Caribbean Cruiser - Happy to Be Here

[CruiserDerms]

I should have found this site years ago!
Saying Hello,
I'm looking forward to browsing and learning a lot from these forums. Im in my mid-20's and have sailed for 15 years since I was a competitive youth sailor here in Vancouver, BC.
Last winter my brother and I took time from work and life to buy an old 33' in Panama and cruise the Western Carib. I/we are on a tentative 2-4 year (winter) Caribbean cruising plan with this boat. Last season was an amazing 4.5 months and now our boat is in the Rio Dulce, Gtml. I tracked the adventure with a blog: Paraquina's Travels

I'm excited to head back down to Paraquina in the new year to continue sailing. This season the immediate goal is cruising NW Cuba and then into the Bahamas/FL/ Turks&C/who knows... ill continue heading East as far as I (and the boat) can handle beating into the trades.

now to figure out how this site works . . . feel free to send me links to threads on cruising Cuba.

Fair winds,
James

[snort]

James,
You take great photos! I'm currently staring at the one of the two sailboats in front of a tiny island (Honduras?). Nice choice in boats too!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, James.

[boatman61]

Hi James.... Welcome to CF....

As for your Header.....
I'd be HAPPY to be there to.......!!
talk about salt in the wound...sheesh

[pillum]

Welcome aboard James, wish I was there too... Enjoy the experience.

[Matt Arian]

James... I envy you. Same age, same goals, but I'm land-locked. Welcome aboard!

[geor9ges]

As for your plans for Cuba, you can check in in Cabo San Antonio and head up to Hemmingway, mostly inside the reef until Cayo Paraiso. It is headwinds most of the way but little current. Well protected anchorages. Day sailing until Cayo Levisa, then a long overnight passage to Hemmingway. Wait for a front to pass and then motor to Varadero, from there sail to the Bahmas

If you wish to go round the southern coast still enter at Cabo San Antonio but then beat around the cape to the south shore to Maria la Gorda. Unfortunately it is no longer a port of entry. It is longer, but delightful with beautiful isolated islands, beaches and reefs. With the winds you can sail close hauled in the mornings (north east shifting to south east in the afternoon). The only rough part is the stretch from to Cabo Cruz and Punto Maisi in the windward passage. Enjoy really quiet reefs and anchorages.

From Baia La Vita (Holguin) to Duncan town in the Bahamas is an easy overnight sail.

Compared to Belize, officialdom in Cuba is a delight, they come to you and fill out the paper work. No requests for gifts, always with receipts. Leaqve a flag at Cabo San Antonio, they collect them.

See you in the Rio in December, we are heading back.

[CruiserDerms]

Thanks for all that info Geor9ges. I've realized that cruising info is relatively lacking given Americans have such a hard time with the bureaucracies of visiting Cuba. Ill be in the Rio in early December!

Snort, that picture is from Kuna Yala (San Blas), Panama. The most beautiful place on earth, hopefully it remains that way until I'm old.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, geor9ges.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge of Cuba.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

[Jimbo485]

Hi CruiseDerms,

Not a lot of info here about Cuba unfortunately. Maybe that it is because this forum is mostly N American and/or they afraid to publish their experiences. Not sure, but anyway, we will be in Cuba again this December on the south coast. Look forward to catching up with you on a deserted beach for some rum and lobsters around a fire!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here. Beautiful photo.
kind regards,