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endoftheroad · 08-06-2013, 19:19

The Coast Guard recently gave this boat to a local boatyard here in Key West.
Sadly they had a fire onboard and didn't make dry land and were sent back to Cuba.
This boat belonged to someone that might have really loved her.
Imagine how happy the owner, if he's not in a Cuban prison, would be for the return of his boat?
The boat was full of interesting homemade/makeshift stuff such as dive gear. The yard owner told me he saved most of the stuff and that he is thinking about restoring the boat. It seems to be a fishing boat, there are narrow wooden bunks in the cabin and the square box at the stern is a deep homemade cooler. It's well built using some good solid timbers.
Personally I'd like the boat to be with the owner but I'm a bit of a dreamer.
Cuba is only 90 miles away.

endoftheroad

HopCar · 08-06-2013, 19:44

It's sad to think how desperate people are to leave that island. You have to wonder how many die in the attempt. I've seen Cuban rafts I'd be afraid to cross a small lake in but someone tried to cross 90 miles of open ocean in them.

Caribsailors · 08-06-2013, 20:16

It is a sad state of affairs.

That boat is is a luxury cruiseship compared to what comes past here.

Not Worth Water - YouTube

I have supplied printed chartlets and dime store compass's to my Cuban friends to hand off
Ya gotta love the CHRISTIAN SOCIETY of Cayman. As they say they are.

Look at a chart a see where they left from and look at where they HOPE they will land.

Boo *&^cking Hoo Your Internet isn't working today!!!

My Heart ALWAYS bleeds for these people

cheoah · 08-06-2013, 20:54

The Cuban government has recently made it much easier to leave the island - unless you're a doctor or someone else "valuable to the revolution". Nonetheless, many are poor and will still try to cross and achieve wet foot/dry foot citizenship.

MAybe that's a lobster boat? I thought they free dived for lobster but maybe they use some rigged scuba gear. They're pretty resourceful. Cool boat.

sww914 · 08-06-2013, 21:26

Insert any number of negative political comments here-

endoftheroad · 09-06-2013, 11:37

Check it out, on the boat is a hailing port, reg/documentation number and the name of the boat ("Thunder").
Is there a way to find out who owned the boat?
You know there is a possibility that this boat was stolen from a gentleman fisherman?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cárdenas,_Cuba

caradow · 09-06-2013, 15:55

Wow I do not know what to say after watching the video supplied by Caribsailors about the lack of compassion in the Cayman Islands.

Today I am embarrased and ashamed for the people of Cayman.
As a sailor who was born on that island it almost brings tears to my eyes.

Ironically I had just sailed there from Cuba soon after this incident took place and had only heard parts of this story.
After sailing to Cuba twice I have personally as so many others in Cayman, come to love the Cuban people and have great admiration for their tenacity and attitudes.

I can only say that I know the angry gentleman at the begining of the video . His name is Tommy (last name withheld) and any family/ friend that I have left there feels the same as he and I.

So.....this is certainly not representing all the people of Cayman.
As a mega financial center with a church on almost every corner the Cayman government needs a quick lesson on human rights.

Also the quote "What profit a man only to loose his soul" should be echoing off the walls of it's banks and government buildings.

endoftheroad · 09-06-2013, 16:05

I would really like to see the video but when I click on it I get "not available for mobile viewers", or something like that.

I don't use desktops or laptops, just an ipad and android phones.

Is there any other place that this video is online other than youtube?

sy_gilana · 09-06-2013, 16:23

Only a small point. AFAIK there are no boats in private ownership in Cuba. At least when we were there, even the smallest rowing boat had "papers" and was owned by the govt.
They are "issued" to individuals who work the boat, diving, fishing, lobster-ing etc for the good of the state. Highly innovative people. I once saw a truck that had wooden bits fitted as the metal bits rusted away. It had a wooden chassis!

Rakuflames · 09-06-2013, 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by HopCar

It's sad to think how desperate people are to leave that island. You have to wonder how many die in the attempt. I've seen Cuban rafts I'd be afraid to cross a small lake in but someone tried to cross 90 miles of open ocean in them.

I know someone who fled Cuba when he was 18 on a raft made up of 55 gal. drums.

He survived, but he said they saw dead bodies, and another raft made much like theirs -- with no one on it.

HopCar · 09-06-2013, 18:01

Concerning the treatment of Cuban refugees in the Cayman's, this is from an article published in the Miami Hearld Thursday June 6th.

"Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Havana in 1999, Cayman authorities and residents cannot assist the boats — with food, water or boat repairs — and must repatriate almost every Cuban who set foot there.

Boats that are considered safe can sail on. But Cubans in unsafe vessels, and those who simply want to get off are put in an immigration lockup in Grand Cayman Island. They can apply for political asylum, but virtually all are rejected and flown back to Cuba."
Here is a link to the complete story: Cayman Islands prepare for more Cuban migrants - Cuba - MiamiHerald.com