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First Sanctioned Sailing Race To Cuba In 50 Years Begins

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KEY WEST (CBSMiami/FKNB) -- A group of American racers put up their sails in Key West and started sailing down to Cuba in the first U.S. government sanctioned sailing race between the two places after more than 50 years.

The Havana Challenge features five, 16-foot Hobie Cat catamarans, most skippered by Florida Keys-based sailors, navigating more than 90 miles across the Florida Straits to Cuba.

"Key West is unique in its location to Havana. We're closer to Havana than Miami, and living and growing up in Key West, you just look that direction," said race co-organizer and participating sailor George Bellenger. "It was a challenge I couldn't resist -- so put the sails up and sail down to Havana."

Click here to view pictures of the race.

First Sanctioned Key West-to-Cuba Sailing Race in 50 Years Begins
Hobie Cat sailboats and support boats head towards Havana after departing Key West, Fla., Saturday, May 16, 2015. Five 16-foot-long Hobie Cats are participating in the the Havana Challenge, believed to be the first U.S. government-sanctioned sailing race between Key West and Cuba in more than 50 years. (Bert Budde/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)

Bellenger and co-organizer Joe Weatherby worked with regulatory agencies including the U.S. Department of Commerce, which issued the necessary licenses for the teams to participate.

"The special part of our event today is that we have all permits that make it legal for us to go, so we're going to be setting a precedent today for others to follow," said Bellenger. "We've gotten the Treasury Department permits, the Commerce Department permits, the Coast Guard permits -- and permission from my mom."

He and Weatherby expect the Hobie Cats to begin arriving at Havana's Marina Hemingway late Saturday afternoon. They are accompanied by support boats that bring the total fleet to 19 vessels.

"We're going out here today to show everyone that Key West and Havana are a lot closer than you might expect," Bellenger said.

The racing event also is to feature activities in Cuba, highlighted by a May 19 regatta between the U.S. sailors and elite Cuban racers off Havana. Bellenger said Cuban Olympians and members of the country's national sailing team are to participate.

In addition, the Key West contingent is to stage a youth sailing seminar and amateur sailing races for kids while in Cuba.

The U.S. teams and support boats should arrive back in Key West late Thursday, May 21.

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Florida Keys News Bureau contributed to this report.)

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