Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

I just heard in the news that the pirates off the coast of Somalia
are threatening to kill their hostages if their comrades who were
captured last week by the U.S. Navy (USS Winston S. Churchill)
are not released.

I hope this situation will not become more and more like in Iraq
where the terrorists capture and kill innocent people when their
demands are not met, especially since it's probably a lot easier
for pirates to attack sailboats than larger ships.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Here is a firsthand account of a pirate attack on two yachts.
It took place only 30 miles off the coast of Yemen at 13°28'
North 48°07' East on 8 March 5pm local.

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/doina/R2005-03-14-1

wrote:
I just heard in the news that the pirates off the coast of Somalia
are threatening to kill their hostages if their comrades who were
captured last week by the U.S. Navy (USS Winston S. Churchill)
are not released.

I hope this situation will not become more and more like in Iraq
where the terrorists capture and kill innocent people when their
demands are not met, especially since it's probably a lot easier
for pirates to attack sailboats than larger ships.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Another site for piracy reports and some details on how commercial ships
are trying to deter them. I like the electric fence!
http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php

Gordon


wrote in message
nk.net...

Here is a firsthand account of a pirate attack on two yachts.
It took place only 30 miles off the coast of Yemen at 13°28'
North 48°07' East on 8 March 5pm local.

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/doina/R2005-03-14-1

wrote:
I just heard in the news that the pirates off the coast of Somalia
are threatening to kill their hostages if their comrades who were
captured last week by the U.S. Navy (USS Winston S. Churchill)
are not released.

I hope this situation will not become more and more like in Iraq
where the terrorists capture and kill innocent people when their
demands are not met, especially since it's probably a lot easier
for pirates to attack sailboats than larger ships.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Poopie,
Your route from California to Thailand shouldn't take you past Somalia
unless you get REALLY lost.
MMC

wrote in message
nk.net...

I just heard in the news that the pirates off the coast of Somalia
are threatening to kill their hostages if their comrades who were
captured last week by the U.S. Navy (USS Winston S. Churchill)
are not released.

I hope this situation will not become more and more like in Iraq
where the terrorists capture and kill innocent people when their
demands are not met, especially since it's probably a lot easier
for pirates to attack sailboats than larger ships.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

"MMC" wrote:
Poopie,
Your route from California to Thailand shouldn't take you past
Somalia unless you get REALLY lost.

I want to come back the other way and will have to sail through
Gulf of Aden (north of Somalia) to get to Suez Canal.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 21:14:58 GMT, wrote:


"MMC" wrote:
Poopie,
Your route from California to Thailand shouldn't take you past
Somalia unless you get REALLY lost.

I want to come back the other way and will have to sail through
Gulf of Aden (north of Somalia) to get to Suez Canal.

That is one the worst areas for piracy. See:

http://www.yachtpiracy.org/en/world_map_of_piracy.htm

You could go round Cape of Good Hope. But if you wish to vsisit the
Med, probably not an option.

Jack

_________________________________________
Jack Dale
ISPA Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor
CYA Advanced Cruising Instructor
http://www.swiftsuresailing.com
_________________________________________

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

..50's mounted on the bridge wings and an M79 launcher or 2 and you should be
ok!
wrote in message
ink.net...

"MMC" wrote:
Poopie,
Your route from California to Thailand shouldn't take you past
Somalia unless you get REALLY lost.

I want to come back the other way and will have to sail through
Gulf of Aden (north of Somalia) to get to Suez Canal.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

and the europeans made fun of the guy who asked about a gun on his cruising
boat a few months back ...something about gun crazy americans !! fine call
me crazy too
wrote in message
ink.net...

"MMC" wrote:
Poopie,
Your route from California to Thailand shouldn't take you past
Somalia unless you get REALLY lost.

I want to come back the other way and will have to sail through
Gulf of Aden (north of Somalia) to get to Suez Canal.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

and the europeans made fun of the guy who asked about a gun on
his cruising boat a few months back ...something about gun crazy
americans !! fine call me crazy too

i'm wondering about guns on board too. the subject comes up a lot in
different books and articles and things i've been reading about
cruising, and in the cruising forums, and there are plenty of piracy
reports out there to read too. i don't have a clear opinion on it yet,
i'm still thinking about it.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

"purple_stars" wrote in news:1138781464.278709.56780
@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

i'm wondering about guns on board too. the subject comes up a lot in
different books and articles and things i've been reading about
cruising, and in the cruising forums, and there are plenty of piracy
reports out there to read too. i don't have a clear opinion on it yet,
i'm still thinking about it.



I know a German who cruises a big boat, alone most of the time. (Rich,
electric winches, lots of automation)

He was attacked in Asia by several men in a big powerboat.

