On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 09:43:50 -0700, "Sailct41"
wrote:

Just a question from a novice cruiser but experienced ex-navy world
traveler, why would you want to cruise in areas where you need weapons?

You wouldn't, but see below.

I
read about a recent problem in the Red Sea and I wonder what the heck anyone
is doing there.


If you don't want to spend many weeks going halfway to Antarctica to
get into the Indian Ocean, or if you are in the Indian Ocean and don't
want to cruise the Med via Gibraltar several months late, the Red Sea
and the Suez are a logical shortcut if you don't care to cope with the
Roaring Forties. There's only so many ways to circumnavigate without
putting the boat on a tractor trailer (not that there's highways in
many otherwise colourful destinations), and the Red Sea transit, while
a difficult sail due to nav. hazards and frequently contrary winds, is
a fraction of doing what the Portuguese galleons did in the 1500s.

R.