Cuban-born Americans take center-stage during this year’s Havana Challenge
BY TERRY SCHMIDA
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER
Viva Cuba!
Though the “goal posts” keep moving in the six-decade-long chess match between the United States and Cuba, organizers of the maritime Havana Challenge Series are moving forward with the planning of this year’s events.
First up, from April 4 through 9, is the historic Havana Cuban American Challenge. This maritime event marks the renewed ability of Cuban-born Americans to travel via the sea, on their own boats, back to their homeland.
Even though the travel restrictions on American-flagged vessels traveling to Cuba have been thrown into doubt by changing regulations, local boat Captain George Bellenger is determined to act while he can to include Cubans living stateside in the Havana Challenge series, which he founded four years ago.
The first legal Havana Challenge was a Key West to Havana Hobie Cat race that took place in May of 2015 and attracted significant interest from the worldwide public, including some 100 million internet clicks. Local Key West sailors braved the 100 mile crossing on 16-foot sailboats, for the privilege of competing against the Cuban Olympic sailors for the Copa de Amistad (Friendship Cup).
Given the 50 percent attrition rate encountered during the crossing, Key West Hobie sailors clearly disregarded Hemingway, who wrote, “Don’t let anyone tell you there’s not a lot of water between Key West and Havana”
The Havana Challenge Series aims to help “shrink” that distance, according to Bellenger.
“’Bridging cultures through traditional maritime heritage,’ has been the motto of the Havana Challenge Series,” he said. “The Havana Cuban American Challenge will be a little different as the aim is to reunite Cuban families. Key West and Havana have a long and rich history of cooperation with family members settling on both sides of the Florida Straits. We hope Havana Cuban American Challenge can bring these communities closer together as had been historically the case.”
The events will celebrate the return of Cuban Americans via the sea for the first time in nearly 60 years. A “welcome home” party will be hosted by Commodore Jose Miguel Diaz Escrich on the evening of Friday, April 6 at the Club Nautical International Yacht Club in Havana. This event will be attended by returning Cuban Americans and their estranged families living in Cuba.
A fishing tournament for the visiting boaters will be held the next day.
Other Havana Challenge events this year will include the Havana Independent Conch Republic Challenge, from April 3 through May 5; the Havana Cat Challenge, fromMay 16 through 21; and the Havana Mel Fisher Historic Shipwreck Challenge, from July 15- 20
All Havana Challenge events are open to mariners and other members of the public. To sign up, or for more information, email Bellenger at [email protected]
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