As his boat was custom designed with a hidden arsenal that's quite
ingenious and easily accessed, he opened his stash and grabbed his
scattergun and a Russian hand grenade waiting for them at the ladder to his
cockpit.

As the fast boat came along side, and to the astonishment of the pirates,
he pulled the pin on the grenade and simply dropped it into their boat
before they could raise their weapons. Of course, panic ensued and the
powerboat veered off with everyone aboard frantically trying to get to the
grenade before it went off. They didn't have enough time and the grenade
blew the pirates apart, sinking the boat and killing them all.

Rule #12 - Don't attack Germans in nice yachts. They don't play dead.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

jim thompson wrote:
and the europeans made fun of the guy who asked about a gun on his cruising
boat a few months back ...something about gun crazy americans !! fine call
me crazy too
wrote in message
ink.net...



Speaking of 'gun crazy Americans'....
Report is out of an American soldier at the tail end of a convoy
shooting up a Canadian diplomat's car in Iraq.
Canadian version... car was clearly marked and no warnings given before
soldier opened fire.
US Army version... numerous warning shots fired and hand signals to back
off given..
Who you gonna believe?

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

I am singlehanding in the Med since a couple of years.
If you have weapons onboard, I think you must declare them to the
authorities upon entry to each country, at least in Europe. They will most
likely be confiscated for the time you spend in the country, and returned to
you when you are leaving the country. Failure to do so is upon discovery
likely to get you into BIG trouble.

As an example, in the summer of 2004 I was boarded at sea by the French
customs in the English Channel. Three armed officers boarded my boat and
spent 1 hour searching my boat, all while sailing 5-6 knots. Discovery of a
weapon would likely have caused me lots of trouble.

Also, with a weapon you have to be prepared to use it without slightest
hesitation, and you might find that you just killed a couple of fishermen
trying to earn a dollar or 2.
Martin

--
i'm wondering about guns on board too. the subject comes up a lot in
different books and articles and things i've been reading about
cruising, and in the cruising forums, and there are plenty of piracy
reports out there to read too. i don't have a clear opinion on it yet,
i'm still thinking about it.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

In article ,
"Martin Hinders" wrote:

They will most
likely be confiscated for the time you spend in the country, and returned to
you when you are leaving the country.

Only if you don't have a Bondable Customs Locker.....Do you really think
that all the Commercial Shipping, spend their timer InPort transporting
the contents of their Arms Locker, to, and from, the Customs
Office.......

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

"Martin Hinders" wrote in news:VL3Ef.6505$Sk1.195938
@news20.bellglobal.com:

Failure to do so is upon discovery
likely to get you into BIG trouble.


I agree. But you'd have to see how carefully hidden they are, nearly in
plain sight.

The other thing is we are talking about a very expensive, custom-made
yacht. This comes with its own "aura". The rich don't get inspected like
us poor folks in the sloppy-looking sloop from 1977. It seems a lot of
things are "overlooked" when one pulls in looking like you're gonna leave
$10000 a day on the local economy and not pinch every penny. Get my drift?

The other thing, in many places on the planet, is just an outright bribe
and no inspection need take place at all....(c;

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Don White wrote in news:zu3Ef.6403$VV4.129741
@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca:

Who you gonna believe?



The corporal....no doubt about it.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Larry wrote:
"Martin Hinders" wrote in news:VL3Ef.6505$Sk1.195938
@news20.bellglobal.com:


Failure to do so is upon discovery
likely to get you into BIG trouble.



I agree. But you'd have to see how carefully hidden they are, nearly in
plain sight.

The other thing is we are talking about a very expensive, custom-made
yacht. This comes with its own "aura". The rich don't get inspected like
us poor folks in the sloppy-looking sloop from 1977. It seems a lot of
things are "overlooked" when one pulls in looking like you're gonna leave
$10000 a day on the local economy and not pinch every penny. Get my drift?

The other thing, in many places on the planet, is just an outright bribe
and no inspection need take place at all....(c;


http://abcasiapacific.com/news/stori...es_1256065.htm

Chris Packer is a millionaire yachtsman who has gotten into a ton of
trouble in Bali when police found weapons aboard his yacht.

He's facing 20 years in an Indonesian prison.

Evan Gatehouse

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Larry wrote:


I know a German who cruises a big boat, alone most of the time. (Rich,
electric winches, lots of automation)

He was attacked in Asia by several men in a big powerboat.

As his boat was custom designed with a hidden arsenal that's quite
ingenious and easily accessed, he opened his stash and grabbed his
scattergun and a Russian hand grenade waiting for them at the ladder to his
cockpit.

As the fast boat came along side, and to the astonishment of the pirates,
he pulled the pin on the grenade and simply dropped it into their boat
before they could raise their weapons. Of course, panic ensued and the
powerboat veered off with everyone aboard frantically trying to get to the
grenade before it went off. They didn't have enough time and the grenade
blew the pirates apart, sinking the boat and killing them all.

