In Cuba Day 1

After we arrived yesterday I arranged for a man to sand my caprails so he will be working 

on my boat for the next 3 days. I have to find some sandpaper.

We all went out to our first paladar last night and it was nice. The ambiance was great as 

we were sitting over the water but it was expensive.

I picked up a taxi and went to a caladar to change 600 euros to CUC's and pesos. The 

money system here is hard to get used to. The CUC's are for tourists.

Lots of mosquitoes here at the dock and I woke a couple of times last night with bites all 

over my hands.

Spent the day in a taxi, going around to about 20 Paladars (restaurants), taking pictures 

and talking to staff. We ate a wonderful lunch at a cooking school.

Get Outlook for iOS

To Cuba Day 10

Havana is off our Port bow at sunrise and it is huge with lots of high rise buildings. I can't sleep because I am so happy with anticipation.

We made it. Wahoo!!!! Now for a cold beverage, sleep and changing money.

Get Outlook for iOS

To Cuba Day 9

We slowed down last night and at this point we will b conservative in our sail plan. Don't 

want 2b early to Marina Hemingway tomorrow morning

Wow talk about Night and day. Our wind died so we put up our genoa and shook the reef 

out of the main and are still only making 4.5 knots! Ce la vie.

I'm starting to get really excited about getting there tomorrow morning. I am busy getting 

the boat ready and reviewing all the entry instructions.

We have had the fishing line out all day and have caught nothing. The reason seems to be 

that we are going just 5 knots compared to 7 yesterday.

All of a sudden, our boat speed dropped to 3 knots......We had found the gulf stream! Our 

log says 5.5 knots but our speed over ground from our GPS is just 6kn

Can't wait for 2 cold beverages in the fridge waiting 4 us to celebrate tomorrow. Heading 

inshore 2 get out of the current even though we are not supposed to

Get Outlook for iOS

To Cuba Day 8

We are flying along averaging 7 knots and today looks like being a 170 mile day. I just caught a 30 pound 45" mahi-mahi. AWESOME!!!!!

We decided 2 slow the boat down because it looks likely we will make Havana by Wed am so we put a reef in the main sail and swapped the Genoa 4 the staysail

The wind finally moderated and is down to below 20 knots which allowed me to catch a couple of hours sleep. We have to gybe but it will wait until daylight.

I was clearing 4 dead flying fish off the decks when I heard a flapping come from my starboard scupper. There was a huge foot long one that I promptly rescued

Get Outlook for iOS

To Cuba Day 7

Dropped the wing on wing and now we have the spinnaker deployed. Doing 5.5 knots in 10 knots of wind.

The wind got up and we had to douse the spinnaker.

Just dropped the spinnaker because the winds were getting on the high side. Now we have our genoa up with one reef in the main sail. Another beautiful day.

I just woke up after a 2 hour long sleep and found that the boat is romping along doing 6.5 knots down wind. What an exhilarating run!

We did catch another tuna this afternoon. Both of them were fileted and are in the refrigerator awaiting cooking. Good timing because we just finished our meat

Just came back on watch and found the boat still romping along at 6 knots. The moon has set so it is pitch black outside. Another beautiful starry night.

Get Outlook for iOS

To Cuba Day 6

A hot day aboard Onapua with no breeze to speak of. Reading, cleaning, fishing and doing Sudoku puzzles helped pass the time.

Sail changes in the middle of the night are scary. We just deployed our pole for wing on wing because the winds clocked.

There are no lights sailing along the Cuba coastline. With other islands in the Caribbean, you see see a glow miles away.

Get Outlook for iOS

To Cuba Day 5

It is 2am and I have just come on watch. It is pitch black outside and we are hurtling through the boisterous waves at 6 knots wing on wing. A beautiful night.

We have done 400 miles so far and used 15 gallons of fuel with 70 gallons remaining. It looks like we will be getting to Havana just a day late on Thursday.

Not only is Kurt cooking meals and cleaning my boat top to bottom, he is now sanding my toerails. He is one awesome crew.

We are still sailing wing on wing downwind at about 5.5 knots in deep blue waves tinged with white caps. Warm, comfortable and almost surreal. My Nirvana.

We are closing in on Great Inagua in the Bahamas so I am hoping to get some internet in the wee hours of the morning to pick up emails.

We gybed to clear Great Inagua and soon we will gybe to get back on the rhumb line. We are still maintaining 5 knots in smooth seas under a starry night.

We lost the wind so we are motoring. The sails are still up giving us a little push but mainly to wait until daylight to pull them down.

Get Outlook for iOS