Armed Boardings in Venezuela

[Southern Star]

BigDreams, what local knowledge and actual familiarity? Soft Air lives in Columbia. Having said that, I have local knowledge of Margarita and Anglooff has considerably more concerning all of Venezuela. Does that mean that you are now prepared to thank us for our comments? I didn't think so.

There is one comment made by Softair, however, that I do agree with - many areas of the captial city of Caracas are indeed unsafe. Mind you, so are many areas of Washington, D.C. Regardless, in neither case is it appropriate to suggest that the crime/murder rate in those centers is representative of their entire nations.

I should also point out another area of disagreement with Softair - I do not believe that the areas that are currently unsafe in Venezuela will be so only 'until the current government is gone.' Political biases aside, I believe that the only way to assess the safety of any particular area in Venezuela (or elsewhere), is to keep current on the crime rates in those areas, regardless of who is in power. On the other hand, if someone wishes to avoid Venezuela because of the current president and to return on his departure, that is his right (albeit irrelevant to this thread and this site as a whole). Lets try to avoid politics.

Brad

[BigDreams]

Cameraderie: Again, great information that some folks would have missed in their daily lives. Thanks for posting that.

[BigDreams]

Apparently, some folks don't understand

[Bradley]

Comparing Washington DC to the lawlessness that is rampant in VE is disingeneous. If you really are a prosecutor, how many criminals have you let go because they can claim that some other area or person has done something equally bad. Does the DC defense really fly in Canada. The issue and the only issue is whether an area is safe for a cruiser. Setting up straw men in order to knock them down is not a valid argument.

Very few people in DC have sleepless nights because they are worried that armed bandits are going to come barging into their house. Even four years ago in Isla Margarita, we had to keep an all night watch to try to rein in some of the thefts and boardings. I volunteered about 2 nights a week.

VE is a wonderful place and you are totally invested in it. By your address you must own real estate in Margarita. But you must face facts. It no longer is a hospitable place for cruisers. The number of reported incidents versus the number of cruisers is many times higher in VE than anyplace else in the Americas.

We are cruisers and our comments should be concerning cruising. If someone has any relevant information, then they should start a thread about Washington DC Armed Boardings. Until then, we should focus on the issues at hand and not try to obfuscate by throwing mud at other places.

I could expound further on the anti-USA occurences when I left VE just 3 years ago. But what is the use. Cruisers do not get to live in Playa Zaragoza which is by far the nicest and safest area in Isla Margarita. We have to live where there is an anchorage. Give me one relatively safe anchorage in VE, and I will eat these pixels.

[Southern Star]

Thanks Camaraderie - even when including the self-same report from Mustang Sally, these reports make clear that I have been attempting to provide an accurate picture of trouble spots for cruisers in Venezuela, while fighting off innaccuracies and attempts to label an entire country the same way. It is clear that there were not four murders on Isla Margarita, nor any of Venezuela's offshore islands during the summer of 2008 as was alleged. In fact there were none.

The two tragic murders during 2008 were in mid-November, 2008 at Isla Borracha off Puerto Cruz - an area that I and Anglooff have already suggested should be avoided; and, from mid September off the mainland - ditto.

The areas on Isla Margarita where violent attacks occurred are also anchorages I have specified as having serious safety concerns - Porlamar and Robledal.

All of this was done to provide some anchorage-specific information, acknowleding that problem areas exist in Venezuela. I would urge people to go directly to Noonsite (to which I had already referred) - in the commentary section you will find others who take issue with the assessment, now repeated, by the crew of Mustang Sally. I would also suggest that you read some blogs from people (Cruising to Calm) who found cruising Venezuela's offshore islands to be the best part of their extended Caribbean cruise and can't wait to return:
Ben's Birthday | Cruising to Calm.

No, I am wasting my time. Those like Cheehako who have no doubt spent substantial time there would prefer using a wide brush to describe all of Venezuela in the same way - you know, as a 'Rogue' nation.

Anglooff's suggestion that the thread focus on anchorage/harbour specific posts, rather than a generic trashing of a nation (and my and his earlier efforts at pointing out areas that are both safe and unsafe) are clearly also a waste of time. So here is an analysis that expresses an opinion based upon a depth of analysis that the unsilent minority here should appreciate: Venezuela - BAD. Chavez - BAD. ALL BAD. VERY BAD. I am sure that you will find it both helpful and informative.

Brad

[anglooff]

WOW! Gentlemen,

Within a few posts we have moved (as always it would seem on these types of threads) far away from the initial subject into now doubting the professional status of a poster. Surely a step much too far and one on reflection regretted.

This is why threads are closed, which does absolutely nothing to ensure differing honest opinions/experiences can be aired and then assessed by each interested members, which from the number of viewers would seem considerable.


Regards

Alan

[captain58sailin]

It also kills the interest of the people reading these posts.

[Southern Star]

Amen!

Brad

[Soft Air]

As long as present dicator is in power Venezuela should be avoided at all times IMHO

[BigDreams]

Originally Posted by Soft Air

As long as present dicator is in power Venezuela should be avoided at all times IMHO

I apologize, but what is the abbreviation?

[Mustang Sally]

Angleoff was a lovely guy who took us for dinner however he has a slanted view. An investment specialist who works with wealthy venezuelans he wants to support the growth of venezuela. He does not have extensive cruising experience and in fact docks his boat at a marina that has one armed guard on during the day and two with shot guns at night. After cruising the entire east coast USA, canada, the caribbean and venezuela I have never seen or heard of a marina with armed guards, that should alone tell you something.

[Mustang Sally]

Maybe you guys should look at noonsite.com or do you think Jimmy Cornell's site is also wrong or the Caribbean cruisers safety and security net.

[jdoe71]

IMHO = In My Humble Opinion

[Mustang Sally]

Since Anglooff and Southern Star feel they know so much about Venezuela perhaps they would like to answer why all the local fisherman remove their engines from their boats every night, even within their own fishing village. Answer is...... because they even steal from each other!!

[Mustang Sally]

I decided to look for fun at the two sites that report incidents. Since 2009 is not complete I looked at 2008. Please keep in mind many incidents do not get reported and i know of three that did not.

Jimmy Cornells site reports 11 serious incidents for Venezuela

Caribbean Safety and Security net reports 32 incidents for Venezuela

This ffor just 2008. I think with only a few hundred boats actively cruising, those are huge numbers!!!