J/112E SILVER SURFER Wins St Petersburg to Havana Race

(Havana, Cuba)- “The forecast looked good for this year’s 89-year old race from St Pete YC to Havana (Marina Hemingway). In fact, it was so good that the 25-30 knot NNE breeze would be too much for the leeward shore Gulfstream finish line in Havana, so the start was delayed a day.”  So said, Harvey Ford and Tom Mistele, the co-owners of the new J/112E SILVER SURFER.  Both went on to describe their somewhat demanding experience in moderate to very high winds (40 kts plus) over the course of their race in their newly launched boat.  Here is their story:

“At 9:00 AM the next day, on March 19, twenty-seven boats started on a reach off downtown St. Pete in a still sporty 25 knot NNE breeze.

So back up a minute...the race was the first of its kind in 1930, running for 29 years until suspended due to events in Cuba. Then, 58 years later, it resumed in 2017. This year was the third edition of the new race. Unchanged since 1930, the race is a 20-mile dog leg out of Tampa Bay under the Skyway Bridge, with a sharp left-turn just outside the Bay at Southwest Pass sea buoy #1, then at ~182 degs and 200 miles to Rebecca Shoals (east of Dry Tortugas island at the end of the Florida Keys), then about the same heading another 80 miles to Cuba.

This year, our J/112E SILVER SURFER took first overall, much to our pleasant surprise! Who knew! The crew was Chris Bergstrom, Marty Kullman, Lin Robson, John Monahan and Christian Koules.

Finishing second was Wasabi (a fast, well-sailed Farr 395 also from St. Pete), and third went to Fresh Pineapple (a hard-charging Esse 990 from New Orleans). All 3 boats set a new course record, with line honors to Pineapple (32h:43 m) and Wasabi (34h:5m), but neither saved their time on SILVER SURFER that finished in 35h:27m.

At the downwind start, conditions were about 25 knots and gusting higher. SILVER SURFER, appropriately painted silver/gray and named after Tom Mistele’s Marvel comic hero, set its A2 spin and jumped on the wake of the larger Wasabi, together chasing Pineapple out of the Bay. However, Pineapple was soon raked by some really big gusts and got the dust washed off its spreaders in a prolonged knockdown (e.g. a massive massive broach!). Wasabi similarly rolled out, so Surfer lost its wake ride, but we surfed on. Surfer took several knockdowns itself, losing its MOB buoy in the process (as did Wasabi), leading to calls to the RC to advise that all was OK. For sure, we were successfully testing the maximum limits of the 650 fabric of our brand new North spinnaker!

We were the first boat to the dog leg inside the Skyway Bridge and then set our A3 chute in the building breeze. Recording 29-33 knot gusts, we managed to carefully jibe about 5 times in the dash out SW Pass maintaining 10+ knots for the first 2 hours and maxing at 14.5 knots.

After the final jibe at SW #1, Surfer and the others set into a 200-mile port tack reach in the 25-knot breeze...with the true wind angle at about 140 degs off the bow and apparent wind at about 100 degrees. With a deep keel, one reef in the main and the A3 spinnaker, we were able to maintain a higher COG inside the rhumbline, while still surfing off every other wave...eventually posting a top speed of 15.7 knots.

Pineapple scooted out ahead, but stayed in sight all day on a lower heading. Wasabi eased further offshore outside the rhumbline and eventually caught us at Rebecca Shoals, out of view to leeward.

Anticipating even higher winds (35-40 knots) and a slight tilt to the east for the breeze on the first night, according to pre-race weather reports, we elected to drop the chute before full-on darkness.  But, that was done only after hot lasagna and Hawaiian Rolls served “comfortably” to the whole crew. The next 9 hrs were still fast under full main and jib and a totally obscured full moon.  But, the really bad winds never happened, so we settled for good control, a high course, and 10-12 knots of boat speed all night.

Wasabi was going to catch us eventually, but owed us 99 minutes on corrected handicap time. In the conditions we were sailing, that meant they had to beat us by about 15 miles, so we felt relatively safe.

On Wednesday morning, the winds dropped down to a civilized 21.0 knots. Feeling quite comfortable, we served coffee and breakfast bars and then we re-set the A2! Tracking the location and strength of the Gulf Stream, we jibed back and forth across the rhumbline to attempt a clean arrival at Havana over the final 80 miles.

As we approached the Havana Hemingway Harbor finish line, the 10-foot onshore rollers triggered by the NE breeze and the opposing east flowing Gulf Stream of 4-5 kts would make the after-dark finish somewhat challenging, to say the least!

