Yachtsman Shot in St Vincent

[straitscrew]

I am the British Yachtsman shot in Bequia on July 21st and would like to bring the incident to all cruisers currently in the Caribbean.
Follow this link to local newspaper http://thevincentianonline.com/yacht...ot-p671-97.htm for a good arrival based on my account of incident

[kiltym]

Very sorry to hear about this. There have been other incidents in Bequia over the past years, also involving guns, but you are the first I have heard of that was shot.

I would make sure to be in touch with Sally Erdle of the Caribbean Compass (office is in Bequia 1 block away from Customs Building), to make sure the story gets out in their publication as well.

[anjou]

I hope you recover ok and stay safe.

[The Blue Heron]

Glad you are on the mend and thank goodness you survived! Seems like an ordeal simply to get medical care. I think if you had a torso hit from that gunshot, things would have been very different.

Curious, would you have felt safer being armed yourself, or do you think if you had a weapon, you would have been able to defend yourself?

cheers

[David_Old_Jersey]

Glad you are ok

But the burning question is........

.......what sort of Anchor did you have?

[Jimbo485]

Who watched your boat while you spent a week in hospital?

Not one of the 10 yachties who ran, I imagine.

We had a bad experience in Bequia as well and we just ran from the idiots, so I understand the reaction of those sharing your anchorage, but I hope that one of the stayers kept an eye out...

[micah719]

Good to hear you survived. Hope you get your boat back.

Would you consider using an anti-boarding netting next time you're in similar places/circumstances? Deck lights and a strict procedure for identifying visitors?

[CeesH]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

Who watched your boat while you spent a week in hospital?

Not one of the 10 yachties who ran, I imagine.

We had a bad experience in Bequia as well and we just ran from the idiots, so I understand the reaction of those sharing your anchorage, but I hope that one of the stayers kept an eye out...

Why this response as it seem you'r also not want to be that big hero.

[bruce smith]

Bequia has gone to hell in a hand basket.
Dingys mysteriously coming adrift and being returned (for a reward ) in the middle of the night for a reward is normal.
The water taxis making 20 knots 20 feet away at night in the anchorage is normal.
Getting shot is over the top . Of course it will hurt Bequia.

[Jimbo485]

Ha Ha! Well, if I am under attack, I either fight or run. In Bequia, we ran!

If someone else has trouble and ends up away from their boat (for whatever reason) and we are just hanging around, we keep an eye on their boat.

So we have done both. Nothing to do with being a hero.

I hope someone did keep an eye on his boat, otherwise the bad guys would have gone back the next night while he was away....

[CeesH]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

Ha Ha! Well, if I am under attack, I either fight or run. In Bequia, we ran!

If someone else has trouble and ends up away from their boat (for whatever reason) and we are just hanging around, we keep an eye on their boat.

So we have done both. Nothing to do with being a hero.

I hope someone did keep an eye on his boat, otherwise the bad guys would have gone back the next night while he was away....

Jimbo485, come live an extended period here in Brazil and you will run a lot of times........

PS. Mother in law killed last January by 3 - 14 y/o.

CeesH

[Jimbo485]

CeesH, I am sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. That is terrible.

I lived and worked in Brazil in 1992 and traveled there a lot for work in the following years. Never had to run or fight, even up in Pará around the garimpeiros.

In Santiago de Chile, I fought once and still have a scar from one street scrap. Another time there, I ran. It all depends, doesn´t it?

[CeesH]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

CeesH, I am sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. That is terrible.

I lived and worked in Brazil in 1992 and traveled there a lot for work in the following years. Never had to run or fight, even up in Pará around the garimpeiros.

In Santiago de Chile, I fought once and still have a scar from one street scrap. Another time there, I ran. It all depends, doesn´t it?

@Jimbo485 thanks for your response. Read Noonsite about the changes over here in the last 5 years. Its not anymore Paradise.

When possible I'm away here for a never come back...... (Holidays excepted).

The sailors world have changed the last 2 decades.

PS. I learned not to run, I don't like to be shout in the back....

CeesH

[HopeFloats]

Colin, thank you for sharing the incident and glad you are ok.