Piracy In Gulf of Aden

[atoll]

Originally Posted by beneteau-500

Well atol just loaded supply's here in Xmas island awaiting customs clearance and wind and sea to calm down a bit but this Guineau pig hopes to leave in next 36 hrs

good luck,are you stopping in the Maldives,then salalah?

arc 2015.......... better send me those beers
The fleet will be anchored in Cocos until the restart to Mauritius on the 28th.






Cocos (Keeling) Islands - an unspoilt paradise

21 September 2015




Following a relatively short stop over in Christmas Island the fleet are currently sailing towards Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

An unspoilt and idyllic paradise, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a tiny group of coral islands that form two atolls with only two of the 27 islands inhabited. This tiny horseshoe shaped jewel lies right in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 2750 km north-west of Perth and 900 km west southwest of Christmas Island, its closest neighbour and another island of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories.

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands were occupied by the Clunies-Ross family in 1827, who established and developed coconut plantations throughout the islands. With them they brought labourers from Africa, China, Java, Borneo and Malacca, a group who now form the Malay community on the Islands.

The World ARC anchorage will be at the stunning and safe 'Port Refuge' on Direction Island, found at the NE corner of South Atoll, and the only place where visiting yachts are permitted to anchor in Cocos (Keeling) Islands. It is a stunning stop with beautiful clear water, waving palm trees, a mile of sandy beach. There are also shelters on the on the Island where cruisers get together to cook supper, drink, and exchange tales.

1.5NM south of the Direction Island anchorage, Home Island has a population of approximately 400 Cocos Malay. Here the Muslim faith is strictly observed and the local dialect of Malay is spoken.

4.5NM west of the Direction Island anchorage lies West Island were the culture is predominately ‘Australian’ and has a population of approximately 150. West Island has a developing tourism industry as well as being the administrative centre for the Islands.

Excellent infrastructure can be seen throughout the islands, good Wifi is available throughout the islands, there are excellent roads and a fantastic ferry service connects the three main islands.

The fleet will be anchored in Cocos until the restart to Mauritius on the 28th.





Cocos (Keeling) Islands - an unspoilt paradise

21 September 2015




Following a relatively short stop over in Christmas Island the fleet are currently sailing towards Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

An unspoilt and idyllic paradise, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a tiny group of coral islands that form two atolls with only two of the 27 islands inhabited. This tiny horseshoe shaped jewel lies right in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 2750 km north-west of Perth and 900 km west southwest of Christmas Island, its closest neighbour and another island of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories.

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands were occupied by the Clunies-Ross family in 1827, who established and developed coconut plantations throughout the islands. With them they brought labourers from Africa, China, Java, Borneo and Malacca, a group who now form the Malay community on the Islands.

The World ARC anchorage will be at the stunning and safe 'Port Refuge' on Direction Island, found at the NE corner of South Atoll, and the only place where visiting yachts are permitted to anchor in Cocos (Keeling) Islands. It is a stunning stop with beautiful clear water, waving palm trees, a mile of sandy beach. There are also shelters on the on the Island where cruisers get together to cook supper, drink, and exchange tales.

1.5NM south of the Direction Island anchorage, Home Island has a population of approximately 400 Cocos Malay. Here the Muslim faith is strictly observed and the local dialect of Malay is spoken.

4.5NM west of the Direction Island anchorage lies West Island were the culture is predominately ‘Australian’ and has a population of approximately 150. West Island has a developing tourism industry as well as being the administrative centre for the Islands.

Excellent infrastructure can be seen throughout the islands, good Wifi is available throughout the islands, there are excellent roads and a fantastic ferry service connects the three main islands.

