avatarJames Marinero, MSc, MBA

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The weather was warm and winds variable, with occasional showers.</p><p id="aed7">We avoided this reef…</p><figure id="828c"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*O7E-TKSL_C7qyCSWoLkD_A.jpeg"><figcaption>Interesting navigation through a narrow channel</figcaption></figure><p id="3757">There were plenty of pelicans but as we’re not snorkellers we didn’t see much of the underwater life, except Caimans (alligator family) in the mangroves. But there is certainly plenty to see and it’s one of the top dive areas in the world. Just avoid the mangroves…</p><figure id="86b2"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*BpEyZL3m2kjwwnBPjm_RIQ.jpeg"><figcaption>Author picture</figcaption></figure><p id="419d">We had desert islands all to ourselves, the most memorable being Media Luna — Half Moon — Island. It was the time of the new moon and so the night skies were ideal for stargazing.</p><figure id="7da4"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*t3GsWGXtjpCENWku0f55Pw.jpeg"><figcaption>Approaching Media Luna — a desert island in the Queen’s Gardens</figcaption></figure><p id="6cf3">At the end of the week we visited Manzanillo on the way out of the Queens Gardens, where the buses are horse and carts. Once again we had to queue for food…</p><figure id="aa2f"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*s-fvzX-Uz2ZXwEM5aH6OEA.jpeg"><figcaption>The local bus in Manzanillo. Author Picture © James Marinero</figcaption></figure><p id="8f36">And sit outside in the rain to use the public wifi (we were not allowed to access it in the cafes — a public ordinance).</p><figure id="08bf"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*zEgl-8KXuy7eP_sUL3QDBw.jpeg"><figcaption>Me, checking emails out of the rain</figcaption></figure><p id="c59d">We gave away some old oilskins and yacht gear to some fishermen who were delighted to receive them.</p><p id="adf4">Then the old man of the sea returned:</p><figure id="0f28"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*9p24J1qkDrU-j789Npfywg.jpeg"><figcaption>Author picture © James Marinero</figcaption></figure><p id="91d1">Well that’s it folks! We had a great time. The people were very welcoming and hospitable, the music was great and the beer good. They need all the tourists they can get and I hope that the politics is resolved very soon.</p><p id="3c92">Getting provisions for the boat was a bit more challenging…</p><blockquote id="92dd"><p>You want onions? They’ll be coming in on the plane on Tuesday. Eggs could be a problem —<i> shop in the marina, Cayo Largo.</i></p></blockquote><p id="4cfa">But to be fair, we did get a magnificent piece of beef from the freezer. Tourist prices, US dollars of course.</p><p id="957e">Then it was on Santiago and another adventure off Haiti:</p><div id="ed41" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/me-the-us-coastguard-and-the-monroe-doctrine-8e7de7695b15"> <div> <div> <h2>Me, the US Coastguard and the Monroe Doctrine</h2> <div><h3>Tales from an itinerant writer #7</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div>

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Writing and living on a boat

Cuba — The Delightful, Deserted Queen’s Gardens

Another tale from an itinerant writer sailing off the beaten track

Author screenshot — our sailing track is in pink — up from Jamaica to Cienfuegos (the port was closed) and on to Cayo Largo. Last port Santiago on our way out.

The Queens Gardens is a marine reserve located in the Caribbean Sea, off the south coast of Cuba.

The reserve was created by Fidel Castro in 1984 to protect the environment and natural resources of this area, but Christopher Columbus, the explorer and navigator, first named it in honour of the Queen of Spain, Isabella I of Castile when he discovered it in 1492.

It is one of the most important tourist destinations in Cuba, although we saw no tourists when we sailed through in January 2018 — just one boat with three local fishermen in a whole week amongst the islands.

It is the most ecologically diverse coral reef system in the Caribbean and one of the most pristine. This archipelago covers about 684,000 hectares in the Gulf of Ana Maria off the southern coast of Cuba and hosts over 120 species of coral, 300 species of fish, and many other invertebrates.

Author screenshot of a chart of the Queen’s Gardens archipelago in Cuba

The wildlife includes sea turtles, dolphins, manatees, humpback whales and many other species, and an important nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles.

Our Voyage

We’d arrived in Cayo Largo to the west of the archipelago in time for Christmas 2017. Then straight after we flew to Havana for a few days and did the tourist bit — Buena Vista Social Club and all that.

When we got back to the boat we set off from Cayo Largo and sailed the 100 miles or so overnight to the Queens’s Gardens. We entered the area through the narrow, shallow Canal de Tunas.

The next week was spent meandering slowly south eastwards through the area. The water was as clear as gin which helped with the navigation as there were few markers and many were damaged.

Navigation marker

The weather was warm and winds variable, with occasional showers.

We avoided this reef…

Interesting navigation through a narrow channel

There were plenty of pelicans but as we’re not snorkellers we didn’t see much of the underwater life, except Caimans (alligator family) in the mangroves. But there is certainly plenty to see and it’s one of the top dive areas in the world. Just avoid the mangroves…

Author picture

We had desert islands all to ourselves, the most memorable being Media Luna — Half Moon — Island. It was the time of the new moon and so the night skies were ideal for stargazing.

Approaching Media Luna — a desert island in the Queen’s Gardens

At the end of the week we visited Manzanillo on the way out of the Queens Gardens, where the buses are horse and carts. Once again we had to queue for food…

The local bus in Manzanillo. Author Picture © James Marinero

And sit outside in the rain to use the public wifi (we were not allowed to access it in the cafes — a public ordinance).

Me, checking emails out of the rain

We gave away some old oilskins and yacht gear to some fishermen who were delighted to receive them.

Then the old man of the sea returned:

Author picture © James Marinero

Well that’s it folks! We had a great time. The people were very welcoming and hospitable, the music was great and the beer good. They need all the tourists they can get and I hope that the politics is resolved very soon.

Getting provisions for the boat was a bit more challenging…

You want onions? They’ll be coming in on the plane on Tuesday. Eggs could be a problem — shop in the marina, Cayo Largo.

But to be fair, we did get a magnificent piece of beef from the freezer. Tourist prices, US dollars of course.

Then it was on Santiago and another adventure off Haiti:

About me: I write on a variety of topics including humor, tech and travel, together with daily news events and the minutiae of daily life on a boat as I sail slowly around the world. I also write techno-thrillers…and about…

…sailing off the beaten track

Buy me a coffee? or buy an inexpensive book in my Gumroad store — we both get something that way

If you enjoy reading stories like these and want to support other writers and me, consider signing up to become a Medium member. It’s $5 a month, giving you unlimited access to incredible stories on Medium. If you sign up using my link below, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

You can follow me on Facebook Twitter @jamesmarinero . On Pinterest you will find many of my research photos from around the world. Check out my website where I occasionally have a free book on offer.

Buy me a coffee? or buy a book in my store — we both get something that way

Travel
Sailing
Cuba
Scuba Diving
Yachts
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