Missing sailboats carrying aid to Cuba arrive safely in Havana

Two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico arrived safely in Havana on Saturday, Mexico’s navy said, ‌concluding a journey in which the vessels were delayed by bad weather and briefly reported missing.

The navy confirmed the sailboats docked safely in the Cuban capital after authorities monitored their ​final approach to the port. After being reported missing ​on Thursday, a maritime surveillance aircraft spotted the sailboats on Friday, approximately 148 kilometres northwest of Cuba, the navy said earlier on Saturday.

The crews reported ⁠they were in good ⁠health but had been slowed ‌by unfavourable weather, particularly winds.

The two boats were part of a convoy seeking to deliver food, medicine, baby formula and other supplies to the Caribbean’s largest island, amid a U.S. blockade on ⁠shipments of oil and other supplies that has worsened power outages and led the state to ration services.

“The vessels are continuing their journey to Havana,” ‌a spokesperson for the Nuestra America Convoy said. “The convoy remains on track to complete its mission — delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people.”

The sailboats went missing after leaving Mexico’s Isla Mujeres the previous Saturday and had been expected to arrive in Havana between March 24 and 25.

The ⁠U.S. Coast Guard initially told French news agency AFP on Friday that ⁠the boats had been found but later recanted its statement, saying a ⁠search ⁠was still under way, ​prompting confusion.

The Nuestra America — “Our America” in Spanish — coalition includes nearly 300 organizations from more ​than 30 countries, among ⁠them non-governmental groups, unions, political parties and lawmakers. The group has delivered approximately 20 tonnes of aid by air and sea to Cuba, including food, medicine, solar panels and bicycles.