Rule #12 - Don't attack Germans in nice yachts. They don't play dead.

We were cruising off the coast of Mexico when a large shrimp boat
seemed intent on running us down. We dodged one way, they followed on
a collision course. They kept coming closer and closer and we were
seriously worried that their intent wasn't pure to say the least.

Turned out that their refrigeration compressor had died and they
wanted to come aboard to borrow our VHF to call their ship's agent to
arrange for a replacement. If we had weapons, might we have pulled
them out at some time during this encounter?

I don't know, but I think the risk of dying in some third world taxi
or bus is about 100x higher than being killed by pirates. Robbed,
maybe, but fatalities are very rare.

Evan Gatehouse

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 20:27:52 -0800, Evan Gatehouse
wrote:



http://abcasiapacific.com/news/stori...es_1256065.htm

Chris Packer is a millionaire yachtsman who has gotten into a ton of
trouble in Bali when police found weapons aboard his yacht.

He's facing 20 years in an Indonesian prison.

Is he related to Kerry Packer, the Aussie media baron? Oops...

(Hi, Evan! How's the cat construction going?)

R.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

What was a Canadian doing in Iraq? I thought the Canadians only visited
countries like Cuba.

The American was just anti hockey. What's wrong with that?

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
"Don White" wrote in message
...
jim thompson wrote:
and the europeans made fun of the guy who asked about a gun on his
cruising boat a few months back ...something about gun crazy americans !!
fine call me crazy too
wrote in message
ink.net...



Speaking of 'gun crazy Americans'....
Report is out of an American soldier at the tail end of a convoy shooting
up a Canadian diplomat's car in Iraq.
Canadian version... car was clearly marked and no warnings given before
soldier opened fire.
US Army version... numerous warning shots fired and hand signals to back
off given..
Who you gonna believe?

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Thomas Wentworth wrote:
What was a Canadian doing in Iraq? I thought the Canadians only visited
countries like Cuba. The American was just anti hockey. What's wrong with that?

I'm sure you're trying to be funny.
Keep trying.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Thomas Wentworth wrote:
What was a Canadian doing in Iraq? I thought the Canadians only visited
countries like Cuba.
snip..

Probably trying to keep the US Army in line.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

On Thu, 02 Feb 2006 16:25:21 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

What was a Canadian doing in Iraq? I thought the Canadians only visited
countries like Cuba.

The American was just anti hockey. What's wrong with that?

You're a ignorant ****, and you need to learn how to use Google.

Don't issue an S.O.S. near me. I'll be busy filling out customs forms
for the jumped-up mall cops you've got doing "homeland security".

Plonk.

R.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

While reading rec.boats.cruising, I noticed Evan Gatehouse
felt compelled to write:

Larry wrote:
"Martin Hinders" wrote in news:VL3Ef.6505$Sk1.195938
@news20.bellglobal.com:


Failure to do so is upon discovery
likely to get you into BIG trouble.



I agree. But you'd have to see how carefully hidden they are, nearly in
plain sight.

The other thing is we are talking about a very expensive, custom-made
yacht. This comes with its own "aura". The rich don't get inspected like
us poor folks in the sloppy-looking sloop from 1977. It seems a lot of
things are "overlooked" when one pulls in looking like you're gonna leave
$10000 a day on the local economy and not pinch every penny. Get my drift?

The other thing, in many places on the planet, is just an outright bribe
and no inspection need take place at all....(c;


http://abcasiapacific.com/news/stori...es_1256065.htm

Chris Packer is a millionaire yachtsman who has gotten into a ton of
trouble in Bali when police found weapons aboard his yacht.

He's facing 20 years in an Indonesian prison.

Evan Gatehouse

He was convicted and set free, must have been a year ago. Got three
months or something, less time than he'd been in gaol awaiting trial
in any case.

From memory he'd fired some Scottish backpacker who was crewing as a
cook, who retaliated by dobbing him in for alleged gun-running,
terrorism and drug-smuggling. It was all bull****, but the Indonesian
Military turned up in force to investigate and found a couple of
undeclared shotguns and a rifle.

The weapons weer all found to have been documented, God only knows why
he didn't declare them - I'm sure he wishes he had.

His 'yacht' was a 60m freighter, btw.

Ian

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Rhys,
Did you see this article
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/s...kelab-gun.html
Now we're equipping the "Mall Cops" with military hardware! Genius!
MMC
"rhys" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 02 Feb 2006 16:25:21 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

What was a Canadian doing in Iraq? I thought the Canadians only visited
countries like Cuba.

The American was just anti hockey. What's wrong with that?

You're a ignorant ****, and you need to learn how to use Google.

