Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Miami to Havana Race Preview

Havana, Cuba- Marina Hemingway (Miami, FL)- On March 15th, Wednesday, the Coral Reef Yacht Club and Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba, along with SORC as Race Committee, proudly look forward to starting the second Miami to Havana Race!

In the past year, SORC competitors have raced to the Bahamas in the Nassau Cup Race, Key West in the Ft. Lauderdale to Key West Race, and to Jamaica in the Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race, yet the crown jewel sitting geographically between all of those terrific winter racing destinations, Cuba, remained out of reach. This changed on December 17, 2014, when President Barack Obama uttered the words, “Good afternoon. Today, the United States of America is changing its relationship with the people of Cuba.”. American sailors were once again allowed to legally race to Cuba. The SORC organization distributed a survey, asking various questions about a potential race to Cuba, and developed this race based on the responses.

Miami Havan race courseThe race starts just south of the Miami harbor entrance and is the final race for the Gulf Stream Series.  The race finishes at the entrance to Havana’s famous yacht harbor- Marina Hemingway- home to the International Yacht Club of Cuba.

There are two enthusiastic J/teams sailing in the 2017 edition that has twenty-three keelboats in four handicap classes.  The later start in March seems to have helped increase overall race participation.  In PHRF A Class, Frank Atkinson’s J/125 RAISIN’ CANE from Coconut Grove Sailing Club will be hoping to beat some fast Class 40s and 70 footers.  Then, in PHRF B class, Gary Weisberg’s J/111 HEAT WAVE is taking on two Hobie 33s, a 1D35 and a Farr 395.  For more Miami to Havana Race sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.