Last month’s Pensacola a la Habana Race was more than just a race to Cuba – it was first permitted yacht race from the U.S. to Cuba since 1959. The 511 nautical-mile race from Pensacola to Havana started November 6th. Twenty-two boats were entered in the 2015 Andrews Institute Pensacola a la Habana race but only 21 started the race.
Pensecola’s Pace family provided a substantial donation to the PYC Satori Foundation. Funds were earmarked for the Pace Perpetual Trophy and the new Pensacola to Havana Race.
According to Scuttlebutt Sailing news, the original race sailed from St. Petersburg, Fl on March 30, 1930 with 11 boats.
Andrews Institute Pensacola a la Habana 2015 – Corrected Time Results
Modern Cruiser Division
Class A
1— XTC, Beneteau OC 461, Tom Glew, St. Petersburg FL
2— Lesson #1, J130, Guy Williams/Mike Finn, New Orleans LA
3— Déjà Vu, C&C34+, Stephen Thorne, Norcross GA/Mandeville LA
4— Na Zdravi, Beneteau 47, Chris Schmidt, Montgomery AL/Panama City FL
Class B
1— Legacy, Hylas 49, Alan Steele, Gulf Breeze FL
2— La Gazelle, Beneteau 381, Kirby Louque, Metairie LA
3— TraSea, (re: Midnight Sun II) Beneteau 473, Neil Davies/Larry Cost, Pensacola FL
4— Tif Blue, Tartan 34, Bob Suberi, Orange Beach AL
Modern Cruiser Division Overall
1— XTC, Beneteau OC 461, Tom Glew, St. Petersburg FL
2— Lesson #1, J130, Guy Williams/ Mike Finn, New Orleans LA
3— Déjà Vu, C&C34+, Stephen Thorne, Norcross GA/Mandeville LA
4— Legacy, Hylas 49, Alan Steele, Gulf Breeze FL
Classic Cruiser Division
Class C
1— Libra, Tripp 57, Ryan Rayfield, Orange Beach AL
2— Radio Flyer, Valiant 40, Tim Cerniglia, New Orleans LA
3— Serengeti, Formosa 45, Larry Hamilton, Marathon FL
Class D
1— Acadia, Pearson 424, Bob Kriegel, Pensacola FL
2— Chanty, Cape Dory 36, Larry McAnally, Ashland OR/Destin FL
3— Learning to Fly, Island Packet 38, Robert Witzler, Apollo Beach FL
Classic Cruiser Division Overall
1— Acadia, Pearson 424, Bob Kriegel, Pensacola FL
2— Chanty, Cape Dory 36, Larry McAnally, Ashland OR/Destin FL
3— Libra, Tripp 57, Ryan Rayfield, Orange Beach AL
4— Radio Flyer, Valiant 40, Tim Cerniglia, New Orleans LA
Monohull Fleet Corrected Time Overall Winner
1— Acadia, Pearson 424, Bob Kriegel, Pensacola FL
Multihull Class and Division
1— Bene Vita, R&C 46, George Reiss, Panama City FL
2— Odalisque, Catana 43, Tom Schinkert, Elberta AL
3— Belafonte, Corsair 31R, Mike Patterson, Pensacola FL
Multihull Fleet Corrected Time Overall Winner
1— Bene Vita, R&C 46, George Reiss, Panama City FL
Pace Perpetual Trophy Winners
Monohull — Acadia, Pearson 424, Bob Kriegel, Pensacola FL
Multihull — Bene Vita, R&C 46, George Reiss, Panama City FL
Overall Best Corrected Time Trophy Winner – Bene Vita, R&C 46, George Reiss, Panama City FL
It was followed by the Castillo del Morro Race, a local event with 12 entries: seven from the US fleet and five from Cuba. It 
According to Sail-World, 12 boats participated in the race – seven competitors from the Andrews Institute Pensacola a la Habana race fleet and five local entries. More were expected from the Pensacola fleet, but rough conditions and light air took a toll on the fleet.
José Miguel Díaz Escrich, Commodore of the Hemingway International Yacht Club, said, “In this race we praise the efforts of the participants, because, as you know, the American boats had to sail very hard to arrive to Havana. Because of this, we awarded prizes to the four first places and the last four places.”
The first placers were:
2. Odalisque, Catana 43, Tom Schinkert, Elberta AL
3. Na Zdravi, Beneteau 47, Chris Schmidt, Montgomery AL/Panama City FL
4. Noor, Cuba and Switzerland
And the last four placers were:
8. Libra, Tripp 57, Ryan Rayfield, Orange Beach AL
9. Mikara, Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba
10. Retiro, Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba
11. Club Náutico 1, Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba