Powerboat pilots claim Key West to Havana record

Lucas Oil SilverHook powerboat cross Florida Straits

HAVANA – Just imagine traveling from Key West to Cuba in 1 hour and 18 minutes. Nigel Hook and Jay Johnson made it happen on a 48-foot powerboat Thursday. 

Hook, a British software engineer from California, and Johnson said the Lucas Oil SilverHook powerboat hit a top speed of 127 mph, as they approached "El Morro" castle. 

"As soon as we could see the coast line of Havana, it started to calm down," Hook said. 

Hook and Johnson are seeking a Guinness World Record recognition with the help of the American Power Boat Association and the Union of International Motorboating. 

"We're looking forward to it," Johnson said. "See what seas are like on the way back versus how they were on the way down."

They returned to Key West from Havana in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 13 seconds. 


About the Author:

In January 2017, Hatzel Vela became the first local television journalist in the country to move to Cuba and cover the island from the inside. During his time living and working in Cuba, he covered some of the most significant stories in a post-Fidel Castro Cuba.