Coming
Sailing Cuba
in 2016
Prior to
1959, Cuba was the only island in the Caribbean with a significant
tourism industry. It was only after the '59 revolution that tourism on
other Caribbean islands became viable. As the largest island in the West
Indies and one with such diversity there is little wonder that it was a
vacation destination for anyone looking to visit the Caribbean.
Cuba's landmass is equal to the
total combined landmass of all the islands in the West Indies.
Consequently, Cuba has over 2,000 nautical miles of coastline, almost
4,000 islands and cays, 200 sheltered bays of which many are unique pocket
bays. Cuba also boasts beautiful sand beaches and hundreds of miles of
unspoiled coral reefs.
(Photo:
Magotes in Pinar del Rio Province)
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The
reefs shelter both the island’s Atlantic and Caribbean shores. "Jardines
de la Reina", a maze-like reef named by Columbus, is considered one of
the world’s larger coral reefs. Water visibility is 30 to 40
meters and the surface water temperature averages between 24°C and 29°Celsius. The
island also boasts an average of 330 days of sunshine per year. Cuba's interior contains three mountain ranges. The highest range
is the
Sierra Maestra in the far southeast. Its summit, Pico Turquino, towers to 1995 m (6542 ft).
Other inland features include rivers, creeks, marshes and lagoons. Despite its impressive
natural beauty most travellers
are drawn to Cuba’s cities, towns and small villages where the quantity of striking
Spanish colonial architecture is astounding. Some of these buildings date as
far back as 1519 and have UNESCO world heritage designation. Imagine, Havana
will soon celebrated its 500th anniversary. It is safe to say that Cuba has some of the most historic sites in
the Americas.
(Photo:
Trinidad, Cuba)
For the yachtsman, Cuba is easy to
reach. A boater whose departure point is anywhere on the eastern seaboard of
North America (including the Great Lakes) will find that the passage is via
inland and/or coastal waters to the Florida Keys and then an overnight
passage of only 90 nautical miles.
When the time comes to decide on a winter cruising destination, be it the Bahamas, farther south to the
Windward and Leeward Islands or to Cuba, you will soon realize that Cuba is
the most logical choice. Its close proximity to North America, an almost
infinite choice of sheltered anchorages and much to see and do leaves little
doubt that Cuba will once again become the winter destination of choice for
yachtsmen the world over.
(Photo:
Colonial arches along the Prado in Havana)