Sailing to Hemingway's Cuba [Paperback]

Dave Schaefer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000

Dave Schaefer, who lives in Burlington, Vermont, decided that his "some day I'll go cruising" dream would start now. The destination would be forbidden Cuba, the home of his high school hero, Ernest Hemingway. Often alone and sometimes with a crew made up of friends who joined him when they could, Schaefer and his 20-year-old, 32-foot sloop Dream Weaver made a 2000 mile voyage to the Florida Keys. The plan: First, poke around in Hemingway's quirky Key West. Then, haul anchor, sail west above the Gulf Stream, turn south in the darkness and watch the skyline of Havana rise out of the morning mist.

While the government denounces America and Americans, Cubans welcome American sailors and dollars, love Hemingway, and wink at the laws. Old Havana, once the Queen of the Caribbean, is a stunning Spanish Colonial city of hot music, beautiful women, spies, exceptional rum, the world's best cigars, and a Cuban spirit that refuses to be repressed. Hemingway's home near Havana has been perfectly preserved.

Coming home can be the hard part. While Cubans welcome Americans, a sailor returning to the US is assumed to have been "trading with the enemy" in violation of the US embargo.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Schaefer discovered a people politically repressed but filled with a passion for life despite their lack of material possessions." -- Cruising World, March 2001

"...Schaefer shines in telling about chasing Hemingway and experiencing Havana." -- Sailing Magazine, January 2002

"...a thoroughly exciting and enjoyable read." -- Offshore Magazine, May 2001

"...for discovering the "real" Hemingway, for separating the "Papa" myth from reality makes his book a real treat." -- Sailing Magazine, January, 2002

"...part pilgrimage, part exploration, and all delightful tale." -- Islands Magazine, April 2001

"Schaefer writes in an entertaining, relaxed manner that makes the pages go by rapidly." -- SpinSheet December, 2000

Dave Schaefer proves himself "through meeting difficult challenges and crossing back over the boundary to return home, changed forever." --The Ensign, April, 2001

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Sheridan House (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574091107
• ISBN-13: 978-1574091106
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Travel > Caribbean > Cuba

More About the Author

Dave Schaefer, author of "Sailing to Hemingway's Cuba" "Cuba Run" and "Surefire Strategies for Growing Your Home-Based Business" has been a contributor to major sailing magazines, an award-winning journalist and host of a television program. He lives in Shelburne, Vermont and St. Petersburg, Florida. He was recently SCUBA certified on the island of Roatan, Honduras.
For a video postcard from Dave's sail to Cuba go to YouTube and search for: Cuba Run 1.avi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for sailors, March 29, 2001

By 

Frank J. Cunningham (South Bend, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sailing to Hemingway's Cuba (Paperback)

The author tries to do a number of things in this book: write about sailing, Cuba, Hemingway, and fulfilling lifelong dreams. It's a tall order, but he makes it work. He weaves the disparate elements well, while his sparce prose (like his literary idol Papa) and strong narrative drive take the reader on an easy, informative, and ultimately pleasureable armchair cruise.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tracking Hemingway, November 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sailing to Hemingway's Cuba (Paperback)

If you're interested in Hemingway or Cuba, or if you're a sailor, you'll find something here. Schaefer writes interestingly and authoritatively about all three. What's best is his easy, warm, natural writing style that I find particularly reader-friendly. He makes it seem effortless. It's a great read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, December 29, 2009

By 

Gary Aitken (Ovando, MT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sailing to Hemingway's Cuba (Paperback)

I found this a rather disappointing book. The author is clearly deeply interested in Hemingway, and it is more a book about Hemingway than a book about either Cuba or sailing. Sailing is limited to a trip down the ICW, a crossing to Havana, then Havana back to Florida. No gunkholing or exploring of Cuba by boat. Exploration of Cuba is limited to Havana and Hemingway's farm.

I was hoping for a more in-depth exploration of Cuba as a whole, and more sailing than just to Marina Hemingway and back.

There is useful information sprinkled here and there about politics, potential trade goods, and social life, but mostly this is a book about Hemingway's life.