Quote:
Originally Posted by zeehag
mebbe i will wait in mexico longer or find strong male crew for panama.......
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This season we sailed from Rio Dulce,
Guatemala to Bocas del Toro,
Panama. Spent a few weeks cruising the Bocas area without any cause for concern (although we do routinely take
security precautions anyway). This is the first violent event I have ever heard of in Bocas. Hopefully it proves to be an isolated instance.
However, the last few seasons have seen a few firsts here in the western carib.
1.
Belize: First ever attack on a
charter vessel (Moorings
boat brutally attacked -- similar to the Bocas incident). I ran charters in
Belize for 5-years -- never even gave such an attack a thought because they have never occurred before.
2. Punta Sal,
Honduras.
Boat under way just off shore boarded and robbed. There have been incidents in the
anchorages here in the past, but this is the first boarding
offshore I know of. Have passed Punta Sal a few times in the past couple of seasons and have always given it a wide berth just in case.
3. Port Royal, Roatan. Boarding and Robbery. Again, first I know of in this anchorage -- I have anchored there many times before w/out incident.
4. Guanaja, Roatan. Boardinig and Robbery. First ever of a cruising boat there that I know of. I've spent lots of time in Guananja prior to this event and was there again this season. Never had any concerns about
security there. Fortunately, this appears to have been a
single isolated event and they caught the guys. (Note for the stupid thieves handbook: don't comit a crime on a small island when you are the only outsider around).
5. Rio Dulce. The Rio has had it's share of problems, but our little peaceful village of Cayo Quemado has always been a secure haven. No issues with boats being robbed here in the past (at least not in recent memory). Unfortunately this year the trend was broken (two boats robbed, but fortunately no significant violence).
And now Bocas. Obviously there is a trend here. I expect the combination of the war on drugs, increased anti-gang activity here in the CA-4, and a bad economy is pushing some of the bad guys into other "vocations".
All good reasons for us cruisers to be more
safety conscious. Also, something to add to the list of design and outfitting considerations for a boat.