Suez Canal - Red Sea Southbound Transit

[coguard]

I am buying a boat in Turkey, and need to take it to Manila, Philippines. I have heard many horror stories, not only about Somalian and Yemenes Pirates, but also HUGE hassles while transiting the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Everything that I have heard has been third hand - I was hoping that someone on this forum had actually DONE this transit, and could give me some advice. To go the other way, thru the Panama Canal, adds about 15,000 miles to the trip. Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please email me directly at: coguard@email.com Thank you

[skipmac]

Many discussions on this forum and others. From those experienced and have made that same trip many times before the recommendation is do not go.

Through the Panama Canal or around the Cape of Good Hope. Yes they are a much longer trip but better than hijacked by pirates. At this time the risk is much to great.

[barnakiel]

You can also sail via RSA, not using Panama. Or else ship the whole thing.

b.

[inky]

The horror stories are usually true. Google is your friend, plenty of first hand accounts. The question is why the hell would you even entertain the idea over anything else? Sail a longer route, ship it, buy a boat in Manila or anywhere east of Suez...