Living the dream. Jeff Rose tours areas of Cuba from a classic 1953 Chevy. AUGUST 2014
Before I tell my story, I must advise you, the objective of the Cuba trip was to understand the market and make meaningful contacts and connections that may benefit recreational boating. This exploratory trip was sanctioned by the U.S. government and met all requirements of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) People-to-People exchange license. Similar trips to Cuba are common among other industries. The NMMA does not have an official position on the current or future status of the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba and continues abiding by the trade restrictions imposed by the United States. Currently, an embargo remains in place on commercial, economic, and financial trade that was imposed on Cuba by the U.S. in 1960. Except for publications, other informational materials, certain donated food, and certain goods licensed for export by the U.S. Department of Commerce (such as medicine and medical supplies, food, and agricultural commodities), no products, technology, or services may be exported from the United States to Cuba, either directly or through third countries, such as Canada, Panama, Spain or Mexico.
For as long as I can remember, Cuba has been one of those places I have always wanted to visit. Not because I thought it was an island paradise or the food would be amazing, I wanted to go experience it for myself. I was very good friends with a Cuban family all through high school and remain close to them to this day. The parents of this family came to the United States in 1959 with their 4 year-old son and 3 year-old daughter. They later had another daughter here in the U.S.A. When they came here, they gave up everything to be Americans. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for them and all of the other families that were torn apart during Cuba’s history.
I was In Washington D.C. for the American Boating Congress and met an amazing woman, Juli Balzano, with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). At some point in our conversation, visiting Cuba came up. As I was telling Juli how much I had always wanted to visit (but it looked like I would never have the chance) she told me that the NMMA was considering putting together an educational/research trip in August. When the opportunity finally presented itself, I am pretty sure that if I wasn’t the first person to sign on- I was at least the second. This trip consisted of leaders from around the marine industry. We had engine manufacturers, trailer manufacturers, boat manufacturers, boat dealers, fishing industry representatives, retail specialists, accessory manufacturers and marina specialist, just to name a few.
Upon our arrival to Cuba which, by the way is a mere 45 minute flight from Miami, we were welcomed by the Cuban people with open arms. I am not a globe-trotting traveler, so I will admit I was a little nervous, but the Cuban people couldn’t have been nicer to us. Right off the bat, we walked from the Jose Marti airport to a parking lot full of cars I have dreamed about seeing since I was a kid and some I didn’t even know existed. There were mostly American-made cars: Fords, Chevys, Plymouths, a few Russian cars (Laddas) and a couple of Chinese cars called Geelys. On one of our tours, we were able to take a ride in some of the old classics. I got to ride in a 1953 Chevy with the original straight 6 in it. What fun that was!
As we drove through the streets of Havana, I saw old buildings with beautiful architecture and in dire need of paint, but what do you expect from a Country that has done very little in the way of upkeep in the last 55 years? Cuba is home to more than 11,000,000 people, 2,000,000 plus of which live in Havana. As you might imagine, it is a very crowded, busy city. This island nation may be stuck in 1959, but the potential in Cuba is enormous. Part of our trip included visiting three marinas, The Hemingway Marina, a moorage facility housing government boats, and Veradero Marina. The Hemingway Marina is located 9 miles from Havana and is home to Club Nautico and Commodore José Miguel Díaz Escrich. Commodore Escrich has a wealth of knowledge and he tried to share it all with us through his very capable translator and assistant, Lilly, in a very short period of time. The Hemingway Marina is the largest marina in Cuba and can accommodate approximately 400 or so vessels. We saw approximately 75 or so total. Like most places we visited, the marina needs a good bit maintenance, upgrades, and paint. In 1950, they hosted the first International Billfish tournament and to this day. The Ernest Hemingway International Billfish tournament is considered one of the oldest big-game saltwater tournaments in the world. The second marina we visited is home to government-owned vessels that are used primarily for fishing excursions, off-shore diving adventures and other tourist-related activities. The third marina, Veradero Marina, is new. It boasts hotels, condos, a bowling alley, a salon, a dry goods store, a small grocery/market type store, a large restaurant and a bar with 6-8 lobster cages with lobsters ranging in size from 1lb -3-1/ 2 pounders.
The marine industry is planning and hoping that one day, among many things, there will be full-service marinas, boat retail centers, boatyards, service shops, engine sales, after-market products, gear stores, selling things like, boating and fishing supplies, etc., and as a byproduct of these things- jobs, jobs, jobs.
When and if the time comes and the embargo is lifted, the Cuban marine industry will need lots of training in order to be ready for the influx or tourism and for the demand on their marine infrastructure. Currently, Cuba has approximately 450,000 visits per year, they think that by 2020 that number will grow to more than 2.2 million. I believe-that if the embargo were lifted today, they would exceed 2.2 million visits by the end of this year.
I will not get into a political debate one way or the other; I just know that the Cuban people and the country itself need help. I feel very fortunate that I was able to have the opportunity to see one my dreams come true. I hope that “someday” comes sooner rather than later, so that we can all experience the sites, the sounds, and the people of Cuba.
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