Do you worry about Pirates?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by StuM

And the credit card captains flying the Jolly Roger coming into the anchorage?

Board 'em an keel haul 'em...arrr!

[model 10]

I do. The coast of Honduras is not that easy to avoid. Boats heading for the Bay Islands often sail in a group. Sailing without lights in the area is common too.

[Paul J. Nolan]

Originally Posted by atoll

ih hear detroit and chicago are pretty dangerous to visit these days

"...I was born in Chicago in nineteen and forty-one,
My father said, "Son, you had better get a gun."
---Paul Butterfield

I carry one always, two sometimes, three knives, and next month, I'm gettin' a blackjack.

PJN

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Ecos

I do. The coast of Honduras is not that easy to avoid. Boats heading for the Bay Islands often sail in a group. Sailing without lights in the area is common too.

Yes, the Nicaraguan Banks in recent years have had a few events that qualify as organized piracy (mother ship, armed men in multiple pangas, etc ...) IMHO.

The N coast of Honduras (esp near Punta Sal) has had serious troubles too for many years, but nothing like those more organized events. However, there have been several boardings of vessels underway off the coast there.

I think the typical small group of dirt bags in a single panga could be discouraged by a simple show of force, but with a larger, better organized, armed group that could go badly.

A strategy that worked for one boat when apparently being pursued off the Nica Banks was to go close hauled. It was in sporty trade winds conditions and the panga could not maintain planing speed...so gave up. Good call I think.

No one has been harmed in the more organized events on the Nica Banks, but a cruiser was killed near Punta Sal by apparently the more typical dirt bags in a boat. To me the event in which the cruiser was killed read like an attempted robbery bungled by amatuers...reads like the shooting was an accidental discharge...and they fled the scene and took nothing...more hardened types would have likely finished the job.

My perspective is that you are less likely to be harmed by seasoned pros than some nervous punk with a gun. Ive never had a security issue on a boat, but was held up once ashore. The two thieves were more nervous than me...my main concern was not getting robbed, but getting shot for no reason/accidentally by one of these bonehead amatuers.

I have had several friends cross the Nica Banks this year without incident. There have only been 3 attempted/suspicious events reported on the banks this year, but no actual boardings. See CSSN for details.

[danielamartindm]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Americans with guns, far more frightening than imaginary pirates.

And how many innocents around the world have "Americans with guns" murdered, compared to real piracy off the Somali or Venezuelan coasts?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by danielamartindm

And how many innocents around the world have "Americans with guns" murdered, compared to real piracy off the Somali or Venezuelan coasts?

10's of thousands in Central America alone. 100's of thousands if including those disappeared, tortured, murdered, displaced by national forces trained by the USA (estimated 200K in Guatemala alone).

[bensolomon]

Originally Posted by Eder

The only pirates I've met lately are the grocery stores in Raiatea.

Heading there is September. Good to know.

[Sluzer07]

Yes - it is a concern from what I can tell. You may find this link helpful.

https://www.icc-ccs.org/piracy-repor...ive-piracy-map

[rallyman1122]

Originally Posted by Mattm

There was an instance a few years ago where in the middle of the night Somali pirates tried to high jack a us destroyer... Hilarious. The destroyer was also Americans with guns, albeit big guns.
You don't hear about the Somali threat quite as much anymore. I was just pointing out that Americans with guns do have a place. Also as a non American it irks me that people are constantly and continuously taking pot shots at the US. We're talking about piracy so why did the guy before have to derail the thread by taking a jab. Like common people the virtue signalling is not impressive or particularly intelligent.

As a Canadian handguns are not part of our culture. And long guns are used for hunting, not personal security. But that does not give me the right to take blanket pot shots (pun intended) at those with differing opinions. It's more I'll respect your views, you respect mine and let's have a cool drink together. No cheap shots required.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Sluzer07

Yes - it is a concern from what I can tell. You may find this link helpful.

https://www.icc-ccs.org/piracy-repor...ive-piracy-map

See if you can find a single incident there involving cruising yachts.

[Mattm]

Originally Posted by rallyman1122

As a Canadian handguns are not part of our culture. And long guns are used for hunting, not personal security. But that does not give me the right to take blanket pot shots (pun intended) at those with differing opinions. It's more I'll respect your views, you respect mine and let's have a cool drink together. No cheap shots required.

You would be surprised, target shooting is becoming huge. My summers are for sailing, but shooting is my winter hobby. Myself and most shooters I know don't advertise that we shoot for fear of being ostracized especially here in the gta. Personally though if something is so scary that I feel I have to arm myself then I think I would just not do it. That includes sailing. Bringing firearms on a boat is silly. Plus useless because salt and firearms don't mix well at all.

[Peregrine1983]

This is the second thread today I've been following that's unexpectedly turned into a gun thread.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by Peregrine1983

This is the second thread today I've been following that's unexpectedly turned into a gun thread.

Be ambitious! Turn it into a blackjack thread, a knife thread, or whatever you wish.

[Peregrine1983]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

Be ambitious! Turn it into a blackjack thread, a knife thread, or whatever you wish.

Anchors, anyone?

[Mattm]

Originally Posted by Peregrine1983

This is the second thread today I've been following that's unexpectedly turned into a gun thread.

Sorry! Back to topic, does anyone sail without running lights in questionable waters