Sent by Frank Resillez You guys are sailing to Cuba while sailing and boating are illegal in Communist Cuba for the last 50 years? Whatever happened to the thousands of boats nationalized by the communists? Whatever happened to the hundreds forbiden to organize sailing regattas because that was a decadent bourgeosie activity?
There are government sponsored pogroms happening all over Cuba and you guys are going to go sailing there?
Frank Resillez
Key Largo, FL.
As we celebrate this Holiday Season the Members of the SYC Sarasota-Havana Race Committee wish to extend our best wishes to all of you for a very Happy Holiday Season with hopes that the joy of this special time of year, and the hope for Peace which the season conveys, will extend to all of you throughout the year! We sincerely appreciate your interest and the contributions you are making to support our charitable endeavors for The Wellness Community of South West Florida, The Sarasota Youth Sailing Program and the Youth Sailing Program of the Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba.
Today we celebrate a milestone in our efforts to conduct the Regatta – We are exactly Six Months from the scheduled Race Start! Typically OFAC applications are to be submitted no sooner than six months prior to departure, and our solicitors from Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal LLP have been in direct contact with the Office of Asset Control and confirmed that our applications are moving through the process, so we are ahead of the curve! A copy of the Cover Letter to OFAC is available on the website.
Commodore José Miguel Díaz Escrich of the Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba has applied for the necessary visas to visit Florida in February and we are planning a Gala Reception in his honor! This will be an excellent opportunity to meet our Host for the Regatta Castillo del Morro and discuss the detailed plans for the weeklong event. Reservations will be required as space will be limited I am sure. As soon as we have a firm date we will be in touch – but we expect this to be the week of February 15th shortly after the Miami Boat Show.
I am pleased to announce that we have partnered with Epic Sports, LLC to provide help with event planning and coordination of our many sponsors for our various events during the coming year.
I am also pleased to announce that we have partnered with T2Productions to provide race coverage for the SYC Sarasota-Havana Regatta. Many of you who have watched the Americas Cup TV Coverage have had the opportunity to experience the excitement that Tucker Thompson brings to the commentary of these TV and Video productions. The Promotional Video that T2Productions created is available on line.
In conjunction with the SYC Sarasota-Havana Regatta the Sarasota Yacht Club will conduct a “US SAILING Sanctioned Safety at Sea Seminar” on March 27, 2010. It is highly recommended that at least one member of the crew for each boat entering the Regatta attends! This seminar has been geared to the specific intricacies of crossing the Gulf Stream in the Florida Straits and the navigational considerations of entering Cuba, but is germane to all boaters planning to cruise offshore. Join us for this most authoritative daylong seminar on safe seamanship, heavy weather tactics, weather forecasting, communications and boat preparation. See safety equipment demos and crew-overboard recovery techniques. Pose questions to our expert blue water sailors. This could be the most important day of your yachting life! Space is limited. Click here to register for the Safety at Sea Seminar.
Many have inquired as to the availability of insuring their vessels for the Regatta. To date we know of no insurance company who is willing to underwrite coverage due to the Trade Embargo. However, the Race Committee is in contact with two companies who may be willing to offer coverage to the fleet if all the necessary approvals are received. We will continue to pursue this and keep you informed! If anyone has any specific recommendations or suggestions please contact us.
I was recently given a book Cuba Information Manual: The Definitive Guide to Legal and Illegal Travel to Cuba by Michael Bellows (Paperback - Feb 4, 2009 $11.95) which I found to be most informative. While the Sarasota Yacht Club will only support travel to Cuba that is fully sanctioned by the US Government, the book details very important considerations about clearing into Cuba, what you can bring – and NOT BRING, such as any type of meat products etc. It also details the many licenses and permits required. Excellent reference guide, although Amazon.com currently has limited inventory.
Temporary Sojourn License from the US Department of Commerce.
The race committee had hoped that we would be able to file for this license for each vessel participating in the Regatta. Understandably the DOC wants each boat owner to be responsible for their own vessel and adhere to all regulations! The filing for this special “Export License” is a bit cumbersome as each boat owner will need to have an individual “SNAP-R” account with the Department of Commerce. In January the Race Committee will provide all boat owners with complete instructions on how to file for this license.
Vessel Clearance from the U.S Coast Guard to Depart a Maritime Security Zone.
Each boat owner will also need to have this specific application approved. The process is not difficult once the OFAC License and Temporary Sojourn License are in hand. The Race Committee has been in contact with the US Coast Guard office in Miami and they are most cooperative and helpful. The failure to have this clearance could subject the boat owner to forfeiture of the vessel and fines up to $250,000 Again; we will be supplying all the necessary information in January.
We have received many inquiries from folks that wish to join the Regatta from points other than the Sarasota Yacht Club. This will not be possible! We need to insure that every vessel has the proper documentation, Crew Lists etc. necessary to comply with all US Government Regulations.
Accommodations in Sarasota for the Race Start:
From Sarasota Bay we will be departing from Sarasota Big Pass for the Race Start. Navigational information about Big Pass is available on the Sarasota Yacht Club Website at the link above. This inlet is subject to continual change – so always check the latest information. Race Start is scheduled to have 1.5’ above MLL on a rising tide.
Deep Draft Vessels may wish to consider docking at Venice Inlet, 13 miles south of Sarasota Big Pass. Accommodations might be obtained at the Venice Yacht Club or the Crow’s Nest.
