Cost for crossing the Suez Canal from the Red Sea

[MarcL]

Hi

I'm doing some planning to return from the Red Sea and sailing through the Suez Canal.

The only information I'm finding in this forum is from 2010, so not so accurate.

Does anyone has ideas for the cost of a 11m sailing boat with a 1.9 m draft.

Thank you in advance !

Marc on behalf of Njord

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Marc.

[capngeo]

Given the pirate activity there, the cost could be your life and your boat!

[a64pilot]

I think a few that go that route do so on the back of a ship. I do not know the details though.

[LeaseOnLife]

a blog from 2016 with some costs

https://laragh456.wordpress.com/2016...ence-required/

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by LeaseOnLife

a blog from 2016 with some costs

https://laragh456.wordpress.com/2016...ence-required/

Suez is cheap compared to Panama but as the excellent linked description shows the endemic corruption is a huge downer.

The trick we used was to show the Pilot a sealed envelope (stuffed with small denomination Egyptian and us notes) and I told him clearly that this envelope was for him alone but ANY tips to anyone else would come out of it!
I can assure you this worked like a charm and the pilot allowed no one else anywhere near us 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[Bulawayo]

We came through in September ('16) and our total was US$335 including the 'mandatory' baksheesh for a 45'er. We only spent two nights at the yacht club. We also used a cartoon of cigarettes (20x packs of 20) bought specifically for gifting. We always have had to anchor in the Bitter Lakes. Beware that the pilots can also try and run you aground so that you need a tow from one of their mates who just happen to be around. Yes, it is corrupt but is it reasonable value and if you play these guys at their own game it is managable. Just dont get angry, offer the pilots basic food (rice and meat) and a drink and there is rarely any real issues. We have witnessed drama before when yachts 'resist' any backhanders and end up wasting days in arguments when $10 would have sorted out the problem quickly. One regular issue is the pilot transfer. Be ready and make it obvious you are filming the whole pick-up......this can avoid the pilot launch smacking into your topsides.

Originally Posted by MarcL

Hi

I'm doing some planning to return from the Red Sea and sailing through the Suez Canal.

The only information I'm finding in this forum is from 2010, so not so accurate.

Does anyone has ideas for the cost of a 11m sailing boat with a 1.9 m draft.

Thank you in advance !

Marc on behalf of Njord

[trapoc]

MarkJ thats a great tip.

[Copacabana]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Suez is cheap compared to Panama but as the excellent linked description shows the endemic corruption is a huge downer.

The trick we used was to show the Pilot a sealed envelope (stuffed with small denomination Egyptian and us notes) and I told him clearly that this envelope was for him alone but ANY tips to anyone else would come out of it!
I can assure you this worked like a charm and the pilot allowed no one else anywhere near us 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Mark, thats brilliant!!

[Arthur Garfield]

MarkJ,I'll beg the questions- First,When did you make this passage and Second,How much did you put in the envelope ?


All the Best

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by Bulawayo

We came through in September ('16) and our total was US$335 including the 'mandatory' baksheesh for a 45'er. We only spent two nights at the yacht club. We also used a cartoon of cigarettes (20x packs of 20) bought specifically for gifting. We always have had to anchor in the Bitter Lakes. Beware that the pilots can also try and run you aground so that you need a tow from one of their mates who just happen to be around. Yes, it is corrupt but is it reasonable value and if you play these guys at their own game it is managable. Just dont get angry, offer the pilots basic food (rice and meat) and a drink and there is rarely any real issues. We have witnessed drama before when yachts 'resist' any backhanders and end up wasting days in arguments when $10 would have sorted out the problem quickly. One regular issue is the pilot transfer. Be ready and make it obvious you are filming the whole pick-up......this can avoid the pilot launch smacking into your topsides.

Bulawayo -- thanks we may go through this next fall or the fall after as we are not sure what is going to happen here in Turkey. If Turkey is ok we will spend next winter here then go into the Red Sea the following winter . Good info.

[dana-tenacity]

Is there any current information on safety of sailing from Maldives to Red sea and Suez?? I know what it was like a few years back but haven't heard much lately, would consider it in a couple of years if I knew nobody was going ot shoot me.

[Atraxia]

Thanks for the info.
We were thinking of going south from the Med next winter but decided to stay another year before heading to the far east via the Red Sea.
Hope to find a few more going the same way so we can convoy.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Arthur Garfield

MarkJ,I'll beg the questions- First,When did you make this passage and Second,How much did you put in the envelope ?


All the Best

2010 so it was ages ago. I think we put in USD$10 worth of Egyptian.

I just re-read Nicolles account of our transit and she says we didn't put in any USD at all, but I think we did. $1 notes.

There's a going rate for the 'tip' of USD$10 but few boats got away that cheap.

Her account reminds me you need to get all the knowledge first. It's a great read!
We knew we were going to be rammed so she had a roving fender
We were so over the ******** by then. After Somali Pirates we weren't stupid newbies

Read her report:
http://www.ourlifeatsea.com/sct.html

Its very detailed. Very good. I had forgotten a lot of stuff in there!

[s/v Moondancer]

Is there any data about the safety, or otherwise, of getting to and from the Canal past the pirates?