The finish mark, being a 10 sec flashing white light with the city behind it, is an annual riddle. The buoy bobs in 300 feet of water (up from about 2,000 feet deep less than a 1/2 mile offshore) and the conditions were too rough for the RC to stay on post. So, we all took our own times at the finish buoy per the Sailing Instructions. The reef along the shore is just 1/4 mile downwind from the finish, so we definitely had one foot on the brake as we approached! Conservative as we were, we even doused the chute well before the finish! This hair-raising finish made the smooth Cuban customs process seem like a walk in the park!

Our hats off to the designers and builders of the sturdy J/112E! Despite the “dancing on a piano-wire/ walking the tight-rope” sailing conditions, our only real challenge was the A-sail tack line chafe that we doubled up underway before it parted. We regularly blessed the over-sized rudder and carbon wheel and, needing front-end buoyancy, we were happy that we had stored the extra water, life raft, anchor, and other stuff in the aft lockers.

As you would expect, a glorious hour of celebration occurred at the dock after clearing customs! All seven of us went below, turned on the AC, had some drinks, ate the full dinner that we had been envisioning all race long, and asked each other what just happened! What an amazing time and great way to celebrate our first win on Silver Surfer!”   For more information regards the fast, powerful J/112E sport cruiser Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Miami to Havana Race Preview

(Havana, Cuba- The Southern Ocean Racing Conference and Coral Reef YC are hosting their fourth annual Miami to Havana Race, starting on March 13th, Wednesday. The race starts just off South Beach, Miami, then it takes you down around the curve of the Florida Keys, and across the Gulf Stream to Havana, Cuba to the finish line off Marina Hemingway.

The festivities get underway on Tuesday March 12, with a pre-race party and Competitors’ Meeting hosted by Coral Reef Yacht Club, with the start on Wednesday morning. Once cleared in at Marina Hemingway, each boat will have a gracious "red carpet" welcome from the staff at the marina, which looks forward to welcoming competitors to their facility once again. Most after race festivities are set and it will be another banner year for the ride to Havana.

Looking forward to the “Havana experience” and sailing in the ORC Division is Andy Wescoat’s J/109 HARM’S WAY from Spring, Texas and the Galveston Bay Cruising Association. They have been racing most of the SORC events this year, starting with the Miami to Palm Beach Race, then the Miami to Nassau Cup Race, then the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race.  Currently, they are one of the leaders in the ORC division and hope to get yet another podium finish!  Good luck to them!  Watch the Miami to Havana Race promo sailing clip here   Follow the Miami to Havana Race on Facebook here   For more Miami to Havana sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/Sailors Enjoy Miami to Havana Race

(Havana, Cuba)- Coral Reef Yacht Club and the Southern Ocean Racing Conference, proudly hosted the third annual Miami to Havana Race for a determined group of sailors from across America and the Caribbean.  The sailors were greeted by record-breaking, near-perfect sailing conditions from their start off Miami, FL, across the notoriously tough and lumpy Gulf Stream to Marina Hemingway in Havana, Cuba.

The raced started on Valentine’s Day- February 14, 2018, just south of the Miami harbor entrance. It was a gorgeous day, breeze on; everyone headed fast SSW to Havana.  A long-time J/sailor (J/24s, J/35s, J/105s, J/70s recently), Steve Benjamin and his wife Heidi sailed their TP52 SPOOKIE to an elapsed time record.

Meanwhile, in PHRF B Class the J/109 AFTERTHOUGHT sailed by Craig Wright took the bronze on the podium.  They were followed by the J/120 TAMPA GIRL skippered by William Terry, his crew included Andrew Kranz, Oscar Rivas, Michael Gold and Wesley Shaw.  For more Miami to Havana Race sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

10th Conch Republic Cup Preview!

(Key West, Florida)– Welcome to the 10th edition of the Conch Republic Cup! We will welcome the fleet of competitors this year with our traditional Skipper’s meeting and Welcome party in Key West at the Schooner Wharf Bar and Grill January 26th.

We are pleased and excited to join with Evalena and her crew at Schooner’s to host the Key West events this year (note- Evalena is a local J/24 owner/ fanatic and loves sailing!). Schooner Wharf Bar and Grill has long been seen as “The” sailor’s bar in Key West and has a very long and storied history. As you may know, they host the Wrecker’s Race Series, an “all-in-fun” race series that recalls the tradition of the wreckers in the Key West of the 1800’s.

Once the sailors arrive in Hemingway Marina and grab some well-deserved rest they will be treated to the sights and sounds of Cuba with the traditional pig roast at the Hemingway International Yacht Club, thanks to Commodore Escrich- our gracious host in Cuba.

