our position 21.45.05N 79.59.61W
Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Sun 23 Mar 2008 12:02
|
Finally, early afternoon we arrived in mainland
Cuba. We hoisted our yellow flag, that requests customs clearance. Until we have
clearance, we are not allowed off the boat. We anchored near where we were told
the customs office was, in order for the customs officials not to have to row
out too far. We waited and waited, searching through the binoculars but nobody
came. Chris, Tony, Mick and Sharon came over to Chaser. We welcomed
each other to Cuba and had a couple of coldies while waiting. Half an hour
later, from the other side of the bay about a mile, came a customs man in a
borrowed Tinker dinghy. We welcomed him on board, he was very polite, very nice
guy, unfortunately though, he had to informs us that Trinidad is no longer an
port of entry, and we must go to Cienfuegos, 40 miles away.
We just couldn't believe this, every official,
every guide book and the internet says Trinidad is a port of entry, but
no.
He said we would have to move on, which I said we
would do first thing in the morning. He said he would confirm with his boss if
that would be ok for us to stay overnight without going ashore of course. I did
politely ask him to inform his boss that it would not be posible to leave before
dawn, because I would consider it too dangerous to travel in these unknown
waters after dark. He said he would let us no on VHF channel 16, but nothing
heard. We stayed anyway. Next morning early start for Cuba
(again)
|