There is no doubt that Cuba has a special allure, a sense of fascination that draws people to it. Best of all, it is only a one-day sail away from Florida. In fact, to many Florida boaters, Cuba is the Pearl of the Antilles, an uncut gem just waiting to be discovered in our own back year. But in addition to the seductive spell Cuba has cast over thousands of boaters, there are other, more practical, reasons why the island is so appealing to U.S. sailing and power boating enthusiasts. One of the big reasons, of course, is the growing disenchantment with boating in the United States.
Most American boaters agree our waters have become far too crowded with boats.
In fact, there are now some 20 million recreational boats in the U.S. and because boating is becoming more affordable, hundreds of new boaters are daily added to the ranks of leisure-time sailors. To make matters worse for people hoping to experience the freedom of the open seas, the increase in the number of boaters is accomplished by a corresponding increase in regulations. As a result, boaters are looking for better boating opportunities. The historical perspective Prior to 1960, recreational boating was largely an upper middle class pastime. In fact, the very popular St. Petersburg to Havana yacht races that began in the 1930's were largely responsible for creating interest in pleasure boating to and from Cuba.