LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 1035
Loc: the Med
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I really have a problem with deciding what to believe here. There is very little data showing any attacks on yachts, the ones that are reported on all these cruiser's sites are doubtful at best. Then, what does that really mean? Is there a lot of 'lost yachts' out there that we do not hear about? Tricky question for someone who is trying to cast off this way.
My very personal conclusion is this:
1. Firstly, I do not believe that there are 'fewer yachts' doing this route now. My feeling is the opposite, there are many hundreds and the amount has increased, not decreased.
2. After having spoken to as many circumnavigators as I have been able to find here in Turkey, the picture is indeed one of 'fishermen' trying to trade rather than pirates that these yachts have met.
3. This feeling is reinforced by Rod Heikell in his latest book 'Ocean Passages and Landfalls' (Imray 2005). I think his guru status is somewhat unearned, but he is indeed someone with a lot of experience in this area. He also speaks of encounters with 'impoverished fishing men looking very much piratical, but being nothing of the sort'. He agrees with the picture of fishing men trying to trade fish for cigarettes or other 'western' goods. He claims to have never had any 'piracy' experience.
I think we will push off down the Red Sea and into the Gulf of Aden, just being very careful. BTW, that is the way we sail anyway so no big deal. I believe Heikell when he says that there are larger risks of gear failure in the notorious gusts in the Red Sea, than anything nearing ''pirate activity'.
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saltwater_gypsy
regular
Reged: 13/01/2008
Posts: 364
Loc: Sardinia till April
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What is the seagoing equivalent of the "Urban Myth"?
Reading the link posted by Bob there seem to be an awful lot of speedboats harrasing yachts just like in the Straits of Bonifacio!!
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"Cruising is boat maintenance in paradise"
Seastream 43:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn14/hectou/Saltwatergypsythree.jpg
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roly_voya
regular
Reged: 05/02/2004
Posts: 1049
Loc: Pembrokeshire Wales
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If there is a risk for a particular area I would think sailing in convoy would be well worth it. If you think about it from the pirate view if they surprise a lone yacht once on board they have control. If they tackle a convoy garenteed someone is on the radio reporting them and probably tracking them on radar when they leave. Which target would you pick?
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Troutbridge
regular
Reged: 19/03/2007
Posts: 333
Loc: Cruising, mon, cruising
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If I was armed, I'd think it was the end of Ramadan and plunder the entire convoy! By the time anybody had responded to a 'mayday call' I'd be inside somebody's territorial waters and 'home free'.
There have been a couple of more thoughtful studies done on this. Statistically (based on actual rather than possible he said/she said attacks). Most attacks occur at the local weekend and seem to be carried out by 'people smugglers' who go for targets of opportunity en route with illegal migrants from Africa to Arabia. There was an article reproduced in The Andaman Sea Pilot which talks about piracy around Indonesia. It would appear that the problem there is also largely an 'urban myth'.
Obviously, one has to take some precautions and not be naieve about this but I think the problem is exaggerated.
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Some see the glass as half full, some see it as half empty. I see it as too damn small.
http:/blog.mailasail.com/troutbridge
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lenseman
regular
Reged: 03/06/2006
Posts: 1417
Loc: South East Coast - United King...
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Spaniards released by pirates.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7369159.stm
" . . . . the release had been achieved through negotiations, and declined to comment on any ransom."
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regards David
"Away Sea-boats crew - Special Sea Dutymen, Close-up"
Skype: lenseman-uk
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