Destinations: Letter from Cuba

May 26, 2026

This week we received an interesting letter from Commodore Jose Escrich of the Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba.  Canadians have visited Hemingway Marina and the yacht club many times over the years and always received very warm welcome, regardless of the relationship between other countries.

Commodore Escrich has in years past visited the Toronto International Boat Show and Canadian Boating has often featured stories on the fishing tournaments and regattas the commodore has sponsored.

photo: John Morris

MESSAGE FROM COMMODORE ESCRICH ON THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HEMINGWAY INTERNATIONAL YACHT CLUB OF CUBA.

Dear Friends of the International Nautical Community,

On May 21st, our Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba celebrated its 34th Anniversary amidst the worst economic and social crisis our country has ever faced.

These have been 34 years of hard struggle to defend the existence of our nautical institution, the only one of its kind in Cuba.

If we exist today, it is thanks to the support and recognition of more than a thousand nautical institutions from over 50 countries that offer us their friendship and encourage us to continue fighting.  So that, despite the many difficulties and misunderstandings we face today, the flame that symbolizes the Cuban people’s love for the sea and recreational nautical activities will not be extinguished.

Thirty-four years ago, a group of men and women from ten countries, convinced that Cuba had the potential to become one of the leading yachting and nautical tourism destinations in the Caribbean, met with the goal of establishing the only yacht club in Cuba. This followed the disappearance of dozens of yacht clubs that had existed in the country since October 1886, beginning with the first, the Havana Yacht Club.

On behalf of the Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba, and myself please allow me to extend my sincere gratitude to the members of the international nautical community and to the members of our institution who have supported us throughout these years. I also extend my thanks to all our friends, whose friendship and love have enriched this Cuban institution, a true “Sanctuary of Love and Friendship.”

Commodore Escrich

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