The first to be hit was the "White Dumbo". The 25-metre-long ship, which sails under the Gibraltar flag, was to be brought from Trinidad to Grenada by an Italian skipper and two crew members shortly before Christmas. Around midday on 20 December, when they had covered about half the distance, a boat about 18 feet in size, open and powered by a high horsepower outboard motor and crewed by five presumably Venezuelan men approached from the south.
Shortly afterwards, the pirates boarded the sailing ship at gunpoint and searched for valuables such as computers and cameras as well as cash, identity documents and credit cards. According to the skipper's report, the attack lasted around 20 minutes before the pirates left the ship again. Fortunately, the crew remained unharmed and were then able to continue on their way to Grenada.
Exactly one week later, on 27 December, the pirates struck again. This time they boarded the 32-foot sailing yacht "Maritima", again under threat of armed force. Its skipper had also set off from Trinidad to Grenada with his two sons, and again the attack took place in broad daylight about halfway along the route. The crew of the "Maritima" also suffered the loss of some valuables, but otherwise escaped with a scare.
The British Ocean Crusing Club, an association of long-distance sailors, as well as the Trinidad and Tobago Yachting Association, are taking the incidents extremely seriously. For crews who want to go sailing in the region, especially to Grenada, they have compiled a list of Behavioural recommendations issued. Among other things, they advise sailing at night if possible, as the pirates are unlikely to have radar. If necessary, you should also sail without navigation lights, form a convoy and inform the local authorities and the coastguard of the planned route.
A current warning for long-distance sailors also comes from another region of the world, the Philippines: In the forum of the German long-distance sailing association Trans Ocean are strongly advised not to visit Tagbita Bay in southern Palawan, which is popular with sailors. According to rumours, the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf has set up a training camp there. Allegedly, the terrorists would pay local fishermen bonuses for spying on sailors. As a result, there is an increased risk of kidnapping in the region.
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Pascal Schürmann
Editor YACHT