Don't issue an S.O.S. near me. I'll be busy filling out customs forms
for the jumped-up mall cops you've got doing "homeland security".

Plonk.

R.

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

See http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...2/s1306875.htm

They let him off with a 3 month sentence, although he could have
gotten the death penalty.

"Former champion yachtsman Chris Packer has spoken about his three
months in an Indonesian prison.
The 52-year-old was released from jail on Saturday after a court in
Denpasar convicted him of firearms offences on Friday.
Mr Packer was found guilty of violating a law relating to not having
declared firearms kept on his vessel, the Lissa."
Mr Packer says he tried not to think of the possibility of receiving the
death penalty while in prison because it was too depressing.
He says he has had bad luck.
"Unlucky to have got in trouble in the first place I think," he said.
"We had no bad intentions or anything like that, so unlucky.
"If I'd declared my guns perhaps I would have had a much better time in
Bali."

A similar news item says that he refused to talk about whether
money was paid to the authorities to secure his release until
he was out of Indonesia.

Don W.



He was convicted and set free, must have been a year ago. Got three
months or something, less time than he'd been in gaol awaiting trial
in any case.

From memory he'd fired some Scottish backpacker who was crewing as a
cook, who retaliated by dobbing him in for alleged gun-running,
terrorism and drug-smuggling. It was all bull****, but the Indonesian
Military turned up in force to investigate and found a couple of
undeclared shotguns and a rifle.

The weapons weer all found to have been documented, God only knows why
he didn't declare them - I'm sure he wishes he had.

His 'yacht' was a 60m freighter, btw.

Ian

Will pirates attack more sailboats to take hostages ?
 

Don W wrote:
See http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...2/s1306875.htm

Ok, I'm not sure of your point though?

They let him off with a 3 month sentence, although he could have
gotten the death penalty.

The death penalty related to the accusation of gun-running and terrorism
arising out of the allegations of the disgruntled former employee. They
weren't realistic options after the circumstances became known. Reporting on
these issues in the Australian media is somewhat hysterical owing to the
spate of Australians arrested in Indonesia and elsewher in Asiaon drug
related crime in recent years.

One Australian Citizen was executed at the end of last year in Singapore, 9
Australian Mules are being held are tried in Bali at the present, and quite
a few others have been under the auspices of the Asian judicial system for
lesser crimes. If you'r interested at all, a quick search of "the bali
nine", "Nguyen Tuong Van", "Schapelle Corby", "Michelle Leslie" will turn up
enough links provide a backgrund.

The result of this has been to incite a degree of hysteria, as well as
speculation over the 'fairness and impartiality' of the judicial process in
certain Asian countries, in any case concerning an Australian where the
death penalty might be applied, however remote the posssibility. Groups are
trying to pressure the Australian Government to bring these people home to
face the more lenient and supposedly more impartial judicial processes here.

In Leslie's case, she was busted for posession of two ecstacy tabs, for
example, the maximim penalty for which is a rather extreme 15 years.
Headlines will scream "Model Facing 15 Years".

Leslie was convicted and released for time served (guess what, 3months) late
last year.

Within 4 days of arriving home after her release, Leslie had engaged a
celebrity publicity agent, such is the febrile media scummage over these
issues.

You have to read all news in its context Don. I'm also unimpressed with the
articles inference that as Packer didn't deny paying to secure his release,
this obviously means he did pay.

In Packers case, within a week of his arrest, the maximum penalty he faced
for the firearms offences was 20 years.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1249223.htm

Ian

"Former champion yachtsman Chris Packer has spoken about his three
months in an Indonesian prison.
The 52-year-old was released from jail on Saturday after a court in
Denpasar convicted him of firearms offences on Friday.
Mr Packer was found guilty of violating a law relating to not having
declared firearms kept on his vessel, the Lissa."
Mr Packer says he tried not to think of the possibility of receiving
the death penalty while in prison because it was too depressing.
He says he has had bad luck.
"Unlucky to have got in trouble in the first place I think," he said.
"We had no bad intentions or anything like that, so unlucky.
"If I'd declared my guns perhaps I would have had a much better time
in Bali."

A similar news item says that he refused to talk about whether
money was paid to the authorities to secure his release until
he was out of Indonesia.

Don W.



He was convicted and set free, must have been a year ago. Got three
months or something, less time than he'd been in gaol awaiting trial
in any case.

From memory he'd fired some Scottish backpacker who was crewing as a
cook, who retaliated by dobbing him in for alleged gun-running,
terrorism and drug-smuggling. It was all bull****, but the Indonesian
Military turned up in force to investigate and found a couple of
undeclared shotguns and a rifle.

The weapons weer all found to have been documented, God only knows
why he didn't declare them - I'm sure he wishes he had.

His 'yacht' was a 60m freighter, btw.

Ian