| We enjoyed living on a sailboat in the Caribbean for 8 | | | | stern, no swim platform. We hauled the dinghy up at |
| years. A common question we get is about safety | | | | night, this was not only quieter but it made our boat |
| and piracy. | | | | more unattractive to a boarder. |
| The short answer is we did not have a problem, not | | | | Ashore...no jewelry, go with others at night...the same |
| even an incident, in those 8 years. Why? I don't think | | | | things you would do at home in the USA, in an |
| we were lucky, we just used common sense. | | | | unfamiliar town. Stay close to the boat and you will be |
| By cruising in the Caribbean, I am referring to the | | | | fine. |
| Windward's and Leeward's, Trinidad and Venezuela. | | | | Who had trouble? We did hear of a few ugly incidents |
| That is where we cruised. We went no father west | | | | in our 8 years. Both occurred in Venezuela, involved |
| than Puerto La Cruz ,Venezuela. Why? The prevailing | | | | single handers and both involved a bit of alcohol. If you |
| winds are from east to west on that part of the globe. | | | | are by yourself I would be extra careful and not stray |
| Any time you venture west you face a tough beat | | | | too far from the boat. As for the alcohol, do your |
| going back east. | | | | heavy partying on your boat or on a fellow cruisers |
| Piracy...if you were a druggie and wanted a boat to | | | | boat, not ashore. |
| smuggle drugs would you want a sailboat that goes 5 | | | | Communications...on the Single Side Band radio net in |
| knots or a go fast that does 80? The fact sailboats | | | | the AM cruisers are in communication all over the |
| are not fast is part of the appeal of them but a | | | | Caribbean. The daily weather net would be a good |
| deterrent to pirates. | | | | place to report any problem anywhere. A lot of the |
| Arms aboard...I never have owned a gun so we did | | | | conversations would go like this..."my dinghy was stolen |
| without. I never wished I had one on board either. This | | | | last night in Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas ...", question |
| is a personal choice folks but I'll pass on the guns. Each | | | | ,"was it up in davits?"..."uh no, it was tied to the boat"...a |
| island had custom and immigration forms to fill out. | | | | pause...question, "Was it locked?"..."Uh no. Get the |
| Every island, from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad, | | | | picture? This was reported very, very rarely and |
| asked if we had firearms. I said no with a clear | | | | would have been avoided altogether with a little effort. |
| conscience. | | | | Living on a sailboat in the Caribbean is a great way to |
| At anchor...our boat was a 35 foot Island Packet with | | | | live. It can be a safe way to live with a little common |
| a 4 to 5 foot freeboard, retractable ladder on the | | | | sense. Enjoy. |