Piracy

[camaraderie]

CD...Venezuela does seem to be becoming more dangerous and there were a rash of incidents in Trini about 4-6 months ago that seem to have been now addressed by law enforcement and the cruising/marine industry in Chaguramas. Other than that, there hasn't been much of concern beyond normal levels of dinghy/motor crimes etc. on the other islands. The few incidents every year get big play on the net and become long lived fables that seem to go on for years. I do think crime is worse in Venezuela...but elsewhere it seems pretty low compared to most other parts of the world. Here's a cautionary map of the maritime situation in VZ...green is good...yellow is caution and anything else is don't go there!
http://www.onsa.org.ve/enindex.shtml#

[BADG]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

AFAICT

SD-I know you're pretty savvy when it comes to message boards (sometimes your like a moderator...are you a moderator) but what the hell does this one mean?

If your acronyms begin to look like words, you might consider breaking them up.

[Cruisingdad]

Nice map CAM!! Where do you get this stuff?!! You are awesome!!

One editor note: I said Tortola in my post and meant Trinidad. Good to hear they are cracking down on it. I agree with things getting blown out of porportion on Piracy... but I also have no doubt that Vene is bad, getting worse, and the out look is bleak.

[Cruisingdad]

As Far As I Can Tell... but IIRC... I cannot remember what the hell that one means.

[sailingdog]

If I Recall Correctly.

Badg-

I generally capitalize the entire acronym, but generally don't use all caps otherwise.

[BADG]

Then again, when you know what they mean the make a lot more sense.

[Kernix]

Now even if off of So. America coast is where there is a lot of piracy, is it by sailboat or motor boats? And how close to shore? And if you are sailing down that way, why? To visit So. Amer. or to go around the cape to the Pacific? Can't you just go further out to sea?

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by Kernix

Now even if off of So. America coast is where there is a lot of piracy, is it by sailboat or motor boats? And how close to shore? And if you are sailing down that way, why? To visit So. Amer. or to go around the cape to the Pacific? Can't you just go further out to sea?

Sure you can go further off shore... unless you need to pick up supplies, food, fuel or water...then you have to come into a harbor... some harbors are safer than others...as shown by Cam's pretty map.

[camaraderie]

Kernix...Cruisers in the Eastern Caribe used to spend hurricane season in Grenada, Trinidad and Venezuela to stay out of harms way and satisfy the requirement to be out of the hurricane "box" from 7/1 to 11/1 each year. After Ivan hit Grenada...the insurance companies marked that out leaving Trini and Venezuela the only spots left to hang out for the season while remaining insured. The spate of violence in Trini earlier this past year and the increasing lawlessness in Venezuela has many 100's of cruisers wondering where to go to wait out the season. Thankfully, things in Chaguramas seem to have settled down.
The piracy is almost always close to shore and while boats are at anchor. And piracy generally means either boarding and stealing things while owners are off the boat OR the more dangerous boarding with owners aboard for the same purpose. It is very rare that any physical harm comes to the boater but it is still wise to stay out of trouble spots and always remember to lock it or lose it.

[Newport41]

Woe is me. Perhaps we could start a Macnet so they would have somewhere to go. Shunned by sailors and powerboaters alike and they don't even know it. Poor little gaffers.