Kiser Group broker Brian Mond fulfilled a bucket list experience recently. Brian, an avid sailor, recently participated in the inaugural Miami to Havana Race, a 210-mile sailing competition, as part of the crew of the Kokomo. As if visiting Cuba wasn’t enough, the Kokomo took second place in its division.
Brian began sailing at age seven in his native Argentina and has been racing on the Great Lakes for four years, most recently as a crew member on the Vayu. Although diplomatic relations were re-established between the US and Cuba last year, travel to Cuba is restricted to a dozen categories, including sporting events, which was how Brian and the Kokomo were able to make their trek.
Brian says the race was tougher than most he's done. There was a four-knot current coming from the Gulf of Mexico throughout the race. The Kokomo also blew out a spinnaker midway through the race, forcing an “all hands on deck” situation (one of few instances we get to say that literally) where they worked to replace the spinnaker and keep the boat on course. It took 38 hours of sailing to reach Havana.
Once there, Brian says he found a culture seemingly trapped in amber. He says the Cuban people are very resourceful, with many of them opening up their homes to racers. Brian says the Kokomo crew stayed at a private home sponsored by the Cuban government, while they soaked in the art, music and culture of Havana.
On the way back, the Kokomo ran into a harsh, 12-hour storm with 20-foot waves and winds gusting up to 30 knots. After the storm passed, a school of dolphins swam with the Kokomo for a spell.
Brian says sailing is in his blood and racing on Lake Michigan gives him a view of Chicago others miss. During racing season, there’s a different race every week, highlighted by the annual race to Mackinac Island. Brian says once you walk into a boat, you feel like you're on an instant vacation.
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