After a day of recuperation, we will be racing against Cuban sailors in this year’s Torreon de la Chorrera Buoy Race that runs the length of the Malecón. Competitors will sail by the US Embassy and along the famous Havana skyline. The start is located at the entry buoy to Havana Harbor under the shadow of Castillo del Morro, the famous cliff side fortress, and runs to the Torreon de la Chorrera, another famous Cuban Fortress, at the mouth of the Almendares River.

The third leg of this race series will bring the competitors back to Key West to celebrate the completion of Conch Republic Cup 2018 with the awards banquet at Schooner Wharf on February 3rd.

We look forward to sharing this cultural exchange through sport that highlights the love, friendship and cooperation with our Cuban neighbors as we celebrate the 10th edition of the Conch Republic Cup Regatta.

Looking forward to participating in the circle of love from Key West to Havana is Emilio Torres-Requena’s J/130 MAZU from Somerville, MA (e.g. near Boston).  They will be sailing the entire event in PHRF Spinnaker Class.  For more Conch Republic Cup sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J’s Cruzan Miami to Havana Cuba Race

(Miami, FL)- The second Miami to Havana Race fleet started on March 15th, Wednesday, off Miami, Florida.  Hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club and Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba, along with SORC as Race Committee, they sent the horses down the track and across the Gulf Stream to Havana, Cuba on a nice windy day.

It was a pretty fast race overall. The fastest J/crew down that trail took just 24 hours to get there in a 160nm+ race.  Taking 2nd in PHRF A Class and 3rd overall was Frank Atkinson’s J/125 RAISIN CANE with a corrected time of 1:04:46:31, missing out on first overall by just 30 minutes.  A gybe here, a gybe there, that was all the difference.

In PHRF 2 Class, Gary Weisberg’s crew from Marblehead, MA sailed their J/111 HEAT WAVE fast & furious, finishing in a corrected time of 1:06:23:55 to take 2nd in class and 4th overall.  For more Miami to Havana Race sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Sailing a J/88 to Havana, Cuba!?

(Havana, Cuba)- Yes, that is exactly what David Malkin from North Point Yacht Sales in Annapolis did with his team on MI2.  Here is an account of their experience on their blast across the Gulf Stream.

“Sailing into Cuban history.” That’s how T2P.TV’s Ashley Love titled the documentary of her adventure sailing on my J88 M:I-2 to Cuba last February.  Looking back, as we planned for, and then participated in, the first officially sanctioned race to Cuba in over 57 years; it really became apparent we were blazing a new trail. It was more than just another sailboat race.

It was September 2015 when I became aware of the planned Conch Republic Cup race for February of 2016.  A little research revealed what I felt was the perfect combination of adventure and fun. The 10-day schedule called for three 90-mile distance races and two optional in-shore races with lots of parties and sightseeing in between.  Logistics made easy with a common start and finish in Key West with stops in Veradaro and Havana, a perfect triangle of happiness. I signed up before the week was out, relying on the universe to help with the details.  Let’s just say it came through in spades.

In the run-up to the 2016 CRC and since, you can’t pick up a sailing magazine without a mention of Cuba, and for good reason.  That 90 mile sail to a foreign country is a very manageable adventure even for those that don’t have a major offshore passage on their bucket list or a large yacht (J/88 = 29’).  This is clearly highlighted by the 75 boat entry list for the 2017 St. Pete to Havana race.  The majority of entrants are in the cruiser/racer category with many boats under 40’.

Upon arriving in Cuba the first thing you realize is that despite the proximity, I am definitely in a different country.  In our case, we were greeted by the friendly dock staff of the beautiful Melia Marina in Veradaro, home to several nice all-inclusive resorts that our Canadian neighbors have been enjoying for years.  The marina staff and most of the people we met along the way that were associated with tourism spoke English and were happy to see Americans. The Cubans are well versed on US culture as something like 40% have relatives in the US.  Think Spanish speaking Ireland. Their knowledge of US pop culture was made apparently clear when they immediately picked up on the Mission Impossible 2 logo and I was quickly dubbed Tom Cruz.

Cuba is still very much a Communist country. This is not so evident in the heart of Old Havana, our second regatta destination.  Their economic reforms fueled by tourism are happening at a rapid pace.  The Cubans are working very hard to restore Old Havana back to her former glory as capital of the Caribbean.  They are even renovating a pre-revolution structure intended as their capital building that is a scaled down replica of the US Capital building. Historic sights, museums, restaurants, bars and hotels are all benefiting. Traveling outside Old Havana the effects of 57 years of the revolution become evident. The people are warm and friendly, but the infrastructure is certainly suffering.

