PRIATES KILL 4 AMERICANS ON YACHT 'QUEST'

[Duncan]

....I could see a big fat tanker with a bunch of Cigarette boats hiding on the far side. Then Hollywood could make the movie once a few real life situations had played out....

I think it was called "Waterworld"........

Very good! Kevin Costner could surely cut a swathe here.

[fenixrises]

Hi all,

While on Fenix I met one boat named Quest. He like me was a single hander on a WS32. Met him here in AS in'06.

During his first circumnavigation, not all solo, he went the Suez/Med route. He had the "normal" haggle/hassle problems with fuel and paperwork in that area of the world.

I did not go that route for a couple of reasons. No desire to see the Med. Did not want to do a long windward passage in restricted waters, Red Sea. And definitely did not want the hassles and expense.

I also saw another boat named Quest in Fanny Bay, that's Darwin OZ. I heard that Quest numerous times on the Pacific Seafarers net.

I do not know for sure if it is the same Quest but am pretty sure it was the same boat.

One of the first things I heard after returning to FLA in '09 was that Brit boat being hijacked off the Seyshelles. I was in the exact same area only one year previous. Damn!!

One of the many reasons I will probably not do another circ. Getting dangerous out there. And in many places toooo expensive.

It is possible to cross the Indian Ocean further south with a pretty good chance of safety but that precludes a run up the Red Sea.

I heard from another cruiser here that Quest left a convoy off the coast of Aden for some reason and headed 250 miles to the south.
That's when the hijacking occured. Do not know if this is fact.

Most cruisers now do the convoy routine when going through that area of the world.

As for what to do about the whole piracy/hijacking thing, which is not contained to the east coast of Africa by the way, Ayn Rand's John Galt put it most eloquently.

Take care,
Fred

[valenteach]

I am currently reading "Six Frigates" by Ian Toll, the history of the creation of the U.S. Navy. It's well written. I'm no expert on U.S history by any means, I would not last 5 minutes on "Are you smarter than a Fifth Grader", so I am very engrossed. But I think most versions of U.S. history will acknowledge that during our infancy we (as a nation) were quite regularly paying cash and gift tribute to multiple countries to avoid our merchant ships being molested or taken. It was simply cheaper to pay than to fight, and that is unfortunately still the case hundreds of years later.

For what it is worth, regardless of the progress we might think we have made as a country, or what international laws we might think we can defend ourselves with as "U.S. sailors of international waters", I think that going out of the harbor in a boat of any kind is technically a risk either way on many levels (pirates, zero law enforcement, system failures, weather, illness) and that anyone who thinks they are exempt from tragedy on the high seas just because they are a "law abiding citizen" is on crack. There are things we can do to mitigate risk, like follow the U.S. State Dept warnings, travel with an armada or escort ship, post watches with large caliber weapons, etc, but the bottom line is that in our own back-yards and with a fancy Coast Guard on our shores and throngs of law abiding citizens around, we can't seem to figure out how to keep our new zodiacs from being poached at the dinghy docks!

[Zeida]

It might have been the Egyptians way back when who first took to the waters of the Mediterranean or the world rivers to trade and sell their wares... or maybe the Chinese... or the Vikings... but for as long as there have been people on vessels there have been pirates trying to get the better of them.

So I see it as perfectly normal for this board of sailors to openly talk about the current pirates that are currently making life difficult for some travelers. I love reading the different opinions and comments and information of my fellow Cape Dorians. I loved best the post that asked how to install a gun on the bow of his Cape Dory

Our generation is living in a very complicated world - and whether we like it or not, everything we do or say or think, has a political connotation. [u] "Politics is the process and method of decision-making for groups of human beings. Although it is generally applied to governments, politics is also observed in all human groups interactions"[/u]

As long as we do not insult or offend anyone by expressing how we think, or see things, a big deal should not be made if one of us makes a political comment. I second OJ that this thread is interesting.

I myself think that if someone puts himself or herself in harm's way, it is up to them to deal with the consequences. The sailors on board S/V Quest were indeed very naive and irresponsible. IMHO, They brought it upon themselves. Yikes! I hope I don't get creamed by what I just said.

[Sea Hunt]

I loved best the post that asked how to install a gun on the bow of his Cape Dory

My Dearest Zeida:

As we have discussed several times , I would be happy to install a .50 cal BMG on the foredeck of S/V Bandolera II. I know you have expressed concerns about transiting Biscayne Bay when headed south towards Boca Chita Key. We will need to modify the foredeck to install a deck plate and a backing plate. We will also have to consider the effect of your Genoa rig and may have to make some modifications.

Let me know when you are ready.

[John Danicic]

More Pirates:

http://www.startribune.com/world/117057013.html
Sail on

John Danicic

CD36 - Mariah- #124
Lake Superior- The Apostle Islands
CDSOA #655