We'd like to do Cuba in Jan 2017. Like to do join a sailing regatta. Is there anyone out there doing this time of year

An April 2016 Key West to Cuba regatta is something we would like to do. Please keep me in the loop on details Thanks

Wally is correct. The situation is not as simple as many of us would like to believe. More is required than the US President making a speech. There are laws to change (Congress) and regulations to change (the Administration at State, Treasury, and Commerce). So far the relief that is in place only applies to commercial aircraft (scheduled and charter). Private aircraft and boats have additional requirements. See http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_faqs_new.pdf in particular paragraph 22 on page 6. Please note this is an official US Government source. I'd like to visit Cuba. Without appropriate permits (which should now be easier to get) you cannot now go to Cuba legally by private boat. Lets all keep pressing our elected representatives to fix that.

I would like to join a group sailing from Florida Keys to Cuba in '16.

Email [email protected] For future regattas

Planning a Sarasota to Cuba regatta in March Or April. Email me for details if you are interested.

FYI: The US House voted yesterday to keep the old restrictions on travel to Cuba. The Republican-controlled chamber voted 247-176 to keep a Cuba-related provision in a transportation funding bill, which would block the easing of restrictions that Obama declared in January which dropped the licensing requirements. However, Obama said he'd veto the bill because of the Cuba travel issue. Always a moving target!

We're going to Cuba after we finish the Great Loop next year in November, '16 with our 40ft. trawler. Don't know yet how and with who and at this point don't care. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. If you really want to do something, DO IT. We'll overcome any obstacles when the time comes.

do you think they'll be any more regattas of this fall and/or winter going to Cuba would love to go?

This is great to see, but we still need to see the requirement for any kind of licensure to travel by boat, gone. At a minimum, the application procedure needs to be simplified. Also, readers need to know that they do NOT need a travel agency to make this happen. That will add considerably to the costs involved - although, their experience undoubtedly simplifies the procedure.