Our last interaction on Cuban soil was with the customs staff at the Marina Hemingway. At our final check out before leaving for home we bonded over Katie Perry with the customs team. It was a fitting end to the Cuba slice of our adventure. It highlighted how close and yet how far apart we are.

Whether by sea or air, a trip to Cuba should be on all our bucket lists.  For some a visit in the near future may seem a little like roughing it, but it’s worth it.  You’ll get a firsthand understanding of what 50 years of communism looks like.  More importantly, you’ll experience a culture with a fantastic history poised for their next big revolution.

If a race to Cuba sounds good, you’re not alone.  Adventure racing combined with fun destinations is the formula that is fueling the fastest growing segment of the sailboat racing market.

Miami to Havana Race Preview

(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.

The 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.

J/122 Stars in Conch Republic Cup!

(Key West, FL)- This year’s version of the Conch Republic Cup regatta, hosted by the Key West Community Sailing Center and the Club Nautico Internacional Hemingway, was a bit of an anti-climactic event and might have been termed “the three leg fiasco”.  The weather Godz simply would not cooperate for the fleet of 20+ boats.  In fact, the weather was extreme, with light airs predominating for the first leg across the Gulf Stream from the start at Key West, FL to Varadero, Cuba along the northeastern shoreline of the island.  Then, the next leg westward down the Cuban coastline from Varadero to Havana was blown out due to a massive cold front sweeping across the Gulf Stream.  The in-port race in Havana was also canceled, this time due to no wind.  So, the regatta organizers decided to do a mash-up of trophies and honors using the final leg from Havana back across the Stream to Key West!!

Despite the somewhat catastrophic weather forecast, JD Hill’s beautiful navy blue J/122 SECOND STAR from Dallas, Texas, fresh off a Quantum Key West Race Week class win, elected to start the regatta.  As a result, those Texas storm troopers took off on Sunday afternoon after Race Week hangover and headed out across the Gulf Stream in the Key West to Varadero Race for the Michele Geslin Memorial Cup.  In the end, Hill’s SECOND STAR crushed the 8-boat PHRF fleet to win the trophy, celebrating their good fortune with loads of delicious Cuban mojito’s and plenty of awesome Cuban cigars.  However, by the next day, it was clear Mother Nature was not cooperating for the rest of the week, so the Texas crew elected to head home early.  Sailing photo credits- Alan Clark/ Photoboat.com.  For more Conch Republic Cup sailing information

Classic J/44 Loving Gulf Stream Series!

(Miami, FL)- Chris & Karen Lewis, proud owners of the J/44 KENAI from Houston, Texas, are having fun sailing their gorgeous navy-blue yacht on the Gulf of Mexico, in the Northeast and the Gulf Stream Series.  Chris commented on their recent experiences this past year:

“In 2016, the J/44 KENAI won 1st in IRC class and the Rolex Cup in the Around Conanicut Island Race, 1st in the NYYC Annual Regatta IRC 3 Class, 3rd in NBR ORR class, 2nd in the Onion Patch series to High Noon, first in IRC Overall in the Stamford Vineyard Race winning the Vineyard Lightship Trophy,  then 1st in the SORC Nassau Cup and now 1st in the Key West Feeder Race in ORC. Pretty good for a 25 yr old J/44!! Only slightly modified with a 1.5m sprit, all A-kites and a deeper, skinnier rudder.”

Competing in their second SORC event, the 2017 Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race, the Lewis' J/44 KENAI took first place in ORC and won the best performance award of any boat entered that was 25+ years old.   Crewed by a mix of Texas and East Coast sailors, KENAI completed the 161 nm course in 16 hours 56 minutes and corrected 27 minutes ahead of the second placed boat.  Here is more of Chris’ perspective on the Key West Race:

“The opposite watch captain to me on board was Lenny Sitar, owner of J/44 VAMP, and Commodore of Storm Try-Sail Club who are organizing Quantum Key West Race Week.  With another J-44 owner, H.L. DeVore navigating, there was a huge breadth of J/44 experience onboard.

The winds were 20 to 30 knots out of the east making for a course record run of 10 hours 18 minutes for Wizard, a 74 ft mini-maxi.

KENAI saw speeds of 17 knots, and at one point, before our Code Zero sail split in two during a gust, we were catching 56 and 57-foot boats ahead of us.

Running down the reef that was a lee shore, it looked like everything was fine until we were hit by a 30-knot squall in front of the beam with the A4 spinnaker up. Suddenly, we were charging at the reef at night with a big kite to dowse!!  Thankfully, we survived that drama to tell the story!"

KENAI is now leading the SORC Islands In The Stream series that concludes in March with a race from Miami to Havana.

