Cuba

[j.sabourn]

How many remember Cuba before and after Castro. There were quite a few offshore anchorages for loading sugar from barges. The ports I can remember were Cienfegeous, Boqueron, Santiago-de-Cuba. When loading from barges invariably you had to make a lee for the lighters by passing a wire through the after leads forward and shackling on to the Anchor chain, then by paying out the anchor brought the ship across the wind to the desired angle. All the times I loaded in Cuba was for Japan, so if went to an anchorage was a long time at sea, as usually took 2 to 3 weeks to load and no shore leave from the anchorage. Immediately after the Revolution there was very little in the way of luxuries which at the time I considered beer and such. Was in Cienfegeous shortly after Batisto did a runner. In the town square were many bullet holes where the so called victors had stood up many of the populance and executed. Things for a few years were very sparse and austere to what they had been. About 5-6 years later things were getting back to normal for the likes of us as the drink was getting back to normalcy. I believe tourists even go there on holiday from the UK now. Regards John Sabourn

[Captain Kong]

I remember being in Havana in 1954 and the Shanghai theatre, were they actually showed porn movies, if you were lucky you could see yourself performing last week in the bordello.. Then there was the Bar where Errol Flynn and Ernest Hemmingway hung out, forget the name now. Then Batista was thrown out by Fidel Castro early in 1959 and it was all stopped..
I met Fidel Castro in Hong Kongs Kai Tak Airport in June 1959, we had just paid off the Good Hope Castle after leaving her in Junk Bay for scrap, We had 24 hour wait in the Airport, which was just a wooden shed in those days, a room at the end had a bar, The Captain and Chief Engineer had a bag on money but would not give us a sub, he said we would all get bevied and miss the plane, but they sat in the bar drinking. we were hanging around very bored when in walks Fidell and three other bearded men in army clothing, I said , `Hey Fidel buy us a beer, you are our hero,
He just said `Vamoose or words to that effect.
I went off him, didnt like him after that.
He was on his way to Peking to see Chairman Mao after the Revolution.
Cheers Brian.

[Jim Brady]

I was there in Castros time,the only other ships that were there in Havana were Russian,if my memory serves me right their gangways went up at about 7pm.About an hour after we left the Battle of The Bay Of Pigs took off.Like we have poppy sellers here ,in Havana there were kids that looked about 14 years of age dressed like Castro with sub machine guns on their shoulders with a tray of small Cuban flags and a collection box.Most seamen would know of the famous or infamous Two Brothers Bar,I was in Tenerefe about 1963 and we ended up in a bar,the guy behind the bar said to me do you remember us we are the two brothers from Havana.As we all know Castro cleared all the bars,casino's and brothels and all the rest of the mafioso stuff out of Cuba.The two brothers headed to their mother country Spain as they put it,Spain was'nt opened up then as a tourist destination so they headed for the Canary's.
Regards.
Jim.B.
One thing I always think about,all radio signals from the States and elsewhere were jammed and you could only pick up the Cuban network which just seemed like someone preaching propaganda all day.What I am thinking about is,if they can jam all signals coming into a Country why the hell cant they block phone signals getting into a prison here.Mobile phones in prison are the biggest menace with criminals still carrying on their illicit business from behind bars. Off the topic but something I've always thought about having experienced that in Cuba.

[j.sabourn]

First time there July 1953 and was Cienfegueos. For a small port was jumping. Was there quite a few times over the years. Shortly after Castro took over all his henchman dressed like him and even to the big beards. Used to walk on board sit in your cabin open your draws and help themself to whatever they wanted, as they were carrying automatic weapons one felt disinclined to argue with them. Sat there smoking not saying a word, dont suppose they spoke English in any case. One time got entangled with this guy out of the Cuban Coastguard (their Navy) used to come down to the ship every night after cargo was finished and wanted to go drinking. One time he pulled a pistol out and pretended to shoot at people, this was ok, but about a dozen of the customers also pulled guns. I finished up under the table. Very volatile place in those early days after Castro got in. Wine women and song was a long time coming back after he got in as went underground for a number of years, before reappearing. Cheers John Sabourn.

[j.sabourn]

Re. Communications in Gaol. What the heck are prisoners doing with mobile telephones? Suppose it is against their human rights to not have. What a load of rot. You can probably remember going up to Murmansk, there was no radio communications all were jammed before arrival. After arrival certain valves were taken out by shore guards and Radio Room sealed. The echo sounder had valves removed to make inoperable. Sometimes when working offshore in the winter out of Peterhead it was a well known fact that we would have been better off in Peterhead Prison, probably nearly as well off financially as well. Think we should just accept the fact that we have always been treated as second class citizens. Cheers John Sabourn

[Jim Brady]

John,the going rate in gaol for a mobile can be as much as £1.500.Given the size of them now you know how easy it is for a woman to smuggle one in hiding it you know where.Some gaols the women are searched sometimes sitting them on a chair with an x.ray.I live near Walton gaol prisoners friends on the outside fire stuff over the wall in maybe golf ball or tennis balls,many are found by the warders but some do get through.I suppose drugs hidden in the size of a golf ball would bring good money in gaol.The women are mostly responsible for illicit goods entering the prisons.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

John, we would have been better off in Peterhead Prison, probably nearly as well off financially as well.
I bet all the prisoners in Peterhead Prison overlooking the docks, used to laugh when they saw you sailing out into the weather in Winter. They were nice and warm and fed, good food and a full night in bed at our expense.
Never liked Peterhead.
Brian.

[Ron Kendall]

Perhaps the walls should be higher to stop drugs being thrown over. and why don't they have the American system of sitting behind a glass partition, and speaking via a telephone?The next time they roit and tear the roof off, it should be left like that, and not replaced, it cost millions to repair Strangeways some years back

[Ivan Cloherty]

How many remember Cuba before and after Castro. There were quite a few offshore anchorages for loading sugar from barges. The ports I can remember were Cienfegeous, Boqueron, Santiago-de-Cuba. When loading from barges invariably you had to make a lee for the lighters by passing a wire through the after leads forward and shackling on to the Anchor chain, then by paying out the anchor brought the ship across the wind to the desired angle.. Regards John Sabourn

All my trips to Cuba, 1954 onwards were pre Castro, my first deep sea trip was to Cuba, a young man's dream, all the girls were like something out of the movies and voices with accents that melted the condoms in your wallet. If any young man had any doubts about the benefits of going to sea Cuba was the place that dispelled all those doubts, Sorry cannot bear to say any more as the tears streaming down my face are preventing me seeing the keyboard

[j.sabourn]

Brian was too far to the nearest pub, a long long walk or a taxi. Used to angle for an invite into the prison officers private bar at the prison. Cheers John Sabourn.