We have reserved a block of slips at the following Local Marinas:
· 30 Slips at Marina Jacks which can handle deep draft vessels
· 40 slips at the Long Boat Key Moorings which can handle shallower draft vessels
There is ample room to anchor in Sarasota Bay and we will be organizing a Raft Up directly of the Sarasota Yacht Club Docks.
The current Schedule of Events has been updated! Be sure to check it out !!
Save the Date!
· The annual fundraising gala for the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program “Celebration of Sailing” will be held at the Sarasota Yacht Club on February 20, 2010. This year the theme is “A Night in Cuba” with guest speakers who will share important insights on our destination! Tickets are limited so sign up early!!
Details of Entering the Regatta:
Following is detailed information about entering the Regatta. We have limited the number of Sailboats that can participate to 100! As of today we have 120 Sailboats who have completed the Entry Form for the regatta!
While we cannot, at this time, guarantee that we will receive all the necessary approvals to conduct the regatta this year, every effort is being made to do so and we appreciate your interest and support! We have set March 31, 2010 as the date by which we would need to receive all governmental approvals in order to be able to finalize and execute plans to hold the regatta this year. Should the 2010 Regatta be canceled all reservations will be carried over to next year in the original order of signup, at no additional cost, and we will begin the application process anew!
The current list of the Race Entrants may be viewed on the website. When this page first comes up it is sorted in the order of signup so that you can determine where you are on the signup roster, but it can be resorted by any of the columns. You may still sign up to be on the waiting list. We have 5 boats that we still have not received Reservation Donations. Invariably some folks will have to change their plans and be unable to attend.
Race Entry Fee:
The Race Entry Fee has been set at $1,000 and includes the following:
· SYC Sarasota-Havana Regatta
· Regatta Castillo del Morro
· 4 tickets to the Skippers Meeting on April 29th or March 27th , 2010
· 4 Tickets to the Crew Dinner on May 15, 2010
· 4 Regatta Shirts, Hats and Crew Bag
· 4 Entry Tickets to all other Regatta Events
Additional Crew Tickets can be purchased for $150 each
Sailboat Race Entry Form:
This form is to enter your Sailboat in the Regatta. A $100 non-refundable tax deductable donation is required to reserve your space in the SYC Sarasota-Havana Regatta. The first 100 Sailboats to register will be guaranteed entry. We will accept applications above 100 and assign them to the waiting list. Sailboats must meet the requirements of the Final Notice of Race to be included in the Regatta. The balance of the entry fee will be payable upon receiving approval from the US Government to conduct the regatta.
· Note: Each Crew Member and the Owner/Captain must complete the Crew Signup Form – see details below.
Crew Entry Form:
Once the OFAC Application is approved we will need a complete and final list of all crew members. This form must be completed for EACH Crew Member that will be aboard either a race entrant or a support vessel. Do not complete this form unless you have been invited to be part of the Crew by the Boat Owner! All fields are mandatory so be sure you have all required information before submitting the form. You may need to acquire some information from the Owner/Captain. This will become the Roster of Regatta participants to be submitted for approval to the US Government regulatory authorities.
Power Boat Support Vessel Application:
Use this form to APPLY to be one of the Support Vessels for the Regatta. A $100 non refundable donation is required with your application. The final selection of Support Vessels will be made by the Race Committee based on the requirements of the race. Please consider the following before you apply!
· Race Safety, Communication and Committee Boats
o Such vessels must be capable of sailing with the race boats 250+ miles non-stop to Cuba in rough weather
o Able and willing to take a boat in tow if needed
o Able to stand offshore for the race finish line – perhaps up to 18 hours.
· Provision and Contribution Delivery Vessels – these boats could depart from Key West
o Able to securely transport two or more Optimist sailboats and related equipment
o Serve as “Hotel Boats” – many of the sailboats may have more crew then accommodations
o Carry Provisions
§ If we are to be there for 5 days with 500 people and not spend any money we will need to carry about $44,000 worth of Food, Water and other beverages! This is going to take significant freezer capacity and storage room!
· Note: Each Crew Member and the Owner/Captain must complete the Crew Signup Form – see details below.
I want to crew on a Sailboat or Support Vessel.
The race committee has provided a Discussion Board on the website for all those who would like to post their credentials and contact information in hopes of being selected to crew aboard one of the Regatta Vessels. The selection is the sole responsibility of the boat captain. A tax deductable donation of $25 is suggested.
The Congress is considering, via House bill HR874 – Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act and Senate bill S.428, making changes to the rules covering travel to Cuba. However, we cannot rely on the passage of these bills eliminating the need to acquire the various licenses to conduct the regatta and we ask everyone to proceed accordingly. The SYC Charitable Foundation does not engage in political activities of any kind and does not take a position whether the embargo with Cuba should be lifted.
A number of News Articles are being written about the Regatta and may be viewed via the website.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our many Sponsors who have supported our efforts in 2009. We look forward to their continued support in 2010 and wish them all a very Prosperous New Year!
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you feel may wish to Join our Mailing List!
On behalf of the SYC Sarasota-Havana Race Committee, the Sarasota Yacht Club and the SYC Charitable Foundation, Inc. we appreciate your interest and support and wish you a very Happy Holiday Season!
Fair Winds and Following Seas!
Don Payzant
Race Committee Chairman
Sarasota Yacht Club