A Cuban windsurfer braved treacherous currents, sharks, and fickle weather to successfully cross the Straits of Florida last week.
Henry Vergara Negrin, 24, left Havana Tuesday morning with two companions. Nine and a half hours later, he reached Key West after navigating the 105-mile stretch of open water. He鈥檚 the first reported Cuban windsurfer to make the crossing in 20 years.
Negrin carried only a water bottle and a picture of his girlfriend, . 鈥淚n those minutes, in those hours, you cannot get tired. You have to be very strong,鈥 he said.聽
During the past few decades, thousands of Cubans have braved the dangerous waters to escape the Communist-ruled Caribbean island. Most don鈥檛 reach their goal, but Negrin is one of the lucky ones. Thanks to the 鈥渨et foot, dry foot鈥 policy that states Cuban migrants who reach U.S. soil can stay in the country, Negrin won鈥檛 be sent back to Cuba.
The U.S. Coast Guard found one of Negrin鈥檚 companions Thursday adrift at sea. The next day, they , uninhabited islands about 20 miles west of Key West. 聽