Can Solo Women Cruisers Feel Safe?

[hellosailor]

Bravo Annie!

Having recently used spray oven cleaner (for cleaning!) for the first time in many years, I can assure you that at least the EasyOff brand is unadjustable and it is impossible not to inhale the stuff if you are working with it, no matter which way you get upwind of it. The phrase is "don't even think about it" not even for oven cleaning.

[S/V Antares]

Anniecarole, Your response is the best. I go 240 and near 6 foot. I was in Miami on business and got mugged i and wish my 98 lb wife was there as she would have ripped the two guys to shreads.

It is an additude with reasonable cautions. We both carry folding pocket knives for everyday simple needs.(Al Mar 5 & 6 Inch) When she flips it out and cleans her nails in the Local Bar it dispells any issues.

That said, there is little real crime in most cruising areas. It is mostly crime of convienience. Unattended boats get the attention of the petty thieves. The spreader lights attached to an (Adjustable) motion dectector is my favorite. Lights simply deter the amature. Nearly all crime is amature or convienience.
For personal protection your additude is your defense. You need little else.. though fliping out a knife and cleaning your nails (as a women) is very intimidating. Go for it. Cruise where you wish. You will find the weather is your largest adversary not a very few low lifes looking for a quick buck. They mostly hang out in the cities.

[hellosailor]

Will, you have to watch the knives ashore. In some parts of the US, there is a blade length limit (typically around 4" sometimes less) and if the blade is over that limit, even for a pocket knife, you are now guilty of carrying and brandishing a concealed weapon. Two charges that won't just go away.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

though fliping out a knife and cleaning your nails (as a women) is very intimidating.

That made me smile Good feel

It's not the size, nor the Gender of the Tiger that matters, nor even what it may be doing when first sighted. It's the fact it's a Tiger

[David M]

Spend some money and take some personal defense classes for women. Get your ideas from experts. Cruisers are not necessarily experts at self defense.

Also, don't carry any sort of weapon around with you unless you have been taught how to use it and and are willing to use it. Unless you know how to use it, it could be grabbed away from you and used against you. Carrying a weapon around could make you less safe if you are not trained in its use.

Seriously, go take some classes.

[harmony80]

The best defense is to trust your instincts, stay alert, and be prepared to take appropriate actions based on the circumstances. For example, we had just dropped anchor in Chateaubelair, St Vincent, when we were approached by two men in a small speed boat. They were very friendly and welcomed us. We chatted for about 20 minutes, they offered us a cold brew and they never tried to sell us anything. This is not the normal welcome in St. Vincent, which has many friendly boat boys selling you whatever they can and it is rare that they have engines. They left when a rowboat full of young kids (10-17 age range) arrived. The kids tried to sell us useless stuff we didn't need and after about 20 minutes of us not buying, one waved a knife at us, cursed at us, and pulled it across the front of his throat to indicate a threat and said they would be back. As they left he tried to slice our inflatable, but it was high on the davits and all he did was scratch it. Shortly thereafter the 2 nice men returned and asked if those kids had been bothering us (how did they know that?). They apologized for them and said they really felt bad about us having such a welcome to their town, and would we please be their guests at a party ashore. We thanked them and said we would think about it. They said they would check back about 8pm. We thought about it and decided that we had no reason to trust any of them. We were the only boat in the anchorage except for a boat with nobody aboard. We used our judgment and decided to take our chances sailing in the dark. We lifted anchor without the engine and did not turn on running lights. We quietly sailed out of the harbor, caught a favorable wind, never looked back, and have no regrets. In talking to other sailors, most said they avoided that anchorage except as a jumping off point for St Lucia. And we have many, many fond memories of St. Vincent and for the people there.

[LittleFlower]

This is a fantastic question. Thank you all for the contributions. It does make me nervous living alone on my boat. But I can't let it get to me. I do my best NOT to tell people where my boat is and spend my energy on more positive thoughts.
Thanks!
Teresa

[KIWI]

I met a boatie while cruising the Pacific said he has been everywhere including south America and never had a problem when I asked how come, I'll tell you when you come over for pre dinner drinks, [Ar that time we were rafted up along with 2 others] At about 5pm and together with a 6 pack of beer we went to climb on to his boat- When I put my hand on his side rails I got such a shock that it through me back about 6 feet on my backside, I was dumb-founded I did know what had just happened my hands were still tingling, He stood there laughing and said how would you feel if you were a Pirate trying to climb aboard I had to admit I would have been through-en back into the water,,,,,Reason his whole hand rail was wired up with electric fence wire he said it was the highest voltage electric fence he could get ,,,, I have to admit I was sold

[dana-tenacity]

In the last 30 years I have cruised well over 100,000 miles, the only continent I haven't visited is Antarctica.
Have never had a problem. Yes take normal sensible precautions, then go enjoy your life. Try to keep things in proportion.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by KIWI

his whole hand rail was wired up with electric fence

Yeah. I am thinking about it again...

There is one for only AU$110

Horse Electric Fencing

[Jennymar]

I want to sail my little boat on my own from SF to PV. I was not much concerned about traveling on my own, because despite my smashing figure, I have never had a problem traveling by land alone. However, so many of these postings are written by women couples.....I mean when I read the thread title....women traveling alone...I didn't know it meant groups and couples...I thought this thread was for women sailing single-handed. It would be great to begin a discussion on this...sometimes I feel I am the only one.

[feelsgood]

Being an ex royal marine I would like to help you with this worry you seem to have about your and your friends security. As I have specialist training in counter terrorism I can give you some free advice which is simple and easy to follow. I would rather you contact me on my e-mail address as I dont know everybody on this site. This is no bad reference to anyone on this site its just better is not everybody knows what I will tell you.

[scallywag]

Jennymar,
Being a guy and reading the thread, I felt I was contributing to women traveling alone. I feel the couples that have responded are also giving tips to women traveling alone. There are women contributors on this forum that are single-handed. I think there is also a mother-daughter team that is sailing. Any sex or couple traveling needs to be aware of teir surroundings.
John

[harmony80]

Originally Posted by feelsgood

I would rather you contact me on my e-mail address as I dont know everybody on this site. This is no bad reference to anyone on this site its just better is not everybody knows what I will tell you.

And never, never trust anybody that says "trust me" but don't trust anybody else.

[harmony80]

Originally Posted by Jennymar

...I thought this thread was for women sailing single-handed. It would be great to begin a discussion on this...sometimes I feel I am the only one.

I am a woman sometimes sailing alone and sometimes not, sometimes I have to accept what can't be changed...such as input from all sailors...we are a prolific lot