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Hell.... why do you 'Yanks' always have to do things the 'Hard Way'.....??
Coupla quick E-mails... around $75 and you can cut down the time for your certification and Graduation to 12 hrs.... there's loadsa 'Online Universities..'
....

If you'll pardon the commercial aspect of this post may I remind all readers that I operate Panhandle University, the university of what's happening now! American readers know that the panhandle is an American desert/plains region with very few sailboats. This results in a cost savings for you, the student. My specially designed curriculum allows life credit in a big way, far bigger than my sister institutions Harvard, Yale, and Long Beach State, my personal alma mater. GO BEACH!!! Y nosotros hablamos Espanol!

This week's special for CF readers bound for Cuba:

Doctor of the Seven Seas degree: $59.95 (includes free master's degree)

Just answer these questions to my satisfaction, , and you'll soon be on your legal way to Cuba (pronounced like koooba):

Is kooba located near one of the seven seas?

Does smoking ciguatera cause lung cancer or just make fish taste better?

Where has MarkJ been? Abducted by aliens or just a drunken bender in one Caribbean slease hole after another?

Will you be spending US greenbacks on sex, booze, and cigars as an international gesture of friendship or as post-doctoral study models?

Do you actually have to have a clue where Cuba is if your GPS, chart plotter, and autopilot are interfaced? Discuss.

Yes, PU takes Paypal! Send money now, Doctor!

[kevingy]

Originally Posted by callistov42

Travel to Cuba is not prohibited. The embargo is against spending money in Cuba. We applied for and received a permit to spend money in Cuba from the US Dept of Treasury.

Unlicensed travel to Cuba is prohibited. You applied for and received a license to legally travel to Cuba for the purpose of engaging in journalism activities. Without the license, it's sadly prohibited and illegal for US citizens to travel to Cuba.

The application and guidelines for a license to travel to Cuba can be found here:
US Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control - License Application for Travel to Cuba

[kevingy]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Dreams

The restrictions are simple for US citizens is no direct travel netween the US and Cuba. You have always been able to visit BY GOING TO CANADA or any other country 1st.

Not so.

ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS, TRAVEL TRANSACTION LIMITATIONS: The Cuban Assets Control Regulations are enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and affect all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically located in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. The regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed in order to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. This restriction includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada. U.S. law enforcement authorities enforce these regulations at U.S. airports and pre-clearance facilities in third countries. Travelers who fail to comply with Department of the Treasury regulations could face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.

US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs - Cuba

If you have a license from the US Department of Treasury to travel to Cuba, arrangements may be made in the United States without the need for a third country:

Authorized travelers may make their travel arrangements through an OFAC-authorized Travel Service Provider (“TSP”) and may board direct charter flights departing from any U.S. international airport approved by the Department of Homeland Security for such flights.

Comprehensive Guidelines for License Applications to Engage in Travel-Related Transactions Involving Cuba

[kevingy]

Originally Posted by captainKJ

years ago I called the treaury department about cuba

"Years ago" is out of date. The Cuban Assets Control Regulations changed effective January 28, 2011.

[kevingy]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Americans are prohibited under the Trading with the Enemy Act

The Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 only applies to governments with whom the United States has declared war. The statute that legally imposes sanctions against Cuba is the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992. The Cuban Democracy Act gives the US Department of Treasury the power to regulate all interactions with Cuba, including travel.

Originally Posted by GordMay

There are (illegal) work-arounds.

For sure. There are also several legal workarounds provided by Amendments to Cuban Assets Control Regulations: 31 CFR part 515, including but not limited to journalism, academics, religious activities, and medicine - all in the context of directly interacting with the Cuban people in hopes of influencing them to transition to democracy (i.e., revolt.)

[boatman61]

What everyone forgets...
One is making passage on the high sea's from point A to point L.... assume point L is Jamaica...
Unfortunately due to mechanical/rig problems which put the vessel in 'potential danger' in the skippers opinion the vessel was forced to detour to Havana for essential repairs...
A tourist is someone who leaves their home for a week or two, jumps on a plane (after asking permission to go) and pretends to see a country from an all in resort...
A sailing vessel IS ones home and visa's are not required to enter a port for 'essential repair'... anywhere in the world... International Maritime Law covers this... for up to 48hrs... extensions may be applied for during that time.. aka visa's.
The only exceptions to this are Iran, Israel, Nth Korea and the USA... where the likelihood is you will be arrested as soon as you tie up... if not before.
Actually... as a UK flagged vessel I find it harder to get into a 'Special Relationship' country by boat than I would less 'Friendly' countries...
life is strange

[kevingy]

Originally Posted by cwyckham

LOL. That is fantastic. "I want to go to Cuba, so I'll spend 8 years in grad school then 4 years doing postdocs for the honour of a 1 in a 100 chance to get a professorship. Then I'll have made sure that I'm doing research all along related to Cuba, and then I'll get a grant to fund some research that requires field work in Cuba.

I don't think all that is required to travel under the "Educational Activities" license. It would be MUCH easier to apply for a license under the "Religious Activities" license. All you would need to do is affiliate yourself with a church and through that church conduct missionary work in Cuba. While cruising, spread the word and perform charitable acts.

The only caveat is that if you're going to exploit a church for access to Cuba, you may have to answer to a power much higher than any earthly government. I'd make sure I did the missionary work ... and enjoyed doing it.

[marlinespike]

Remember if sailing near Cuba to another destination and need to put in for repairs you must go in at an official port of entry. If you enter a non port of entry you will be turned away. For non US boaters Cuba is the most interesting cruising grounds in the Caribbean.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by cwyckham

LOL. That is fantastic. "I want to go to Cuba, so I'll spend 8 years in grad school then 4 years doing postdocs for the honour of a 1 in a 100 chance to get a professorship.

Let's be real. Some of us were able to land professorships after only seven years of grad school.

[S/V Alchemy]

I can sail to Cuba as I am Canadian. What I apparently have to be careful about is sailing across Lake Ontario to Youngstown, NY while carrying Cuban cigars and Cuban rum, because some of your Homeland Insecurity folk are a touch rabid...or just want to smoke contraband.

So I don't sail to the States...too much bother.

[kevingy]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

I can sail to Cuba as I am Canadian. What I apparently have to be careful about is sailing across Lake Ontario to Youngstown, NY while carrying Cuban cigars and Cuban rum, because some of your Homeland Insecurity folk are a touch rabid...or just want to smoke contraband.

I had a friend many years ago who honeymooned with his wife in France. Upon return to the US, customs came across a box of Cuban cigars in their luggage that his wife bought for him. Surprise!

[avb3]

Originally Posted by capngeo

Ah the benefits of a Canadian GF.... When questioned by ICE, I just point at her and say "SHE paid for everything!"

Are you serious? Seriously, are you? I have discussed sailing to Cuba from Florida with an American friend of mine, and of course the question of how to legally re-enter the States has come up.

I just wonder how much the boat would be torn apart if we tried your method???

[avb3]

On another subject, has anyone noticed that the OP with only 2 posts started this thread, and then promptly disappeared?

Great comments were obtained, but I wonder what the whole purpose of a five word second post was all about?