la noche de los banditos...

[zeehag]

last night i went to a boat with pizza and he provide the yannie acapulco 2009 concert--yannie voices...WOW!!!!! talk about awesome!!!!! aftr we had seen and eaten enough, i went to my boat and prepped for a night of rest..LOL... 2345, a panga with a frame on it came up behind my transom and the 4 men wer enoisily callin gto another neighbor--- after a few minuets of this, the noisey men left. i proceded to turn out lights and sit on my berth. as soon as i lifted the quilt to my chin, i heard same engine coming SLOWLY .was now 2400.....i got out and looked to see the same panga immediately behind my boat, stationary. my outboard engine, mounted on my stern cap, was moved into a different position than i keep it. i shined a light, acted LOCO and went off with a baseball bat gaff----- loudly !!!!!! at them to "get out of here!!!" that made em run.... i then decided to maintain a reasonable watch--i wore a loong dark sweatshirt with hood-- and got dark dark blankets, went out to my stern sofa and hid under the blankies waiting -- able to keep an eye on the moving around of folks in the not too direct neighborhood and hear the voices as they said i was "WAITING FOR THEM" i snickered to my self and kept the bat in hand tighter....waiting...until 0200, when th eneighbor they originally hollered at came home na dthe guard walked by---- then i went to bed.....i was armed with: a whistle--louder than the ones uscg allows.>LOL, flashlight to shine in their eyes, headlamp, bright, and my batgaff(louisville slugger)......and some spray carb cleaner..and sheer nerve.....nothing happened, thank gods---
what would you guys have done in my shoes????? remember, no firearms are allowed here......

 

[Steve Dion]

Zee: Make sure you have a lighter to go with the spary carb cleaner. It works great as a flame thrower if you get deperate.

You may also want to consider a bayonet on a boat hook and a fish gaff is sure to get their attention too! Just remember a tool for every job (nut job that is).

 

[zeehag]

steve--you would LOVE my louisville slugger--is for catching sharks..LOL -- BIG stainless gaff on end of heaviest use..LOL....pun intentional.....i do like the flamethrower idea--hadnt thunka dat one--i LIKEE!!!!!

 

[kloudie1]

Flare gun..

 

[Rick D]

Make sure you report it to the Policia & harbormaster's office. They don't take kindly to thieves in the port. your description may help bag them.

 

[zeehag]

Make sure you report it to the Policia & harbormaster's office. They don't take kindly to thieves in the port. your description may help bag them.

o
a friend of mine was robbed this way recently-- they essentially stripped his boat--i know where these keep their boats and stuff-- yes port cpt will know and the police report from my friend is being addendumed for this witnessing..... i hope it does some good-- these are commercial folks with SEMPRA'S panga at their disposal. will see what happens with a eyeball witnessing....... will hide well tonite.. after warmed pizza and more yannie voices from acapulco--is incredible what that man gets out of his performers and how well they interact and interplay--is sooo beautiful... must see for all.....

btw--name of the panga is hydra.......

 

[Jmac]

Good on ya zee! I think you had your share of theft for the year!

 

[Jmac]

And where is that flame shooter? I lol every time you talked about and it got more menacing, bigger and in the arsenal more regularly!

 

[RAD]

Next time shoot a flare gun off into the air to get some attention and light to see their faces

 

[Marc Bergmueller]

Best to illuminate faces by directlly aiming at them

 

[RON20406]

Zeehag, After living in Mexico for a year and having traveled extensively throughout the entire country in the 70's, I can assure you the relative safety I experienced then does not compare to present conditions in Mexico. Mexico is a Third World Country. The country suffers economically and 98% of the population lives effectively a sustenance existence compared to the U.S. and Western European countries. Crime is rampant both in the cities and the countryside and the drug dealers effectively control the areas in which they live. No matter how you view yourself and your panache, you are no match for an armed person wilth ill intent. We all have stories/memories of our wonderful relationships with native Mexicans, but the rules of the game have changed both for us and them. Sadly, this is the reality. What should you do? Remove yourself from the threat and avoid confrontation at all costs. We live in a world that is both real and imagined. Reality dictates common sense at all costs. Good luck and good sailing, Ron

 

[sandpiper10471]

And keep a digital camera handy. Photos work really well for identifying. Actually, keep two. That way if you get accosted for the camera, you can give them the one that you didn't use on them.

 

[Rick D]

Zee's Boat In Ensenada

I took this photo when I went to the docks to see if Zee was back in the marina. She wasn't, but was anchored away nursing a flu bug. her's is the Formosa 41 in the center.

 

[cat38skip]

Bear Repellent

Next time we head south we will be carrying Bear Repellent. Maximum range 30+ ft. Effective range 25 ft ~ successfully live-tested in the field by my son who lives in Alaska while under assault by a brown bear.

 

[Forrest15112]

I'll tell you what I'd have done. Since firearms aren't allowed, I would have blasted them...blasted them with that Yanni live from Acapulco as loud as it would go! That could've been like showing Dracula a crucifix. My ears are burning just thinking about it.

 

[LuzSD]

Great Idea, use whatcha have......and loud

I'll tell you what I'd have done. Since firearms aren't allowed, I would have blasted them...blasted them with that Yanni live from Acapulco as loud as it would go! That could've been like showing Dracula a crucifix. My ears are burning just thinking about it.

oh, that is interesting, we did exactly that while camping once..... a bear came to our tent and I reached over and turned up CSN as loud as I could doing To the Last Whale...(an amazing song anyway) it was really stunning and It worked!! Sounded as if God was speaking from the heavens.....

 

[dscribner]

Zee,

How about cabling the outboard to the boat somehow as a start. Are you on shore power? If so, a portable light with a motion detector that can be set by the base of the mast pointing aft. Something with a rubber base as not to scratch the gelcoat and small enough to stow. I forget, you traveling alone? Lone women are perceived to be easy targets by low-life men.

 

[Ross]

They make spray cans of paint for foresters to mark trees for cutting. These cans spray a stream instead of a mist. Marking them and their boat would make them do some fancy explaining.

 

[Ctskip]

I like the carb cleaner /flame thrower concept. I also like the flare gun pointed in their boat as a starter. I think spear guns are allowed and spears for fishing are also allowed. Thats all good while you are there and awake. A lock on the OB would be a prudent thing to do. A move to a safer place would be good also.
Good luck and be safe.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

 

[caguy]

As an aside have you dropped anchored on the lee side of Todo Santos Is.? I'm not suggesting for overnight because I think you're safer in the Harbor. I have fond memories of the island. As a kid I remember having picnics in the rocky coves. My dad had interest in La Fortuna, a commercial fishing boat. The Captain would take us out there for the day. His crew would dive for lobster that we would barbecue on the beach. The water was so clear you could see down 30' with large fish milling at the bottom. Later in college my frat brothers and I would take long weekend trips down to Esenada and scuba dive the Island looking for lobster. We would find enough large lobster to fill a trash can full of boiling water. La Bufadora, the blow hole, is another place to see. Although it is now paved with line of curio shops. I'm not sure about anchorage there the coves are pretty rocky. That place was one of my first scuba experiences at the age of 15, and the largest shark I ever saw. It scared the beejebers out of me. It wasn't moving just laying on the bottom. I couldn't get back to shore fast enough.

BTW a motion sensor as suggested with a bright light and screech alarm usually scares off most thieves.
Hope the rest of your stay there is eventful in a good way.