Crackdown On US Yachts To Cuba Does Not Affect Non-US Yachts

Created by doina. Last modified on 2005-10-18 11:34:46
Topic: Cruising Information
Countries: Cuba

A White House proclamation on February 26, 2004 directed that the Homeland Security Department “make rules and regulations governing the anchorage and movement of any vessel, foreign or domestic, in the territorial waters of the United States, which may be used, or is susceptible of being used, for voyage into Cuban territorial waters.” U.S. authorities are authorized to “take full possession and control of any such vessel and remove the officers and crew and all other persons not specifically authorized by the Secretary of Homeland Security.”

Prior to this declaration, US yachts visiting Cuba had been more or less tolerated by the US authorities; now there are almost no US yachts sailing to Cuba. Furthermore, the wording of the above declaration implies that yachts of any nationality are liable to sanctions. This especially affects Canadian yachts who fear to suffer penalties if they return home via the US after visiting Cuba. These fears resulted in the cancellation of Rendezvous 2005, the rally for Canadian sailors due to be held in Havana in January 2005.

However Jose Escrich, commodore of the Hemingway International Yacht Club in Havana, believes such fears to be unfounded. The relevant regulation concerning “Unauthorized entry into Cuban Territorial Waters” states that sanctions would be applied against “any vessels of the United States and vessels without nationality…This rule does not apply to foreign flag vessels.”

This does appear to be the case; Canadian and European-flagged yachts en route to Cuba have reported being stopped by USCG patrol boats that police the Florida Straits, interviewed and then allowed to proceed into Cuban waters. It also appears that Canadians yachts returning home via the US have not suffered any sanctions as a consequence of their Cuban cruise.

For more information, visit www.cubacruising.net