Please select your home edition
Edition
Sydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to Exhibit

Marina Hemingway's Castillo del Morro Race - Racing in Cuba

by Talbot Wilson on 11 Nov 2015
'Lesson #1' as seen in the start of the Andrews Institute Pensacola a la Habana Race. The J130 owned by John Lee and skippered by Guy Williams and Mike Finn of New Orleans LA finished first in the Castillo del Morro Race, a local event following the Andrews Institute Pensacola a la Habana Race. Talbot Wilson
'Lesson #1', the J130 owned by John Lee and skippered by Guy Williams and Mike Finn of New Orleans LA finished first in the Castillo del Morro Race, a local event following the Andrews Institute Pensacola a la Habana Race. It followed a course from the Almendares River mouth to the entry buoy to Havana Harbor to the entry of Hemingway Marina. This course is spectator friendly for the Cuban people and US spectators traveling to Cuba.

Second place went to 'Odalisque', the Catana 43 sailed by Tom Schinkert of Elberta AL and third was 'Na Zdravi' a Beneteau 47 skippered by Chris Schmidt, Montgomery AL/Panama City FL.

One important goal of the new Andrews Institute Pensacola a la Habana Cuba race was to establish friendly, amateur athletic competition between the US sailors and the people of Cuba. The Castillo del Morro Race was sailed Friday morning November 6 between Havana Harbor and the Castle El Morro at the mouth of Hemingway Marina.

The race had 12 entries. There were seven competitors from the Andrews Institute Pensacola a la Habana race fleet and five local entries. More were expected from the Pensacola fleet, but the rough conditions for the first few days and light air another day took a toll on the American fleet.

Commodore Escrich of the Hemingway International Yacht Club said, “In this race we praise the efforts of the participants, because, as you know, the American boats had to sail very hard to arrive to Havana. Because of this, we awarded prizes to the four first places and the last four places.'

'Lesson #1' did indeed have a hard race from Pensacola. She sailed with limited electrical power and blew out her main but repaired it. The patchwork sail became their 'frankenmain' for the last two days. Crossing the Gulf in winds from 10 to 30kts she finished second in Class A and second in the Modern Cruiser Division.



The four first places were:

1— Lesson #1, J130, Guy Williams/ Mike Finn, New Orleans LA
2— Odalisque, Catana 43, Tom Schinkert, Elberta AL
3— Na Zdravi, Beneteau 47, Chris Schmidt, Montgomery AL/Panama City FL
4— Noor, Cuba and Switzerland

And the last four boats

8— Libra, Tripp 57, Ryan Rayfield, Orange Beach AL
9— Mikara, Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba
10— Retiro, Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba
11—Club Náutico 1, Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba

The trophy presentation for the Andrews Institute Pensacola a la Habana Race and the Castillo del Morro Race was held at the Hemingway International Yacht Club following the Castillo del Morro Race.

The original Havana Race was sailed from St. Petersburg, FL when 11 boats hit the starting line on March 30, 1930.The competition grew in size and stature to be a favorite of Gulf Coast sailors. It became a preliminary to the famous Southern Ocean Racing Circuit and attracted top yachts from the Americas and the international scene. The race was discontinued after 1959.

Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignTrofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTER

Related Articles

Ponant Sydney Noumea Race Start in Images
A light and variable breeze got the three-boat fleet away in the afternoon light It was a quiet start to the Ponant Sydney Noumea Race, with the fleet the leaving Sydney Harbour in a light and variable breeze. Grant Wharington and Adrian Seiffert's Wild Thing 100 led the fleet of three down the harbour on a close reach
Posted today at 9:52 pm
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta overall
Southern Wind 100 Agapi Mas awarded the Willy Persico Trophy The 2025 edition of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta and the Southern Wind RendezVous concluded today with another outstanding day of racing. The event is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of title sponsor Giorgio Armani.
Posted today at 8:51 pm
11th Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Sailing Regatta
FD Future boats join the youth regatta at Seven Star Yacht Club The 2025 11th Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Sailing Regatta kicked off in Seven Star Yacht Club in Shenzhen on the 23rd till the 25th of May. FD Future boats joined the youth regatta with 11 competition groups and more than 80 youth participants.
Posted today at 2:45 pm
Countdown begins for the 2025 29er Worlds
At the iconic city of Porto, Portugal The countdown is on! The 2025 29er World Championship will land in the iconic city of Porto, Portugal, with the fleet descending on Marina da Afurada - Douro Marina from 1st-8th August 2025.
Posted today at 10:05 am
Casa Vela Cup 2025 at St Francis Yacht Club Day 3
Pauline Courtois will meet Nicole Breault in the final Defending women's match racing world champion Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink Normandy Elite team from France will meet USA's Nicole Breault/ Vela Racing in the final of the 2025 Casa Vela Cup in San Francisco.
Posted today at 6:58 am
Team Racing Worlds at Newport, RI, Day 2
Consolidation In the Ranks: U.S. Teams Lead A thrilling action-packed series of races on Day 2 of the 2025 Team Racing World Championship saw the three teams representing the United States consolidate at the top of the leaderboard.
Posted today at 5:00 am
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Preview
Getting ready to race at Monte Real Club de Yates in Baiona Today (Friday) Galicia's prestigious Monte Real Club de Yates in Baiona (Galicia, Spain) hosted the official presentation of the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP, the second scoring event for the 2025 season of the 52 SUPER SERIES.
Posted on 30 May
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta day 3
No racing due to light wind in Porto Cervo The forecast of very light winds proved to be accurate today as the starting procedure for the third day of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta and the Southern Wind RendezVous got under way.
Posted on 30 May
Armstrong Foils: On tour - Home of Armstrong II
Join America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders on the tour of NZ's Far North Join three times America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders Olivia Jenkins, Naumi Eychenne, Bowien van der Linden, Cash Berzolla, and Reo Stevens, on the Home of Armstrong Tour II, as they explore NZ's Far North.
Posted on 30 May
Tom Gruitt passes away
Sailing photographer, writer, video editor, but most of all, a friend to many Tom Gruitt, photographer, writer, video editor, but most of all, a friend to many, has passed away at the far too young age of 37.
Posted on 30 May