Key West to Cuba Preview

(Key West, FL)- The old Conch Republic Cup has been revitalized after years of not taking place.  Last year the teams that participated had a wonderful time sailing from Key West to Havana, Cuba to relax in the nicely appointed Marina Hemingway along the waterfront. The event, also known as Key West Cuba Race Week, starts Sunday, January 22nd (after Key West Race Week) and continues through Friday, February 3rd.

The 2017 event is to be the second Conch Republic Cup since U.S. tensions began easing with Cuba. The historic race began in 1997 with a Key West race to Varadero and expanded to include Havana in 1999. This will be its ninth edition.

Hosted by Key West Community Sailing Center and Cuba’s Hemingway International Yacht Club, the race is a triangle: a 100-mile adventure from Key West to Varadero, a 90-mile race from Varadero to Havana and a 90-mile leg from Havana to Key West.

“The Conch Republic Cup is the only race with more than one stop that runs along the coast of Cuba,” said Conch Republic Cup Executive Director Karen Angle. “It is not just a race to Cuba. It is a series of races that includes a return race to Key West.”

The Cup had a 13-year hiatus after U.S. authorities enforced a Cuban embargo in 2003. Although federal officials indicted organizers Peter Goldsmith and late partner Michelle Geslin that year for “trading with the enemy,” a Miami federal judge later tabled the case.

“We want to introduce as many sailors in the U.S. community to Cuba and revitalize racing between Key West and Cuba. We truly are a cultural exchange through sport,” said Peter Goldsmith, Conch Republic Cup president. “We’re an all-volunteer organization that donates to youth sailing programs in both countries.”

On non-race days, tours in Cuba include venues frequented by writer Ernest Hemingway. Throughout the 1930s, Hemingway lived in Key West, where he penned “To Have and Have Not” as his only novel set in the United States.

“Balancing race days with lay days gives participants time to enjoy sights and adventures Key West and Cuba have to offer,” Angle said. “Sailors who follow the racing calendar can continue on to the Caribbean racing circuit.”

The event’s Race Village and registration is to open at Dante’s Key West at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22. Race days are Tuesday, Jan. 24, with a 5 p.m. start from Key West to Varadero. On Thursday, Jan. 26, sailors race from Varadero along the Cuban coastline to Havana and Hemingway Marina. On Sunday, Jan. 29, a Havana Harbor buoy race at Morro Castle and a yacht parade along the Malecon are scheduled. Sailors race from Havana to Key West on Thursday, Feb. 2 and an awards celebration is scheduled Friday, Feb. 3 at Dante’s.

Currently, 25 boats in three classes (PHRF Spinnaker, PHRF Non-Spinnaker, Multihull) and six support vessels – with more than 200 sailors to represent more than 13 states – are competing in this year’s edition of the Conch Republic Cup / Key West Cuba Race Week.  Included in this year’s fleet is JD Hill’s J/122 SECOND STAR from Lakewood YC and Dallas, Texas.  For more Conch Republic Cup sailing information

J/88 Sailing To Cuba Video!

(Havana, Cuba)- The J/88 MI:2, sailed by David Malkin from Annapolis, MD, participated in the Conch Republic Cup from Key West, FL to Havana, Cuba race this year.  They were fortunate to have Ashley Love of T2P.TV Sailing Productions on board to document the whole experience— all from onboard the J/88!  Said David, “what a fantastic offshore boat! Fast in any wind and sea conditions, and truly a roller-skate downwind- just flies down the waves with finger-tip touch on the helm!  Just love it!”  Watch this entertaining video of sailing the J/88 to Cuba!

CARINTHIA's Adventure to Havana, Cuba!

(Havana, Cuba)- Here is the official J/120 CARINTHIA Miami to Havana, Cuba race report- from Frank Kern.  “Since it was never done before, there were a lot of things that had to be invented for this race. For instance, a special Coast Guard permit was needed to enter Cuban waters as there is still officially an embargo. Race Chairman Chris Woosley got together with the right people to help the owners get that squared away. Communication with the outside world was really difficult as the internet connections were hard to get and unreliable. When we landed the Cuban officials took my satellite phone and sealed it, saying phoning from Cuba was strictly forbidden!! The following day I did phone home in secret to wish my daughter a happy birthday and to assure the outside world we were all fine.

