Amazing Cuban Refugee Rafts that Dared the High Seas in Search of Freedom

The Cuban refugee crisis has been an ongoing issue every since Fidel Castro took control in the 1950's. Though there have been a number of surges of note in the past including the Mariel Boatlift of 1980, dozens of refugees try, succeed and often fail to make the 90 mile crossing to Florida on a weekly basis. Many refugees from Cuba pay thousands of dollars to smuggler's but more must depend on their own ingenuity to create seaworthy vessels to withstand seas of up to 10 feet (and more) in height. The following are pictures of some of the more unique "vessels" that have been created. No matter what your opinion is of immigration (legal or illegal) from Cuba or other countries, these are people like you and me that have decided to risk everything for themselves and their families.

1. On July 16, 2003 a group 12 Cubans were found in the Straights of Florida by the United States Coast Guard in a 1951 Chevy pickup converted to a boat. The dozen refugees were caught just a few miles south of Key West. The truck's drive shaft was attached directly to a propeller and the craft could reportedly reach (8 mph). 55-gallon oil drums were welded together and were used for flotation.This ingenious and first attempt of this sort of crossing gave the Cubans on the vessel the name "camionautas" (truckonauts). Click here for the original CUBANET.com article.
   
   
2. In a second attempt, 3 of the original "camionautas" attempted the crossing with 11 others in a 1959 Buick. Initially picked up at sea, there tale eventually had a happy ending as they made their way from Guantanamo, to Costa Rica, through Mexico, and finally to the United State. pic 2 For more information on this attempt, click here.



3. Not to be outdone, yet another of the original "camionautas" made the attempt in a 1959 Buick Taxi. The 13 people were apprehended just off of Key West. At this time, the fate of this most recent group of truckonauts is at this point uncertain. Their families are calling on the U.S. to provide them political asylum. pic 3



4. The rafters that constructed this vessel made use of many different types of materials including a sealed metal tank, innter tubes from tires, sticks for a sail, and other pieces of wood and rope for framing.




5. Another material widely used in the construction of a typical raft is Styrofoam. This raft below is constructed of Styrofoam, small inner tubes, and a wood frame and platform. Styrofoam was a common material as it could be frequently found on beaches where it washed up as flotsam from cruise ships or as discarded packing waste.



6. An incredibly "flimsy" and obviously un-seaworthy raft discovered on Melbourne Beach, Florida during the Cuban exodus in 1994. The distance from Havana to Melbourne Beach is over 250 miles.
   
   
   
7. This vessel was discovere in 1995 on a beach in New Smyrna, Florida... a distance of about 350 miles! This abandoned raft is made from tires, metal barrels and recycled wood.




8. Many of the rafts that are created for the crossing to the United States are grossly overcrowded. The photo below depicts 5 adults on a raft constructed of just a few tires and a wooden frame. Remember, the crossing from Cuba to the United States is at a minimum 90 miles. Often, due to currents and winds, the journey can be much longer (150 miles and more). Compound that challenge with extremely high seas, dehydration and extreme tropical sun, and you have an extremely difficult journey.