east bound bahamas to virgin islands south huspaniola

[rapanui 2]

hello,I want try to sail from great inagua to the virgins islands passing south of hispaniola, how safe it is to do overnight anchoring south of Haiti arriving 7pm,leaving 6 am Is it possible ? who has the knowledge,I have a 50 feet kind of wave piercing cat with 12 knots speed with calm sea thank for advises

[BillKny]

Anchoring overnight without clearing in to customs is not a good idea.

I don't know if Haiti has the resources to actually do anything about it, but not getting caught isn't the standard I'd use...

[rapanui 2]

Originally Posted by BillKny

Anchoring overnight without clearing in to customs is not a good idea.

I don't know if Haiti has the resources to actually do anything about it, but not getting caught isn't the standard I'd use...

I cannot imagine myself clear officials in Haiti!! what about sailing at 10 milles to get the less trades wind possible ? is anybody have done it?

[Zanshin]

Anchoring without clearing in is allowed in certain circumstances, this is called the "right of innocent passage".

See https://www.un.org/depts/los/convent...clos/part2.htm for the UNCLOS law page and search for the 2nd occurrence of "anchoring".

That is the law, to which both Haiti and the Dominican Republic are signatories. So if you or crew feel very sick, or you need to repair damage or feel that you are so tired as to make further sailing dangerous, you can anchor if needs be.

[rapanui 2]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

Anchoring without clearing in is allowed in certain circumstances, this is called the "right of innocent passage".

See https://www.un.org/depts/los/convent...clos/part2.htm for the UNCLOS law page and search for the 2nd occurrence of "anchoring".

That is the law, to which both Haiti and the Dominican Republic are signatories. So if you or crew feel very sick, or you need to repair damage or feel that you are so tired as to make further sailing dangerous, you can anchor if needs be.

thank you for your reply, I do not find the article where that is stated

[Zanshin]

Click on the link in my post. It contains the UNCLOS text for the "right of innocent passage" and there is the following in Article 18:

Article18

Meaning of passage

1. Passage means navigation through the territorial sea for the purpose of:

(a) traversing that sea without entering internal waters or calling at a roadstead or port facility outside internal waters; or

(b) proceeding to or from internal waters or a call at such roadstead or port facility.

2. Passage shall be continuous and expeditious. However, passage includes stopping and anchoring, but only in so far as the same are incidental to ordinary navigation or are rendered necessary by force majeure or distress or for the purpose of rendering assistance to persons, ships or aircraft in danger or distress.

Paragraph 2 is what I was referring to. If "force majeure" comes in to play you may anchor as part of your right of innocent passage.

[contrail]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

Click on the link in my post. It contains the UNCLOS text for the "right of innocent passage" and there is the following in Article 18:



Paragraph 2 is what I was referring to. If "force majeure" comes in to play you may anchor as part of your right of innocent passage.

I do not think "force majeure" is applicable for a planned occurrence.

[Stewie12]

I have claimed rights of passage to anchor over night in the Dominican Republic. Some soldiers came out and I told them my motor was overheating. A can of coke each and off they went quite happy. I left at dawn.

[Zanshin]

@Contrail - you are, of course, correct if it is a planned occurrence. But so many different things that you might have made contingency plans for might actually occur I've got to admit that I've felt queasy enough to make use of my backup plans for a night stop a couple of times in the past; in places such as Nevis and St. Barths. I was quite happy to know that I was exercising my UNCLOS rights and not doing anything nefarious or illegal.

[waterman46]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

Click on the link in my post. It contains the UNCLOS text for the "right of innocent passage" and there is the following in Article 18:

Paragraph 2 is what I was referring to. If "force majeure" comes in to play you may anchor as part of your right of innocent passage.

The rule allows normal anchoring, not requiring force majeur.

"passage includes stopping and anchoring, but only in so far as the same are incidental to ordinary navigation or . . . "


Ordinary navigation. That has to include a short stop for a rest - and I would do that during the day, not at night. Do not lower your dinghy or make any other show of staying or going ashore.


I think you are in much more danger from thieves, perhaps armed ones, if anchoring anywhere in Haiti. I'd not stop in Haiti - with your speed why would you even need to do that?

[boatman1]

I did what you’re proposing once upon a time: it was awful. Soon as we got below the windward passage the trade wind was right on the nose and blowing like stink. Memory is hazy, but I don’t recall there being anywhere to get out of it until Jacmel, and that’s a pretty good slog. I wouldn’t do it again for any reason.

[BillKny]

Originally Posted by Stewie12

I have claimed rights of passage to anchor over night in the Dominican Republic. Some soldiers came out and I told them my motor was overheating. A can of coke each and off they went quite happy. I left at dawn.

So you lied about your motor overheating because you knew (or at least suspected) you were in the wrong. You got away with it, and that seems to make it OK.

You have your approach to the world, and I have mine.

[Larry Florida]

Originally Posted by contrail

I do not think "force majeure" is applicable for a planned occurrence.

Unless you plan on being there at the designated time doesn't much matter.

[rapanui 2]

Originally Posted by boatman1

I did what you’re proposing once upon a time: it was awful. Soon as we got below the windward passage the trade wind was right on the nose and blowing like stink. Memory is hazy, but I don’t recall there being anywhere to get out of it until Jacmel, and that’s a pretty good slog. I wouldn’t do it again for any reason.

hello, I was just checking the wind force and direction of both options north by luperon or south by isla beata because according to windy or windfinder the wind is quiet close to shore but I know that their predictions are very often not accurate.

[Stmurray62]

Why anchor at nite, especially near Haiti. There are lots of documents that suggest travel at night and utilizing the calmer evening trades is more advisable than stopping.