Carinthia's strategy for the race was to get as close as possible to the Florida Keys to stay out of the current. The start was under 5 knots out of the north, not exactly ideal J/120 conditions. At Elbow Key #6 the rhumb line peels off to Havana and we stayed more north of it but started going more southwest. Fortunately the winds continued more northernly at about 10 to 15 knots as our course became more westerly. We jibed south in 20 knot wind when we got in the teeth of the a 3 knot gulf current and jibed back about 2 miles off of Cuba at Matanzas. To our pleasant surprise we got about a 1 knot push which helped us with the competition.  From what I saw on the tracking Dragon, a Class 40, stayed north until Key West and then jibed south directly to Havana. We soon finished at 20:40 just after sunset. In the end, they beat us by 18 minutes corrected time, which is pretty close considering how long the race was. Was this ideal conditions for a Class 40 vs. a J/120?  Was it 'courses for horses'? Who knows, as they did sail a nearly perfect race and after all they did take home the gold. My congrats to these guys for doing what was needed to win. We still managed to finish 1st in class B, 2nd overall. It was a great cap to our winter SORC season as we finished 2nd in the Islands in the Stream series.

Marina Hemingway was a very nice harbor and I found the people there very accepting of Americans. We were glad we stayed to see a little of Havana. The Cubans are very poor but there are cracks showing it may improve. A lot has been said about the old cars and most are privately owned. It makes a great way for the locals to make some cash. Hotel space here was very difficult to get, some competitors were able to find space with AirBNB. I also heard many bathrooms did not have toilet seats, probably a symptom of communism.  I know some boats dropped out of sailing here because of all the red tape BS, but it was worth it. Certainly, this was a bucket list race. When this thing comes up next, I highly recommend doing it!!”

J/Sailors Stars in Bacardi Cup!

(Miami, FL)- J/Sailors led the 70-boat Star class in a variety of ways during the Bacardi Miami Sailing Week.  In fact, against a star-studded group of sailors that are preparing for the upcoming Star World Championship held by Coral Reef YC on Biscayne Bay, the J/sailors left an emphatic impact on the top ten, taking five spots.  Leading the charge was local knowledge expert Augie Diaz (a past J/24 Midwinters Champion), landing on the podium in 3rd place.  Immediately behind him was the world-famous Paul Cayard taking 4th (he recently raced J/70s in the Rolex Big Boats Series, winning with Andy Costello on DOUBLE TROUBLE 2.0 and is sailing the 2016 J/70 Worlds in San Francisco with Carlo Alberini’s CALVI NETWORK).  Less than ten points separated the next three J/70 sailors- Peter Vessella (owner of WILD CHILD) took 7th, George Szabo was 9th and Eric Doyle placed 10th.  As Szabo explained, “it’s fun sailing J/70s because there are so few strings to pull, which makes it a tough class!  But, then again, if you know which ones to pull on a Star, you really go fast!”

J/105 GONZO Sails To Havana, Cuba!

(Havana, Cuba)- The J/105 GONZO from Chicago was sailed by Ed Reagan and his team in the inaugural Miami to Havana Race this year that finished in the historical Hemingway Harbor in Havana, Cuba..  Here’s Ed’s report on their most amazing experience:

“We sailed aboard GONZO, our J/105, co-captained by myself and Ken Ganch with a total crew of eight in the Miami to Havana race.  It started in lighter winds right outside of government cut on a beautiful Florida day, albeit it was cooler than usual with a cold front heading in.  That was welcome news as were all heading south veering southwest as the fleet headed down the keys so North winds were favorable and were forecast to go Northeast at some point.  There were also fairly cold temperatures forecast for the first night but fortunately the water was warm.

The route from Miami to Key West takes you south and you constantly turn to the west keeping outside of the reefs, which are well marked along the entire stretch of the Keys.  On our port side was the Gulf stream, so you have a narrow band in which you want to sail to avoid sailing against the Gulf Stream that is running counter to our course at up to 6 kts!  One of the most strategic decisions is where and when to cross the Gulf Stream.

As the first afternoon went on, the winds steadily built along with the waves.  There were long periods with sustained wind speeds 15-25 knots and the Gulf Stream varied but seemed to have reached 4-5 knots at that time according to our readings.  The challenge was to get through it as efficiently as possible and then, hopefully, catch a counter-current closer to the coast of Cuba that was still heading west.

The moon was very small and the stars were brilliant the first night when we were crossing the Gulf Stream.  Wind speeds maintained all through the next day and into night when we finally saw Cuba at dusk.  The winds died down only for the last 50 miles and we sailed along the length of Havana and finished right about midnight.  We took 2nd in PHRF C and 8th overall!  Imagine that!?  A Chicago boat collecting silverware for placing in a race to Havana!  That’s awesome!

Hemingway Club Nauticio in Havana hosted the fleet with excellent facilities and the staff was gracious and welcoming.

There was a race along the Malecon on Sunday but winds were very strong and only a handful of boats completed the race after several dropped out.  Overall for us, it was an amazing experience and hope others do the same in the future!”

J/Crews Sail Miami to Havana Race!

