 Haiti : Profile
January 12, 2010, Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake. Port au Prince, the capital, was very badly damaged as were many other towns. Port au Prince is currently "out of bounds" for civilian aid at the moment, no boat should go there without prior arrangement.
Haiti, which makes up the western third of the island of Hispaniola, is largely off the cruising track; those few who visit by yacht find the experience either appalling or delightful. While people eventually get used to the poverty of most Haitians, it is the exasperating bureaucracy that turns most cruisers off. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. 80% of its nine million people live below the poverty line, with 54% in abject poverty. The country has been plagued by political violence for most of its history, and the country is prone to natural disasters. In 2008 alone, four tropical storms severely damaged the transportation infrastructure and the agricultural sector. The presence of a UN stabilisation force is intended to strengthen Haiti's longterm security. However, the security situation is still volatile and Haiti remains largely an unsafe place to visit. Cruising is best done from east to west as particularly during winter the strong trade winds make eastbound passages difficult. The capital Port-au-Prince lies on the southern cruising route. Beyond Cape Tiburon at Haiti's SW extremity, there are several attractive anchorages with the most scenic surroundings in the Baie des Cayes, with facilities available at Port Morgan Marina, located on Ile a Vache a few miles from the mainland city of Cayes. The South West coast of Haiti is extremely dangerous and should be given a wide berth. Otherwise facilities in Haiti are generally poor, although it is possible to have some work done in the commercial harbours. If planning to cruise in Haiti one should carry all essential spares as practically nothing is available locally. The Coast Guard has rescued and returned 599 Haitian migrants since 1 January 2009.
The climate is tropical. It is cooler and drier from December to March, and on the coast, which is cooled by sea breezes. The hurricane season lasts from June to November.
Port Morgan
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, Port-au-Prince
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*Indicates a port of entry.
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Related ReportsImportant Info. if Planning on Cruising Haiti (28 Jan 2010) UPDATE: A message from Haiti (28 Jan 2010) Charleston, SC to St.Marc, Haiti (24 Jun 2008) Grenada to the Virgin Islands, A Cruising Guide to the Lesser Antilles: Book Review (23 May 2008) French for Cruisers Book Review (06 Dec 2007) Related NewsOceansWatch Aid to Haiti (24 Jan 2010) Post Earthquake Update from Port Morgan, Haiti (17 Jan 2010) Caribbean Marine Association Lobbies for the Interim Suspension of the Advanced Passenger Information System for Yachts (01 Nov 2007) Stranded Yacht Looted In Haiti (01 Feb 2007) Caribbean Marine Association Formally Launched (27 Feb 2006)
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