HAVANA, Cuba.- The participation of US boats in sail regattas in Cuba is hindered by the laws of the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by Washington on the Caribbean island.

Jose Manuel Diaz, Commodore of the Hemingway International Yacht Club, told ACN that this policy deprives US citizens of traveling freely by boat to the island to maintain the friendly nautical relations existing between the two countries, which this year mark their 80th anniversary.

Diaz explained that such restriction is a flagrant violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, approved in Jamaica in 1982.

This treaty makes it very clear that all countries with coasts should give permission so foreign ships can exercise their “right of innocent passage.” However, the United States violates this treaty.

The Commodore pointed out that, according to US presidential regulations, the ships anchoring in Cuban ports can be held in custody and confiscated for having violated this arbitrary measure.

The nautical community of that northern country is eager for the opportunity of being able to come to Cuba and get to know the island and enjoy the hospitality and culture of the Cuban people, he commented.

Several historic documents point out that sailboat regattas between the two nations began in 1930, and that around 1922 there were already motorboat competitions with Miami teams, which traveled to Havana.

There were regattas between 1996 and 2000, but starting from the latter the US travel ban strengthened, which prevented even US scientists, musicians and athletes to take part in congresses, workshops, concerts and competitions, like the Marabana.