J/120 CARINTHIA Wins Class!
(Miami, FL)- It was a beautiful, sunny day that saw the forty-six sailboats prepared for a brisk forecast at the start of the first-ever Miami to Havana Race, organized by the Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC).

It was a sight that Comodoro José Manual Diaz Escrich, the founder of Havana’s Club Nautico Internacional Hemingway De Cuba will never forget.  “When I founded the Club more than 24 years ago, I dreamed we would one day see a fleet of boats from our sister city in Miami racing toward our home, and it means so much to me to finally get to see it,” said Escrich.  ‘El Comodoro’ added that while he’s seen a huge amount of interest in racing to Havana Southeast since diplomatic relations between the island nation and USA have improved, the Miami to Havana Race is unique, and truly special for the sailors of both cities.  “The relationship between Miami, Havana, and the history of the SORC is so important to sailors all over the world, and we’re grateful that so many people worked together to make this race happen so quickly,” said Escrich.

Instead of screaming speeds and the organized chaos of a big wind race, four monohull classes milled about sedately as the starting flags flapped limply at the 1 PM start of this historic race, with 4-6 knots of wind allowing just enough power to move even the slowest boat in the right direction: South.

“We were all a bit surprised at the conditions when we got to the course, but it was a gorgeous day for spectators, VIPs, and of course all the racing crews,” said Chris Woolsey, Race Chairman.  “As long as there’s enough wind to buck the Gulf Stream no one will be complaining too much, and it’s always easier on crews when the wind starts light and builds, rather than the other way around.”

The PHRF A class features dedicated racing yachts as well as several racer/cruisers, and on a 7 PM call-in from spinnaker trimmer Dan Tucker, learned that the fleet was extremely close, thanks to very unstable conditions.  “It’s light enough that the [full-race] Class 40s can’t really get away from us, especially now that the spinnakers are down,” said Tucker, sailing aboard Gary Weisberg’s Massachusetts-based J/111 HEAT WAVE. At 7 PM, Weisberg’s boat was reaching under Code Zero with around 12 knots from the WNW after “pretty much all the spinnakers around dropped at sunset,” according to Tucker.

The first two hours was troublesome for every race team; huge shifts in velocity and wind direction provided extremely tough trimming and helming conditions, though as Tucker explained, “It’s absolutely gorgeous out here now.”

With the forecast looking moderate and relatively sedate for the next day, the fleet’s navigators had to make their most important decision of the race that night as they approached Marathon Key.  Do they head into the Straits early, minimizing distance while facing more time in the adverse Gulf Stream?  Or, do they play it safe, keeping ‘one foot on the reef’ in the protected water near the shore, jumping off into potentially worse current at Key West? As it turns out, the choice about what to do with “the Great Divide” made big differences due to the divergent strategies dealing the Gulf Stream’s capricious currents.

The winners committed to a far more aggressive strategies than most expected.  One headed much farther west before crossing the stream.  As one navigator noted, “Our weather updates convinced us to send it right down the Keys; not only did it keep us out of the current for the maximum amount of time possible, but it set us up for the lift and subsequent gybe.”

But, Frank Kern found a little treasure of his own with the opposite strategy; the Michigan-based crew of the J/120 CARINTHIA worked the South hard, gybing onto starboard only when they found a secret lane of friendly Gulf Stream countercurrent to bring them right into Havana.

“We saw over a knot of southwesterly current over on the left hand [Southeast] side of the course, and we weren’t going to miss that,” said Kern, who adds a Miami to Havana PHRF B Class victory to CARINTHIA’s overflowing resume of ocean racing wins.  Just behind them was Marcus Cholerton-Brown’s J/120 SUNSET CHILD in 5th place.

Leading the charge in PHRF A class for the J sailors was Weisberg’s J/111 HEATWAVE from Jubilee YC in Gloucester, MA, taking 4th in class.  They were followed in fifth place by Robin Team’s J/122 TEAMWORK from Lexington, NC.

Then, in PHRC C class, it was Ken Ganch & Ed Reagan’s J/105 GONZO from Columbia YC in Chicago, Illinois happily celebrating taking the silver in one of the more eccentric collection of boats in any class- two monstrously heavy Little Harbors and a quartet of skinny Hobie 33s!  Sailing photo credit: Marco Oquendo/SORC   For more SORC Miami to Havana Race sailing information

Conch Republic Fantasia!

(Key West, FL)- With newly thawed relations between the USA and Cuba, the Conch Republic Cup (CRC) regatta sailed again after a 13-year hiatus. With a warm invitation from Marina Hemingway in Havana, the CRC just completed the Key West Cuba Race week. With just enough wind but an abundance of Cuban hospitality, a successful cultural and sports exchange was achieved.

