Honduras: Sailing Boat Boarded and Robbed by Pirates

[KevinE]

We have just returned from a 1.5 year tour through the Caribbean (wife and 14 year old son) - we never had any issues with boardings but have a couple of good buddy boats that had problems (both with guns and/or machetes)- one in Tobago and one in the Grenadines. We have spent many a happy hour discussing what we would do if put in that situation.

Basically I concur with post number 3 by rognvald. There is no canned response you can have to the situation - you will will rely on your gut instinct to decide whether you will be passive or not although I still believe a passive action is you best bet to saving your life.

The gun topic has been debated to death - we never carried a weapon and if we did it again would stay the same course. We would never risk the consequences of using an undeclared weapon in most of the countries we visited. Who knows what the consequences of that would be?

My only other final note it that both of the boats that we know that were boarded were both elderly cruisers (one couple has circumnavigated and been out for over 20 years) - I believe in most circumstances the target is premeditated. We cruised with a group of 'younger' cruisers and never had a problem and I know we have been in anchorages where I know our safety was an issue. Don't have a solution for this but something to think about.

Kevin

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by David M

Law enforcement has the right to board without your permission.

Yes indeed. I think it would be smart to research what the rules really are where one sails, but personally I would not argue with officials who wanted to board my boat.

[NorthPacific]

Sad topic to have on a Sailing Forum. I am planning my journey that includes Fiji. Home and boat invasions are common according to a ex pat living there. He tells me to be sensible and treat it like any other place with a element of crime aimed at a visible minority.

So we will he locked into a secure marina for the hurricane season. A hit on our very limited budget but for $180 a month gives much piece of mind. Each to their own solution, heres hoping that I never have to deal with that situation.

[Mr B]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Just a quick aside Mr B, you might want to check with your local law wallas but it is highly likely that fare gun is illegal in Vic. Just wanting to keep you informed, no judgement implied

I understand that, hand guns are totally illegal in Vic,
I handed it over to customs in Queensland when I re entered Australia from Fiji,

They kept it for a couple of days and then then handed it back to me, saying it was a flare gun and could not shoot a shot gun shell as it was a different size;

I didnt have any kind of licence or permit for it,
So I assume that Australian customs know the law on it,

Its made out of aluminium, If I could fire a shot gun shell with it, which they told me that one wont fit it, I would be missing the hand that was holding it,,

But it may be to my advantage to find out for sure, As they do have big fines for illegal weapons,

But is a flare gun a weapon,

Thanks for the heads up on it,

Cheers,
Brian,

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Mr B

But is a flare gun a weapon,

In some places, only b/c it looks like a hand gun. A SOLAS flare will do the same thing w/o the pistol grip.

[Mr B]

Well I just rang the victorian water police and asked them about the law in regards to a flare gun on a Vessel,

The answer was,
its an illegal firearm, I have now handed it in to my local police station and got a receipt for it, It will be destroyed,

I took the customs receipt and my owner ship papers for my boat,

They thanked me for my honesty and thats where the story of my flare gun ends,

The matter according to the victorian police is now closed,

Thanks Wotname for bringing up the legality of it, I had no idea it was illegal,
As I considered it a part of the boats safety gear, and to be used only in a distress type of situations,

Cheers,
Brian,

[Patient]

Curious what the outcome would have been with a iron gate at the companionway and panic button induced flurry of siren, flashing spreader lights and aroused neighbors.

Not every solution to prevent unwanted people from stepping into your galley in the dead of night requires a Mossberg Mariner with loaded with 00 Buckshot.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Mr B

Well I just rang the victorian water police and asked them about the law in regards to a flare gun on a Vessel,

The answer was,
its an illegal firearm, I have now handed it in to my local police station and got a receipt for it, It will be destroyed,

I took the customs receipt and my owner ship papers for my boat,

They thanked me for my honesty and thats where the story of my flare gun ends,

The matter according to the victorian police is now closed,

Thanks Wotname for bringing up the legality of it, I had no idea it was illegal,
As I considered it a part of the boats safety gear, and to be used only in a distress type of situations,

Cheers,
Brian,

Thanks for the feedback.

Half the world uses these things but here....
The real lesson here is to realize that one gov. depart doesn't know much about another one. Even two departments that work closely together (say customs and quarantine) often don't know what's what w.r.t. the other.

Glad to know that you are safe from long arm of Vic Police even if you now have to fork out for some legal flares .

[Doodles]

Nothing like another pirate/gun thread to bring out the ....

[captain58sailin]

Doodles, how did you get a photo of me in my Mom's basement?

[capngeo]

Hmmm.. Pirates... guns..... Anyone want to discuss anchors?

[susanna reiter]

In response to CapnGo....yah..what about those new Manson anchors that are the latest hot item .?...bet you could hit a pirate over the head with one of those and do some serious damage..LOL

[captainKJ]

Originally Posted by capngeo

Hmmm.. Pirates... guns..... Anyone want to discuss anchors?

My question is,,,,, would 9mm be better or 45mm be better as 10mm is hard to come by in lots of places. Slow and fat or fast and skinny.

My xdm hold 19x9mm and my para hold 14x45mm

my thinking is that an ak would be to hard to hide on a sailboat so that leaves handguns

[captainKJ]

Originally Posted by susanna reiter

In response to CapnGo....yah..what about those new Manson anchors that are the latest hot item .?...bet you could hit a pirate over the head with one of those and do some serious damage..LOL

If you could position the bow of your sailboat close enough this might work

Ship drops anchor on tug boat. - YouTube

[minaret]

Originally Posted by captainKJ

My question is,,,,, would 9mm be better or 45mm be better as 10mm is hard to come by in lots of places. Slow and fat or fast and skinny.

My xdm hold 19x9mm and my para hold 14x45mm

my thinking is that an ak would be to hard to hide on a sailboat so that leaves handguns

And theres the thread closer...