CubaPLUS Magazine

The Hemingway International Marlinnbsp;Tournament, the fi shing event innbsp;Cuba in memory of Noble laureatenbsp;novelist Ernest Hemingway, held itsnbsp;61st edition this year. One hundred thirty-onenbsp;fi shermen grouped in 21 teams from 13 countriesnbsp;answered the call to come in peace and friendship,nbsp;said the eventrsquo;s organizers.

As has been the case for several years now, thenbsp;biggest complaint from Commodore José Miguelnbsp;Díaz Escrish of the Hemingway International Yachtnbsp;Club of Cuba (HIYC), also president of the Marlinnbsp;Marinas Business Group (MARLIN S.A.), was thatnbsp;US government offi cials prevented participationnbsp;of a number of US citizens.

Of all the US citizens interested in participatingnbsp;in the tournament there were some 19 citizens,nbsp;with 20 yachts, who were not given the necessarynbsp;US Treasury Department licenses in time to travelnbsp;to Cuba.

Teams from Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica,nbsp;Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Guatemala,nbsp;Italy, Mexico, Russia and Spain, together with the Cubannbsp;teams, participated in the competition.

The tournament took place from June 6 to 11 off thenbsp;coast of Havana, departing from the Marina Hemingwaynbsp;and the Hemingway Yacht Club, headquarters of thenbsp;international fishing contest that awards points for thenbsp;global competition held each year in US waters.nbsp;Escrish said that during his recent visit to the US,nbsp;before the Hemingway tournament, he found greatnbsp;interest in planning a Sarasota-Havana Regatta.

He also pointed out that 2012 will be the 20thnbsp;anniversary of the Hemingway Yacht Club, whichnbsp;members include businessmen, diplomats and marinenbsp;enthusiasts from several countries. Some 600 clubsnbsp;around the world acknowledge the importance of thenbsp;Hemingway International Yacht Club and respect itsnbsp;activities and history.

The Marlin Marinas Business Group was created onnbsp;May 25, 2005 and comprises 12 Cuban companies andnbsp;branches, with centres at Marina Hemingway in thenbsp;capital and in Tarara, east of Havana.

To that are added 16 nautical locations in Havanarsquo;snbsp;eastern beaches, as well as marinas in Cayo Guillermo-Cayo Coco, Santa Lucía, Holguín-Guardalavaca,nbsp;Santiago de Cuba, Ciego de Aávila, Jardines de la Reina,nbsp;Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Cayo Largo, and Colony, on thenbsp;Isle of Youth.

According to Díaz Escrish, perhaps in two or threenbsp;years it will be possible for Cuba to fully welcome thenbsp;high number of US yachtsmen interested in visiting thenbsp;island and participating in sporting events.