Weather Delays Make Way For The Best Sailing Days
A one-day weather delay was our introduction to the 8th Conch Republic Cup. Weather experts and the CRC race committee gave every opportunity for the weather to break and keep racing on schedule but the low-pressure system built in the Gulf Stream making a passage more than challenging. The delay was followed by a 5PM start on Friday, January 29th and pleasant crossing in 12 – 17 knots of Easterly breeze and a comfortable 6-foot swell.

That one-day delay made for a tight schedule to get racing back on track. After the early morning to mid afternoon arrival at Marina Gaviota in Varadero Cuba on Saturday the crews were welcomed with an evening bash. A long slog to the starting area designated by our Cuban host yacht club, Club Nautico International Hemingway de La Havana gave recovery time to all before the race start in view of Varadero Beach. The day's racing was again followed by festivities at Marina Gaviota that included a large buffet and awards ceremony for races 1 & 2.

Another quick turn around on Monday had crews checking out of the marina early and headed to the start of the Cuba Coastal Challenge from Varadero to Marina Hemingway, Havana. With over 50 boats checking out and light morning winds there was double cause for the 1hr 45min delay. This gave way to a steady 8-12 knot breeze through the afternoon and evening with partly cloudy skies and a clear view of the Cuba coast as we headed West in some close quarters coastal dueling. Our finishers were greeted at Marina Hemingway with clear skies and a jet ski guide down the entrance channel to the customs dock.

Finally a lay day!!! The hard working crews and even harder working race committee had the chance to visit the real Cuba with bus tours and vintage convertible taxi rides through Havana, the culturally rich and diverse city that has been lost to most Americans for decades. Although key race management and partial race committee took this opportunity to look ahead at the weather to assure the safest possible passage back across the Florida Straits. Tuesday evening saw yet another welcome reception at Club Nautico International with our host Commodore Jose Escrich. Also joining us on this evening was the US Embassy representative, USCG Lieutenant Commander Cromwell. Some of the best live Cuban music and a very succulent roast pig were the featured attraction of the evening,

An updated weather forecast and a new amendment to the Sailing Instructions had crews hustling once again. Weather patterns were changing our race schedule for an early departure this time. The announcement Tuesday evening called for the finish of the Wednesday buoy race to also be the start of the Havana to Key West crossing race in order to avoid being shut into Marina Hemingway by northern fronts. The noon Wednesday start of the Castle de Morro Cup went of in pleasant racing conditions with the picturesque backdrop of the Havana waterfront.

Conditions turned challenging in the afternoon and evening for the crossing home, just the conditions most competitors were looking for to finish off a great week of close racing. 10 foot seas and 17 – 25 knot winds from the east made for a quick passage back to Key West to finish the regatta.

Overall, J/Teams sailed exceptionally well in this inaugural Conch Republic Cup.  In the largest fleet in the regatta, J sailors took four of the top five spots.  After a slow start in the first race, it was Rick Moore’s J/120 MOOSE DOWN that took the silver by just a 1/2 point!  Due to a DNF in the final race, Bennet Greenwald’s J/111 PERSEVERANCE was easily in contention to win overall with a 4-1-6-1 record, but dropped to third place.  Finishing out the series in fourth position was Bill Smith’s J/111 WOOTON and in fifth place was Marcus Cholerton-Brown’s J/120 SUNSET CHILD.  Several J/Teams did not sail the last two races but had some good performances during the event, including Peter Krueger’s J/125 DOUBLE TROUBLE and David Malkin’s J/88 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2.

Here is a nice sailing video compilation and summary of the event- another one will be coming soon! 

For what began in 1997 as a cordial invitation from Commodore Escrich to the Key West Sailing Club (as it was known at the time) to resume our annual race to Varadero from the 1970s, this has become an epic event. The KWSC Fleet Captain at the time was Peter Goldsmith who, upon receiving the invitation stated, "I don't care what anybody thinks, I just want to sail my boat to Cuba." The 1997 and 1998 race continued as the previous races had been run. Then in 1999 Commodore Escrich proposed this multi race format we use today. The 5 race series of the Conch Republic Cup was run by Peter Goldsmith and his partner Michele Geslin for the entire 7 year with the last such event being held in 2003. At this time, with the "encouragement" of the US Government this regatta was discontinued. Recent developments and policy changes within the US – Cuba relations normalization have once again made it possible to continue our annual "Cultural Exchange Through Sport" after a 13 year hiatus.  Sailing photo credits- Priscilla Parker.   Take a look at the Conch Republic Facebook page.  For more Conch Republic Cup sailing information