Red Sea dilemma

[Angelepenney@gm]

We are sailing to the med and am concerned about the Red Sea passage, any comments about that area, and the best approach going through there, and the pirate problem.

[GordMay]

WELCOME aboard, Angel...

We’ve had numerous discussions about sailing that troubled region.
You might check out http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f24/
Or try a custom search at:
http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=01...%3A2lb6ozabif0

[waterworldly]

Follow Jimmy Cornell's lead and take the scenic route, South Africa to St Helena to Asencian to the Cape Verdes to the Canary Islands and then into the Med.

[marno]

Easier said than done Waterworldly, the weather down that way can be terrible. Plenty of people have done it, but it can be a very hard slog. I know some very skilled people who broke bits of their boat doing it.

[bobnlesley]

Whilst I can't offer any first-hand advice, I would put the Red-Sea piracy risk into context. The number of reported incidents relating to cruising yachts in recent years equates to far less than half of one percent of the yachts which have passed through; the risk is not significant.

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by bobnlesley

Whilst I can't offer any first-hand advice, I would put the Red-Sea piracy risk into context. The number of reported incidents relating to cruising yachts in recent years equates to far less than half of one percent of the yachts which have passed through; the risk is not significant.

The risk is significant!

the likelihood of the risk is low.

Any discussion on risk needs to look at both effect and likelihood before an intelligent risk assessment can be made.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Talbot

The risk is significant!
the likelihood of the risk is low.
Any discussion on risk needs to look at both effect and likelihood before an intelligent risk assessment can be made.

Risk = Probability of event x Cost of event

[Alondra]

We have been passing there recently and one thing, stop the 'significant piracy in perspection' BS! In the last 4 months, 12 boats have been attacked and as we speek there is a couple of a german boat held hostage in Somalia.
Than the good thing, we made it and so do most of the yachts. Sail to Oman, salalah and from there take the route Mukallah and Aden in Yemen. Both Oman and Yemen have Coast Guard on CH 16 and they are listening most of the time. Stay close to the yemenite coast (anywhere between 8 to 10 NM)and travel together with other yachts that you find in either one of these ports (there is always a few waiting). At night, dont light up to brightly.
In Aden, stock up with all you can get on fuel and food as this is the last time untill Sudan (Suhakin) for fuel that is. Don't mis out on Massawa (Eritrea) and visit Asmara. Be careful with the reefs and look for decent maps and plotter.
Winds are generally SE going into the red sea up to the conversion zone around Massawa. Sometimes more N sometimes more S. From there on it is on the nose. And mostly hard but you'll make it.
Don't rush, take your time in the red sea and wait for the best wheater window. Basicly, when the wind drops, Go!
Look t Alondra Sailing || Sailing in Style for some pics and more info.
Good Luck and have FUN!! And when it is all behind you? Buy a t-shirt with 'I did the Red Sea... and made it!'

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Risk = Probability of event x Cost of event

Thank you for agreeing with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was trying to get away from using standard Project Management terminology.

[maxingout]

We had the same debate when we left Queensland. It was hard to decide whether to go the southerly route or up the Red Sea.

I have a strong aversion to storms at sea, and the Aghulas current and the Mozambique Channel coupled with the fronts sweeping through the region made the decision easier for me. I decided that I would rather face the risk of piracy for one or two days than the risk of dangerous seas in the high latitudes for several weeks around South Africa and in the Mozambique channel.

In the year we went up the Red Sea, the yachties had a good year and the pirates had a bad year. The pirates made one poorly executed attack on two large steel yachts, and the pirates got the worst of it. We had no problems at all.

If you would like to see and hear an account of that attack, you can follow this link and watch the video called "Pirate Alley."

dvd

If I do another circumnavigation, I think I would still do the Red Sea route. I think it's possible to plan and execute the passage through the 100-200 mile zone of greatest danger in a way that minimizes your risk.

We maintained radio silence on VHF, communicated by HF Radio using coded positions, used no running lights at night in the zone of highest risk, and travelled with a buddy boat.

[nricklee]

Originally Posted by Talbot

The risk is significant!

the likelihood of the risk is low.

Any discussion on risk needs to look at both effect and likelihood before an intelligent risk assessment can be made.

yeah, i totally agree with you.

[Alondra]

Important Update! Further to the discusion on this Topic we received a chart from the US Navy which we enhanced and anyone can see now for himself how significant the thread realy is. Very!
Look for the details at Alondra's Website and click 'India' and then 'Follow us'.
It shows that 2005 showed 14 incidents, 2006 -13, 2007 - 8 and the first 4 months of 2008, mainly in April 23. Furthermore it seems that the area is shifting towards the north east, mainly of the coast of Yemen, east of Mukkalah.
Be aware, the pirates are from Somalia, so don't go around it. Stay Close to the coast of Yemen app. 6-8 nm out and travel in Convoy. When the latest update of the map is available we will publish it.

[Angelepenney@gm]

This is great thank you very much. BLACKDUCK