Sunday 18 May 2014

Cuba .. from the high seas off Cuba

                         Leaving land in Cienfuegos, sailing through the Cayo Largo and Cayo Campus. Arriving at Isla de la Juventud



Hmm, can you sing this tune....

......6 days on a creaky boat, with 2 Germans to keep it afloat...thus was our voyage off the coast of Cuba from Cienfegous to Cayo Largo and Isla de la Juventud.........

The first hour after departing Cienfuegos was great leaving the bay and past Punta Gorda at the farthest end of the malecon.


Almost ready to leave...


Our Captain and Co-captain


Punta Gorda... was quite stormy when we left

Our route was sailing through the Canarreos Archipelago in the southern part of Cuba with our first stop
being at Cayo Largo.  Due to stormy seas we ended up staying there for several days.


Marina at Cayo Largo and our boat - a Bavaria 46C

Our first sunset in dock.

We explored a few beaches while we were on this resort island...


Playa Sirena and Playa Paraiso seemed to go on forever.



Eventually left Cayo Largo for Cayo Campus 8 1/2 hours sail away.  Due to Yvonne's disposition to sea-sickness, she got the best seat on the boat... in the bow, front and centre... Yahoo!


She loved this spot...

We put a 50 kg test fishing line out to catch some dinner... our first catch was a really big old barracuda
that we threw back (too tough to eat and poisonous to humans when they are that big!  Huh!)



Our second throw gave us a nice 40 cm blue fin tuna.


This little guy gave us really tasty filets for dinner.



After our catch we continued on our journey to Cayo Campus.





Here's a look at the inside of this beautiful boat.  Sleeps 10, has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with showers
and this is the kitchen and dining area.


Our comfy queen bedroom.

After a stormy night we headed out again towards the large Cuban Island, Isla de la Juventud.  During this section of the journey our captains threw out a tow line and buoy so that we could get into the water with our mask and snorkel.  As soon as we entered, a pod of dolphins surfaced around us.  We could hear them under water and could see them jumping.  Was absolutely fabulous to experience these amazing creatures in their home.




Approaching Isla de la Juventud



Traveling down the large river channel towards dock.


Docked at Nueva Gerona on Isla de la Juventud.

What an adventure this has been!  Wouldn't have changed any of it... well maybe the sea-sickness!  Ha.

We walked around this quaint little port town before taking a taxi to the famous Presidio Modelo.  This prison, built in 1926 could hold up to 8000 prisoners and was where Fidel Castro and his family were imprisoned for 2 years from 1953-1955.   It was eventually closed in 1967.  Google it for more info.




The inside of a cell block with a guard tower in the centre.


Here, Shayne is standing inside one very small cell...


After a final group dinner in Nueva Gerona, we said good-bye to our new sailing friends!  Auf wiedersehen!


It has indeed been a great experience with 40 knot winds, thunder and lightning, getting grounded on 5 sand bars, while trying to go through a canal, 4 metre waves...ah - the joys of sailing!!  Loved it!


Adios S and Y.

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