- Title: CUBA-USA/KAYAKERS-UPDATE U.S. kayakers set off from Havana to Key West
- Date: 11th September 2015
- Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) KAYAKERS IN HEMINGWAY MARINA PHOTOGRAPHER KAYAKERS AND CREW SUPPORTING VARIOUS OF KAYAKERS GOING OUT TO SEA (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. KAYAKER, RALEIGH NIELSEN, SAYING: "Very excited to be here in Cuba. We love the Cuban people. We are very excited to cross the waters. It will be a long journey but we are extremely excited." VARIOUS OF KAYAKERS HEADING OUT TO SEA FROM HEMINGWAY MARINA
- Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Cuba
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABBR6N5GZTMZTXEZAQ9FCSX8KW
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ten U.S. kayakers set off right around noon (1600 GMT) on Friday (September 11) to cross the Florida Straits in kayaks from Havana to Key West, Florida.
Led by Joe Jacobi, who won the gold medal in slalom canoeing in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, and kayaker David Smith, the team hopes to make the 113 miles (180 kilometres) journey in 30 hours.
The kayakers set off in five two-man kayaks and plan to remain in their kayaks for the entire trek across the Straits.
They have been in Cuba for a week preparing for the trip and said they hope their adventure will help bring Cuba and the United States closer together just as the nations have improved relations.
"Very excited to be here in Cuba. We love the Cuban people. We are very excited to cross the waters. It will be a long journey but we are extremely excited," said kayaker Raleigh Nielsen.
Diplomatic ties between the former Cold War adversaries were recently restored with a detente announced in December between Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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