"The gales of November came early." We have our first serious storm of the fall. Winds at our local weather buoy at Smith Island topped out last night at 41 knots, sustained, with gusts to 48. Altogether better for reading by the fire than sitting out in an anchorage. So I found a new book yesterday at the Orcas Public Library entitled "Pirates Aboard!" by German Klaus Hympendahl and read about half of it last night. It's a non fiction account of a series of acts of "piracy" committed on cruising yachts around the world. It ranges from the problem Joshua Slocum encountered with Indians near Tierra del Fuego to the incident that resulted in the death of Sir Peter Blake on the Amazon as well as problems experienced by a whole lot of lesser known cruisers. Perhaps it's best value is in a review of what the victims might have done differently (usually avoiding a problem location). The pattern seems to be the result of cruising sailboats either anchored in solitary coves or sailing near shore in unstable parts of the world. The difference between the relative affluence of the yachties and the grinding poverty of the local residents seems to create an environment that at least sometimes results in an armed robbery, some times with fatal consequences for the victims. Hympendahl runs through some math to project the total numbers of blue water cruisers out at any given moment and also allows for the fact that probably only half of the incidents ever get reported. Yet he concludes that less than one half of one percent of cruising boats ever have a problem. He also concludes that avoiding certain problem areas such as Guatemala's Rio Dulce and the Somali Coast among others reduces the risk to near zero. Which brings me to my question. Have you experienced any real or threatened crime while you are out sailing? Have you been burglarized or had things stolen from your boat or had a dinghy swiped? Do your concerns about crime whille sailing alter your plans? Do you lock your companionway from below when you sleep aboard? My personal thought is that the risks are probably higher on land. I've never had a problem after hundreds of nights aboard ranging from big cities like Seattle and Vancouver to deserted anchorages in Britsh Columbia, Mexico and the Caribbean. Maybe I'm just lucky. Recognizing this post has a high potential to degrade into a discussion of the pros and cons of firearms on board, I've done a shadow post on the Sail Call Lounge for the firearms discussion. Please use that and keep the guns discussion off the primary thread. Thanks. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust H37.5
Question: Do your concerns about crime while sailing alter your plans? Answer: Generally, no. However,... #1: This year we were going to anchor out at Ladysmith in BC, near the Seattle Outstation by the way, and were advised to choose another bay from the one we were thinking of. Seems the folks there were, shall we say, suspect in a number of missing things in the area. We went to another area which was recommended and anchored and had a restful night. #2: Several years ago we tied up to a dock in Seattle near the ferry terminal while my wife went to Pikes Place Market to do some shopping. It was summer, hot, and I stayed on board and rested. While looking up through the hatch I could see several of the local indigents kinda eyeing and apparently discussing the boat. I thought alot about what I would do if they actually came down to climb aboard. Needless to say, I didn't get the rest that I thought I would get. Never been back and now the dock has been remodeled for the fast foot ferry. In the Northwest, BC, and Alaska, my biggest concern would be for the marinas in Juneau and Ketchikan. Keep the boat locked. It's just plain easier that way and reduces the temptation. Never had anything happen which was close to needing a gun. Errr..., um, wait a minute. There was this powerboat that whizzed close by us......
