Is there any interest in organizing a sail to Cuba? (for the moment disregard the obvious US policy obstacles)

I thought I answered this already. Maybe you posted it on another forum, too? Anyway, there already is a race from Key West to Cuba. It is for Hobie 16s only, and while in Cuba they have some triangle races against some Cuban Hobie 16 sailors. They are trying to do this every year in the spring. I can find you the name and contact information of the organizer if you want it.

That sounds really interesting. Can you post some more information about it?
Thanks,
Dave

There was a story in the April issue of Catamaran Sailor about the 2002 race. Three Hobie 16's went, leaving Key West at 5:30 a.m. on April 3 and arriving at Marina Hemingway in Cuba 12 hours later. In 2003 they plan to do the event at about the same time of year, but it is supposed to be a three-leg event as far as the distance part, sailing from Key West to Veradero, Cuba, and then from Veradero to Marina Hemingway (near Havana), and then back to Key West. The plan, last I heard, was for some of the Cuba sailors to race that leg from Veradero to Havana. And then, as usual, there will be triangle races in Cuba before the U.S. sailors make the trip back across the Gulf Stream to Key West. The organizer, George Bellenger, is even hoping that some of the Cuba sailors will be able to join them on the return sail to Key West, do some triangle racing in Key West and then return to Cuba. That latter part sounds like an unlikely scenario to me.

The organizing group is Key West Association of Catamaran Sailors (KWACS). The last number I have for George Bellenger is 305-797-3460. If that doesn't work for some reason, let me know, and I will find him for you.