Safe to sail near Hatian coast?

[Muaddib1116]

I'm leaving Puerto Plata DR tomorrow to head to Great Inagua, Bahamas. Predictwind suggests a course that hugs the coast line along Haiti, and turns north towards Great Inagua after passing Tortuga Island. Is it safe to be sailing overnight so close to the Hatian coast?

[Mirage35]

This is my partial recollection of discussions with a family member who knows Haiti, so may not be accurate.

The gangs are probably not an issue - they seem to be busy on land. But you could be taken for a smuggler by the various enforcement agencies in the area, or you could be taken for an interesting target by the smugglers.

Probably better to keep well off.

[Muaddib1116]

Thanks, yeah, that's probably the right thing to do, even if it's a rougher ride.

[dlj]

With everything going on, I'd agree with the above advice.

dj

[Kd9truck]

In middle of February I sailed thru the windy passage from Kingston Jamaica to porta plata DR. We rounded the northern coast of the northern peninsula and past Tortuga at night, 60 miles of coast line not a single light was on. We were 6 miles off the coast at dawn and were overcome by a smoke bank that triggered our eyes to tear and I had an asthmatic response. They were burning wood to make coal. No boats were seen and none on any devices. Channel 16 was being jammed from the middle of the windy passage to almost Monti Cristi.
Imho there are no boats to do anything, they have all been taken to flee along time ago. The Haitian mob is busy terrorizing their people.

We had no issues other than above, we stayed 6 miles off the coast the whole way around.

Cheers