Standing Watch in High Crime Anchorage

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by daletournier

I'm at Bequia now. I've talked to many that are permanent in this area ,its not as bad as this thread makes it out to be.

Be sensible, dont create opportunity, no one is doing intruder watches.

Its just the normal US Cruiser paranoia.. see it on most islands.. French side St Martin and Phillipsburg Dutch side are seen in the same light after dark yet I have wandered the streets and bars on many a night till the early hours with nary a problem.
Could it just be the smell of fear attracts..

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by scallowayuk

i use squares of foam camping mat with thumb tacks in them by shrouds and in cockpit.anyone treading on them will scream loud enough to attract attention.i very rarely anchor where there are no other boats.the exceptions are castries and view fort st lucia

Worked for Joshua Slocum....the foam mat idea is brilliant!

I was thinking these would work better than thumb tacks...https://www.ebay.com/i/253936441737?...iABEgJNOvD_BwE

You mentioned Vieux Fort....there was a boarding by masked gunman who killed a German national a few years back.

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by Uncle G

If you're going to be up all night anyway, could you not do the sailing at night? You'd get an extra couple of days ashore then.

Definitely could....however most charter companies don't allow sailing at night.

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Maybe the charter companies should start renting out dogs too.

[emoji106]

That's a GREAT idea!...cheap security for the sailor, more adoptions for the animal shelters..

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by DMCantor

Look, I know that St. Vincent's reputation is bad, but it is not really a "high crime" destination. We often anchor there with no precautions other than being nice to the local kids.


I guess some cruisers can be real ******** toward the local people, and maybe they are at higher risk. We try to make connections, and then never worry. Maybe that means buying some local fruit from a kid approaching your boat, or offering him some water and a peanut butter sandwich.

Great advice. We do plan on bringing extra stuff to give away....granola bars juice boxes etc.

Where have you anchored on St V? Kearton's Bay, Cumberland Bay and Wallilabou were recommended.

I haven't heard too many good things about Wallilabou though. Not to mention there was an armed boarding and murder there too a few years back.

[fahtcha]

My take is that lights only limit your range of vision and would help someone see when you doz off. If it is really that dangerous, why light up the target to be picked off? But in reality, probably the only boarders will be the neighbor who is trying to get rid of the darn light that is keeping them up.

The charter company will tell you where not to anchor. If they tell you not to anchor in a certain bay, then don't anchor there.

[Saleen411]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I...... yet I have wandered the streets and bars on many a night till the early hours with nary a problem..

Same.....40 years as a professional traveler and I've done more than my fair share of late night pub crawls all over the world. No problem with just me or my mates.

However....security and safety is a much bigger issue when my loved one is with me.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Its just the normal US Cruiser paranoia...

Fortunately, not EVERYONE in the US is paranoid. It's just that the paranoid are the most vocal.

[jewt]

Josh Slocum used tacks on deck, I would prefer a double stacked 9mm but most places Bear repellent would have to do. Amazon sell several brands .

jewt
S/V Bifrost
retired US Marine Harrier pilot

[sailingchiro]

Remember the movie "Home Alone", the little guy threw a party at the house. Light the house up like a Christmas Tree. Get a cd with a dog barking every once in a while. Most thieves are cowards and don't want confrontation.

I saw a good idea one time, a guy ran his fishing line around the boat with the fishing pole in his berth and the drag was set to low. Any movement in the line was announced with the reel clicking away. He also attached the end of the line to the dinghy/engine. Might try it sometime. He got up the next day and reeled in the line.

[sailingchiro]

We have three cans of bear repellant on board.

[ob44]

Get your dinghy out of the water. Or get a steel cable with padlocks. I would not put up lights; it kills your night vision. Have a bright light ready to shine at any boat coming close, it has the same effect.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by jewt

...... I would prefer a double stacked 9mm

Hey!!!!! we made it 53 posts!!!! With the exception of an early plea to have this NOT devolve into a gun thread. That's pretty good by CF standards!!

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Saleen411

>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


Sounds silly I know......but will be my reality in a few months.

I saw he was in Discovery Bay, CA and thought he was just worried about going to San Francisco.

[gulfcoastsailor]

Well, it's not Somalia, so common sense and a wary eye should be all you need. To repeat the best advice here, get the dingy out of the water get that bear spray or wasp spray. Oh yeah, meet your neighbors!