Cabo San Antonio, Cuba

Left Bahia Honda 0800 with NE winds at 15kts, a bit rough getting out the channel, with confused seas of 6 to 7 ft . After setting our westerly course things deteriorated, winds 24 kts sustained and gust to 30 kts, seas 9 to 10 ft with an occasional larger waves. We endured these conditions for 20 hrs like being in a washing machine. Reached  Cabo San Atonio well before day light, we had maintained speeds of 8+ kts which placed us at our destination ahead of schedule, had to circle in front of harbor waiting for day light.

Running Free & Kisma

Cabo San Antonio This is the westernmost Port of Entry into Cuba., literary the road ends at the marina. This, the only road leading to the marina, is a dirt track that runs through the Guanahacabibes National Park, part of one of five UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserves in Cuba. It is named for the Guanahatabey people, believed to be the earliest inhabitants of the island, for whom the western peninsula was the last refuge from the advancing conquistadors. 

The Reserve is one of Cuba’s largest. It contains numerous lakes and is home to boa constrictors, crocodiles, domestic cattle gone wild, and more than 190 bird species. About one mile east of the marina pier lies a small cay which is the nesting habitat for local frigate birds. It is thought that as many as four of only seven species of marine turtles in the entire world, such as the hawksbill and the loggerhead, survive on this westernmost tip of Cuba.

A walk to Las Tumbas ... Deer and wild pigs

Approximately 3 km from the marina on this road you will arrive at Las Tumbas, a small hotel/beach complex(14 cabins with a restaurant and beach) The beach is nice but steep. The marina consists of a single dock for maybe three or four boats with little protection, a bar and restaurant, a small grocery store with the usual basics – rum, soft drinks, some canned food, salt biscuits…They have no communications since their antenna tower collapsed last year, There is no internet access, no phones and the nearest place is a $145 dollar taxi ride round trip. Power is supplied by a generator and goes off every morning for two hours for refueling.
Marina Los Morros is staffed by a doctor, veterinarian, nurse, capitania (military immigration/customs officer), operativo(dock master),security and a few maintenance people. They work and live here for a week at a time before relief arrives by bus on Mondays. OK you get the picture? We are at the end of the world...