Our hats are off to the Captain and Crew of "Something Special" for there  Seamanship and knowledge of the open seas. They through us hot food in baggies when we were hungry and bottled water when we were thirsty. The work had just began on the support boat as the 2 Escapes began passing us from the huge swells pushing them as we dived into the next swell on the 305 Beneteau. Scott and I spent the rest of the night keeping slack out of  the tow lines and guiding the Escapes towards Cuba.

When daybreak came we were 3 miles from the Sea Buoy at Hemingway Marina. No celebration was to be had yet because the channel going in has reefs on both sides. It is said not to make an approach at night if the winds are coming from the West. Our winds were coming at our backs from the North. I think that should be the warning Other sailing vessels are dry docked with crushed hauls and gaping holes in the sides from trying to make an approach with North winds.

But we made it in the channel and the fun began with the guards, customs, immigration, etc. Those of you that have been to Cuba know that this is only a formality and takes about an hour.

From there we were assigned a slip number. As we motored through Hemingway cheers came from the shoreline from all directions. I had completely forgotten that weeks earlier I had E- mailed the Comodoro at Club Nautico and explained our venture. It was easy to tell who we were with 2 bright yellow sailboats with the word ESCAPE on the sides. A word most Cubans know.