Mexico's navy locates two missing sailboats carrying aid to Cuba, crew safe

By Dave Sherwood

HAVANA, March 28 (Reuters) - Two sailboats that went missing while carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico to Cuba have been located by the Mexican Navy and their crews are safe, officials and organizers said on Saturday.

A maritime surveillance aircraft spotted the sailboats on Friday approximately 80 nautical miles (148 km)northwest of Cuba, the Mexican navy said in a statement.

The crews reported they were in good health but had been slowed by unfavorable weather conditions, particularly adverse winds. A Mexican naval ship is now escorting the vessels to ensure their safe arrival in Havana, the navy added.

The two boats are 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 spokesman for the Nuestra America Convoy told Reuters. "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 last Saturday and had been expected to arrive in the Cuban capital between March 24 and 25.

The U.S. Coast Guard initially told French press agency AFP on Friday that the boats had been found but later recanted its statement, saying a search was still underway, 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 already delivered approximately 20 tons of aid by air and by sea to Cuba, including food, medicine, solar panels and bicycles.