Pirates Aboard

Publisher: Sheridan House, 2003 £ 19.99 .

Klaus Hympendahl obtained accounts from seventy-five yachts involved in piracy. He asked what they had done wrong, what views they had for right and future policy. Paramilitary gangs operate off Indonesia, the Philippines and Horn of Africa. Elsewhere it is poor fishermen.  Incidents, usually inshore, occurred off Cape Verde Islands, Brazil, Venezuela, Equator, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala. Oceania is generally safe but there has been trouble off the Solomon Islands and Fiji. Officials are usually indifferent, often corrupt and sometimes themselves criminals. Apart from Albania and one Aegean hijacking Europe is safe.

One should avoid known dangerous areas and those with local unrest. Do not advertise your relative wealth or offend local custom. Cruise in convoy and have plenty of communication equipment. There is dispute as to whether violence or passivity is the wisest response and whether firearms should be carried although this would be illegal on a British yacht or in British waters. It is like the discussion on how we should be allowed to defend our homes.

This seems essential reading for blue water sailors although it is rather repetitious and suffers from translation in being rather longwinded. Most need not worry; thieves do not like cold water. - JLC

"© Cruising Association [2000] All rights reserved.
Use of this site is subject to our Terms and Conditions."