Where are kids in the Caribbean spending Hurricane season 2012?

[In Training]

Question -- Pirates or anything like that -- is it safe to sail past columbia and venezuela? abc islands etc. That whole area over to panama?

Curious.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by In Training

Question -- Pirates or anything like that -- is it safe to sail past columbia and venezuela? abc islands etc. That whole area over to panama?

Curious.

I sailed into Venezuela last year and was on heightened lookout for bad guys, sailed at night, no lights, etc.

I wouldn't take my boat back there if my life depended on it... And it would if you get caught by the wrong mob. But with Children? fine, just barter them for your release....


Keep well off shore and don't approach the coast at all.

[paulbennett]

Mark J,

What's the current thinking on how far one ought to stay offshore Venezuela? I've read some reports that acts of true piracy—defined as robbers assaulting a vessel at sea, Somali style—have been limited, and a 50-nm buffer as fine. 50nm isn't much. What do you think?

Paul

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by paulbennett

Mark J,

What's the current thinking on how far one ought to stay offshore Venezuela? I've read some reports that acts of true piracy—defined as robbers assaulting a vessel at sea, Somali style—have been limited, and a 50-nm buffer as fine. 50nm isn't much. What do you think?

Paul

I went past Los Tostigos at night with the lights out ensuring it was night till right close into Cumana. On the way out I was offshore of Margarita at sunset and out of visual range of Los Testigos by dawn.

I wouldn't approach the coast between Margarita and Trinidad at all as black market fuel runners use that area to run cheap Venuzealan fuel to Trinidad.

I wouldn't go inshore of Los Testigos or Las Roqueas at all and only sail outside visual distance north of both, unless at night and without lights.

If heading into Venuzalea only at night and only on a shortest line in etc.

The good thing about sailing boats is when you motor you can be hull down in 5 nms and quite invisible, with sails up its like 20 miles. But the bad boys sit on top of Los Testigos so can spot you a fair way off.

It's a real pitty because the people who do need tourism to add money to the economy are being stymied by criminals and a government inspired hate of Westerners, particularly Americans.

If things change politically I think it would be a fairly fast and simple job to clean the coast of criminals. And then we can go cruise some beautiful areas!

I hope this helps


Mark

[MarkJ]

I spoke to a guy this morning who just came up from Las Roques he says security there is fine but you can not clear in there, and fuel is not available at all anymore.

I found it impossible to get legally too. ( I Gerry jugged from a normal gas station a lonnnng way out of town, a 5 nm dinghy trip each way.)

Govt wants you to pay 80 cents per litre but even then its not available, so no diesel at any price.

[SY MARLIN]

Hi, we are new in this forum and quickly want to introduce ourselves, as we are heading the same direction with kids this year.
We are a german family travelling with two daughters (age 6 and almost 8) and are currently in Trinidad on the hard, waiting to be back in the water soon. Would love to go up to Grenada in May and than slowly towards the ABC islands.
We know he region from 10 years ago and are not so keen on going into the hot and dirty water of Cartagena, even though the city is beautiful.
Would be great to catch up with you guys.
Nathalie

[paulbennett]

Nathalie,

You shared this with me privately, but I think it's worth posting here. There's a Ning site started for cruising families called Kids 4 Sail:

Kids4Sail

If you're out with kids, sign up.