Avoiding being a victim of pirates and thieves while cruising/voyaging

[acem]

"don't sail into a war zone"
Exactly. But how to know where the dangerous spots are?

It's easy to determine the trouble spots while sitting here with internet access but it would be different when you have been out of communication for some time.

Thx-Ace

[captnknopf]

I have sailed down to Grenada and back. Cleared customs 22 times on theway back. Only ran into pirates three times and all were wearing uniforms and carrying rubber stamps.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by Scubaseas

Look like a bum, don't have a lot of money on you and look like it.

personally we find this real easy to do...in fact, it's hard looking like anything else

cheers,

[Don C L]

The only time I have experienced this was in 1981 on a delivery from Sri Lanka to Hong Kong. Our strategy was, in areas suspected to have piracy, to stay well offshore and keep moving at at least 10 knots (it was a big boat.) Though the Strait of Malacca had a bad rep at the time, we never encountered anyone. At night we ran without running lights. (And at 4am motoring along through calm black seas, your mind, and ears can play tricks on you! I often imagined the sound of engines behind us!) While in Singapore we saw a good deal of reporting of piracy but it was almost exclusively guys boarding the many freighters and tankers anchored there and robbing the crew. Interesting to see that map still showing piracy there. I wonder if it is the same as it was then.

[SalingSue]

If you’re way out in international waters, and some little goblin tries to get on your boat, mentally view it like being in a tree stand and seeing a deer.

[acem]

I like the way you think girl!

[Heath68]

I may be missing an obvious thing here that makes this unviable... bit what about wiring the stantions to an electrical source (power to be determined) so that someone touching it gets the (electrical) feeling they shouldn't??

[chuckr]

Been out 14 years and well I have taken a few risks BUT ..listen and learn. Going g down the coast of the Western Carib stay away from the coast on Nicaragua..no short cuts .. Grenada to Trini .buddy boat past the oil wells..
When I was I the Med was told stay away from Albania . mines.mafia.theft ect .. but no actual experience ..went anyway an what a wonderful country.. sailing the Black Sea the Russian agent and a tug boat capt said stay at least 20nm off the coast between Georgia and Sochi .. said a small non country there is the old wild west and we could lose the boat among other things..
Sailing the French Riviera mega yacht crews told us to skip Marseille and if we did go only stay a day or so and lock everything up. We did not go as could not get a berth.
Essence of what I am saying is research ..talk to people who have been there ..

OH and to the poster who said turn off your AIS ..I never have regardless of where I am. I want those big guys to see me and let's get real if the bad guys have AIS they probably have radar too.

[seriousailor]

It's easy to be aware of problems in the Caribbean, at sea and at anchor. Check out CSSN , they have good resources. www.safetyandsecuritynet.org. I really like the zoom maps and the piracy ones are focused. facts vs. bar talk. I subscribe to the free email ALERTS! Waaaay easier than trying to keep track of the FB pages and groups which seem to have a local biz bias. Noonsite is good to. also free.

[ELC]

Something else that has worked well for me and a few other old friends. If you're going to be in port for a bit volunteer some free help to some locals who could use it.

Pitched in on carpentry projects and boat repairs that I have the skills and tools for. Another friend was a mechanic who would help local fishing boats fix their boats. Others would go do some maintenance at an orphanage if there was one.

Not hard to find. Look around, ask a local church even talked with the local hardware store once. Helping out locals gets more than some warm fuzzies. Been given very accurate advice on where is good and where to avoid. Had locals put out the word for folks to make sure people looked out for us.

One guy took me aside and gave me several contacts. If I had any trouble I was to get with them immediately and they would make sure my family and I were taken care of. Why I asked? Because we like people like you!

One place I was at had two prices when I showed up to get supplies. One if it was for another yacht and a lower one if it was for me.

As others have said look low key, learn how to be polite in the local culture. Try being a hit humble. Be more of an asset then another rude demanding tourist.

[sailormike]

check out Noonsite.com for all sorts of info from all over the world

[SV Coronado]

Has anyone heard of pirates using AIS? I assume if they are pirates, they're poor and can't afford AIS for their dodgy skiff. If they can afford AIS, they're probably going after bigger targets than a 45' sailboat.

[Tonali99]

Originally Posted by grantmc

Spread tacks on the deck at night when at anchor.

I do believe that's what Slocum did. They were "jacks" or simply "jax".
Used to be a childrens game before electricity. Bounce the ball and see how may you can pick up.
Much easier to lay down and pick up than tacks. too. Use a magnet.

[Tonali99]

Originally Posted by SalingSue

If you’re way out in international waters, and some little goblin tries to get on your boat, mentally view it like being in a tree stand and seeing a deer.

Easily done. But I'd rather eat the deer.

[edlepera]

I talked to various cruisers over the years. The ones that don’t appear to get robbed/attacked didn’t advertise there wealth. Avoided dangerous areas, sling the dingy up in the air. Lights etc.