Safe convoy for venesuela coast

[caradow]

You state a boat is missing sailing from Columbia to Aruba.
Are you also incriminating Venezuelan piracy as the culprit?

Also please tell me about your statistics on Piracy in Los Roques an Les Avies.
I would like to know.
I suggest you check your charts or Google Earth and look at the geography of the area before you get too testy.
As I stated, I agree on staying away from the Venezulan coast!!!

Also there was a very recent murder of a british sailor on St. Lucia.
Are you staying away from St. Lucia too?
Unfortunately there is no where to go anymore that danger does not lurk.
A little fortuna and street smarts do however go a long way.

No I do not bury my head in the sand but I do live life.

[LakeSuperior]

I'm just interested in the facts. I think every captain should draw his/her own conclusions and take their own course of action.

I believe most sailors want to make decisions based on facts and data, not on some individuals "feelings" about how safe some islands are.

[caradow]

I do agree.
Everyone should be capable for interpreting statistic for themselves!
And believe me I do.
However I will say after years of sailing throughout most of the caribbean there are many areas that I would not have gone without the input of those who traveled the same path before me.
To those I remain greatly indebted and I am thankful for them taking the time to explain how it is done. Because I would not have ever seen the beauty of those places if it were not for this forum.
That is the great thing here is that there are those who are willing to share their knowledge and EXPERIENCE.
However obviously in the end it is up to the individual to pick their path.
I do wish you safe passages.
ciao

[colemj]

The passage from Colombia to Aruba is straight into the wind and seas through an area with often fierce weather that changes quickly. Very little of that passage is near Venezuela coastline, and the part that is is the far Western part of Venezuela, which is very different than the Eastern part.

If a boat is missing in this area, my first thought would be weather-related and not piracy.

Mark

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by colemj

The passage from Colombia to Aruba is straight into the wind and seas through an area with often fierce weather that changes quickly. Very little of that passage is near Venezuela coastline, and the part that is is the far Western part of Venezuela, which is very different than the Eastern part.

If a boat is missing in this area, my first thought would be weather-related and not piracy.

Mark

I looked at his route on Google Earth before I posted and realized there could be reasons other than piracy for the disappearance. My sense was S/V Jeri vanished without an EPIRB signal or received VHF transmission which one would not expect if in weather related trouble. That said I know some boats have gone down without much time to react.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by caradow

That is the great thing here is that there are those who are willing to share their knowledge and EXPERIENCE.

Well, just before you continue to slag me in CAPITALS please note that i have been there. You can read about it on my webiste.

What shits me is people who do not take security advice and then plead victim when the blood starts flowing.

All this on the day we have heard of a cruiser being murdered in St lucia.

Its a fools paradise to believe its not happening. Especially in a country with a systemic, government sponsored hate of you, your country, and everything you stand for.

[s/v Jedi]

I would advice to mount a mini gun on the bow and a grenade launcher on the stern.

Also, I might still visit the Roques, Las Aves and Los Monjes, but no other Venezuelan place. But security bars and other anti-piracy measures would be in place.

I have heard of security issues in the Roques and Aves, but not of serious ones yet. When leaving, I would sail north until well out of sight before changing course for my destination.

We've only had pirates after us once (near Margerita), so what do we know?

[Tday01]

I did it last year from Trinidad to Santa Marta Colombia. Left at night, headed 75m off the coast and turned left. Nav lights off and AIS in silent mode from when we were clear of traffic until we were well past eastern Valenzuela.

Of the handful of piracy attacks per year (relative to the number of vessels transiting), they are almost all close to shore. These guys are in pangas and are alleged not to like rough weather or being offshore.

For my money, being in a convoy wouldn't help.

Your mileage may vary.