lenseman
regular
Reged: 03/06/2006
Posts: 1196
Loc: South East Coast - United King...
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They are at it again, this time 250 miles off shore!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7357831.stm
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regards David
"Away Sea-boats crew - Special Sea Dutymen, Close-up"
Skype: lenseman-uk
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 973
Loc: the Med
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This was a fishing boat apparently way outside of areas normally sailed by yachts. I have seen very few reports lately of incidents relating to yachts. We intend to go down the Red sea/Gulf of Aden in the near future so I have been following noonsite regularly which seems to have the best coverage. They only report two incidents in the last half year, both off the coast of Somalia/Eritrea which would not be the route I would follow anyway. Recommended route would be to keep closer to the Aden side in the Gulf of Aden.
Anybody knows any better site than Noonsite Piracy for piracy reports?
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Stingo
regular
Reged: 17/10/2001
Posts: 6256
Loc: Durban
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Here's an alternate one for you.
http://www.yachtpiracy.org/en/index.htm
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Cruising and Sailing Wiki By Cruisers
Anecdotes From Stingo
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 973
Loc: the Med
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Thanks Stingo, that is a good alternative source. It actually only lists five incidents in the Gulf of Aden in the last four years and then with some question marks. Given the number of yachts that pass through here every year; that would mean a very, very low incident rate. From all the data I have gathered, there seems to be a much larger risk of running aground or getting a stomach bug from bad food in Aden, than meeting any pirates in this area. Or do I have my rose coloured glasses on?
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2seadogs
new user
Reged: 12/04/2008
Posts: 8
Loc: Cape Town for now, soon, FLOAT...
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When do you intend to go that way? Wouldn't it be better and safer all round, if you had to find out if any other cruisers are wanting to do the same trip, at more or less the same time, as surely there would be more safety in numbers.
Brendan & Maryann
Maggie May
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 973
Loc: the Med
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Yes, you are correct; the more the better. This is actually one of the functions on noonsite; it collects yachts for convoys if you think you need it. Another good source are the liveaboard cruising communities along the Turkish south coast which is a very popular starting point for a journey like this. I know of at least one boat in the Marmaris Bay that might be doing this at about the same time and doubtless we will find more closer to cast off time.
However, after having read the data I now think these convoys have much more of a social function than that they are needed for security.
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Bob
regular
Reged: 05/06/2001
Posts: 167
Loc: South of Durban
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An interesting analysis of piracy reports HERE
MUCH more chance of being run over by a bus!
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World Cruising and Sailing Wiki
Help to build this World Cruising Guide!
Built by cruisers, for cruisers.
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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 973
Loc: the Med
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Quote:
MUCH more chance of being run over by a bus!
...or getting stepped on by a camel in Egypt, if I am to believe those frequent stories. 
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AndrewB
regular
Reged: 07/06/2001
Posts: 3451
Loc: California dreamin'
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Quote:
MUCH more chance of being run over by a bus!
Is it not surprising that attacks on shipping, probably better reported, have risen so sharply yet there are fewer yacht reports? Might that be because fewer yachts are going that way now?
When planning for my present voyage, back in 2004, I took soundings among everyone I could find who'd sailed through this area in the previous few years, including people on this forum. It seemed like EVERYONE had a piracy story of some sort. Maybe only a minority had been attacked - but it was a significant minority. All the rest reported being shadowed, close quarter night encounters with 'fishing boats', or having met someone personally who had been attacked. At least there were no reports of serious actual violence. But we don't know if yachts have been lost altogether, do we? Anyways, the hassle seemed too great to make it worth considering going that way. I think I'd rather take a chance with the Agulhas Current.
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Troutbridge
regular
Reged: 19/03/2007
Posts: 332
Loc: Cruising, mon, cruising
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The trouble is, somebody sees a fishing boat on a similar course and leaps to an immediate conclusion. Personally, I think that any 'pirate ship' would have no difficulty whatsoever catching the average yacht either under sail or power, so I have to say I discount most of these so called 'encounters'.
As far as sailing in convoy is concerned, exactly what use is that? Safety in numbers? When confronted by an AK47? I'm still undecided on the 'route back', my planning stops in NZ at the moment but the Cape option is a tough trip. Mind you, I've spoken to one couple who did it and they reckoned the trip from Cape Town north was the best sailing they had the entire trip.
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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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LadyJessie
regular
Reged: 21/11/2006
Posts: 973
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: 348
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: 332
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: 1196
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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