Crew Wanted: Delivery Captain Needed Panama - Belize June 18

[belizesailor]

Just got asked to do this delivery, cant do it. Privilege 50. Pay is not great $150/day plus expenses. Sat phone provided.

If interested let me know & I will put you in touch.

[belizesailor]

Filled. Thanks for the PMs.

[Auspicious]

That's not much of a rate. Golly.

[belizesailor]

No, its not. Charter companies are often cheap and the going rate for small boat captains in Belize is about $150/day.

[Auspicious]

Wow. Just wow.

[belizesailor]

...and a local captain took the gig. For Belize, relative to other employeement options, thats pretty good pay. Plus he is less experienced and looking to build some miles.

[Auspicious]

I've been in and out of Belize a few times, flown in more than once but never asked around about the going rate for locals. Always interesting to get that local perspective.

[model 10]

There can be some dangers on that passage. I would guess a "local" knows all about that? Do the pirate fishermen along that route know the captain is a local? I ain't some gun toting cowboy but if I were responsible for somebody's boat I would be packing, something. I don't know what, but you need some sort of defense along there. At $150 per day, maybe way, way off shore is the way to go.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Ecos

There can be some dangers on that passage. I would guess a "local" knows all about that? Do the pirate fishermen along that route know the captain is a local? I ain't some gun toting cowboy but if I were responsible for somebody's boat I would be packing, something. I don't know what, but you need some sort of defense along there. At $150 per day, maybe way, way off shore is the way to go.

Some of the most recent events around the Nicaranguan Banks have been more like full on Somalia style pirate attacks (motherships, multiple pangas with heavily armed men) than fishermen with a gun, and they have been way out on the NE edge of banks (see CSSN event map). Upside is there have been few such events and no one has been hurt. Ive had a few friends transit the banks both ways recently without incident, but its certainly a significant concern.

One boat recently evaded them by going hard to weather in sporty conditions and the panga could not keep up in the waves. Good tactic I thought.

Damn shame, I would love to spend more time exploring the banks, but Ive postponed that until this clears up.

[model 10]

I would be just as worried about the Hondurans. It's a crap shoot around there and we need to depend on luck and carefull cruising.

[belizesailor]

(Dup)

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Ecos

I would be just as worried about the Hondurans. It's a crap shoot around there and we need to depend on luck and carefull cruising.

The mainland coast of Honduras is where most of the Honduran security issues have been...mostly around Puetro Cortez/Punta Sal. Its easy to avoid that area, just sail to/from Belize-Bay Islands (not direct to/from the Rio Dulce for example). That keeps you many miles off Punta Sal. (Another shame, its an interesting coast with some good anchorages, etc, etc, but too risky for me these days).

Cayos Cochinos are one of our favorite places. 10 miles or less to the mainland, but have never heard of any security issues there. Easy day sail from the Bay Islands.

[belizesailor]

First leg planned for tomorrow AM: Colon to San Andreas. Its been pretty breezy and bumpy offshore in the SW Carib, due to a HP ridge to the N that just wont dissipate. Still breezy, but looks like an OK window Fri-Sat.