The fleet will be anchored in Cocos until the restart to Mauritius on the 28th.

http://www.worldcruising.com/world_a...ID=242681&src=

[atoll]

Originally Posted by beneteau-500

Well atol just loaded supply's here in Xmas island awaiting customs clearance and wind and sea to calm down a bit but this Guineau pig hopes to leave in next 36 hrs

are we there yet?

on another note ,world arc now safely tied up in Richards bay south Africa....... I think I won that bet

[Muckle Flugga]

It continues:

Yemen conflict: Governor of Aden killed in Islamic State attack - BBC News

[beneteau-500]

Made it through no dramas at all arrived at sth end of suez on 22/12 communications not to good just between bur Sudan / Jedda will give more details later on when cell phone more stable connection 5 other yachts have made through too

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by beneteau-500

Made it through no dramas at all arrived at sth end of suez on 22/12 communications not to good just between bur Sudan / Jedda will give more details later on when cell phone more stable connection 5 other yachts have made through too

Glad to hear it! Merry Christmas.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Muckle Flugga

Glad to hear it! Merry Christmas.

+2

[Bulawayo]

Glad to hear you came through without drama - we did the passage earlier this year, also without any issues. We have not heard of any drama now for around 24 months.
Have a great Christmas day - and to all who read this.

Originally Posted by beneteau-500

Made it through no dramas at all arrived at sth end of suez on 22/12 communications not to good just between bur Sudan / Jedda will give more details later on when cell phone more stable connection 5 other yachts have made through too

[Sophies Choice]

Originally Posted by beneteau-500

Made it through no dramas at all arrived at sth end of suez on 22/12 communications not to good just between bur Sudan / Jedda will give more details later on when cell phone more stable connection 5 other yachts have made through too

Well done! We look forward to learning more. Merry Christmas!

[Bulawayo]

....forgot ask - did you stop at Jeddah? Despite you might read we found the authorities there very friendly, very helpful and incredibly generous.
Merry Christmas.
Have fun transiting the canal.

Originally Posted by beneteau-500

Made it through no dramas at all arrived at sth end of suez on 22/12 communications not to good just between bur Sudan / Jedda will give more details later on when cell phone more stable connection 5 other yachts have made through too

[Sophies Choice]

We just completed the passage. Straight from Male to Port Ghalib. We went alone, but 5 other boats just did the trip as well. We wrote a blog about it.

3,200 Miles From The Maldives to Egypt | sailing sophie

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Sophies Choice

We just completed the passage. Straight from Male to Port Ghalib. We went alone, but 5 other boats just did the trip as well. We wrote a blog about it.

3,200 Miles From The Maldives to Egypt | sailing sophie

Well done!

[MarkJ]

Great report! Well done!

Great idea to hire armed guards.

Yours is quite a large boat so there looks like plenty of space for everyone.

I can't guess the cost of 3 armed guards for a month but I think it was worth it.



Mark

[daletournier]

Hi ,Thanks for the report. I'm following this closely as I'm possibly heading that way 2017.
I've been in contact with a number of cruisers that took the route in 2015. I know of 15 boats that crossed from Thailand to the Med 2015. 3 traveled in convoy with armed ex military on board (5 between 3 boats) and another large boat went by itself also armed with 3?ex military.
The other 10 boats sailed without weapons or ex military. From my research (which is obviously limited) there was zero incidents or threats of any kind.
My opinion (which is just mine) is the previous risk is very much minimized. It appears the mother ships are no longer. There is a possibility of oppurtunistic smugglers taking advantage of chance , but even that is just talk that has not been backed by fact.
I look forward to future reports ( opinions) from this year's sailors that cross.
Anyone that is considered crossing next year ( I realize it's some way of) feel free to Pm me , like to discuss thoughts and share information and possibly cruise in company. I also welcome negative views/opinions.

Cheers Dale .
Freeform

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[atoll]

last week 1000 pirates were finally released after amnesty in 2013...........
will it be back to business as usual or can leopards change their spots?


Somali president grants amnesty to pirates, but not kingpins | Reuters

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by atoll

last week 1000 pirates were finally released after amnesty in 2013...........
will it be back to business as usual or can leopards change their spots?


Somali president grants amnesty to pirates, but not kingpins | Reuters

I may of read the article wrong, but I didn't see where it said "1000 pirate's we're realeased", I'm assuming you mean realeased from prison. You suggest there is suddenly 1000 experienced pirates back on the street , ready to go. I hope this isn't so.
In fact I'm not quite sure what they mean by amnesty? Does it mean if they turn themselves in they won't get prosecuted???
Cheers Dale.


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