tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2151800050737906706.post935727569863536026..comments2024-02-07T06:34:22.473+00:00Comments on S/V BeBe: Arrived Cochin, IndiaCW Bill Rousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13136157610605784706noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2151800050737906706.post-80497237422982682332011-02-13T12:03:33.545+00:002011-02-13T12:03:33.545+00:00Hi,
I would have definitely chosen the shipping o...Hi,<br /><br />I would have definitely chosen the shipping option last year if it hadn't been strewn with obstacles. So if I was you this year I would go for it.<br /><br />But as for Yemen we actually saw and felt no danger. Last year, before we arrived and while we were in Yemen, there were reports on the international news regarding Al Queda in Yemen with American Govt intervention there. Sana'a was closed off for a period due to rebel activities. Looking back at news bulletins and comparing this year and last year.... there doesn't appear to be any difference. We spent 3 days in Al Mukulla wandering around the city centre being greeted with 'Welcomes' and 'thank you for coming'. We had Americans in our group and we saw no difference in the way they were treated compared to the rest of us. Even after reaching the Med we all agreed that Yemen had been the highlight of the trip from Langkawi to Turkey. <br /><br />Regarding pirate activities - I now know that last year was twice as active as the previous year. And yet we all went thru with no problem. But this time last year I was nervous like you, I was getting pressure from loved one at home wondering what the hell I was doing there. And there was indirect pressure from other yachties who were intent on sailing the regular route with increased concern.<br /><br />But if anything did happen then you have to take responsibility for it. You have to answer for it to your spouse, family and yourself. <br /><br />So take the ship and don't feel guilty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2151800050737906706.post-71816003081723717382011-02-13T04:21:35.913+00:002011-02-13T04:21:35.913+00:00Kim
While I appreciate that you were faced with t...Kim <br />While I appreciate that you were faced with the same decision last year, the circumstances have changed drastically since then. During the same period last "season" there were 6 pirate attacks in the Northern Indian Ocean and 7 within the Gulf of Aden. <br /><br />For that same period this "season" there have been 10 attacks in the Gulf of Aden and 78 attacks in the Northern Indian Ocean.<br /><br />I would have guessed that pirate activity had quadrupled this year, but it is a LOT more than only 4 times higher.<br /><br />As for sailing along the coast of Yemen, that was fine in years past -- but simply too dangerous today. Al Queda has a large presence for about 260 miles west of Al Mukalla. They have smuggled more than 70,000 people up from Somalia during 2010. There is believed to be a Yemeni Coast Guard official working with them. For an American to go along the coast of Yemen today would be very unwise.<br /><br />Glad you made it through safely last year.CW Bill Rousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13136157610605784706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2151800050737906706.post-86420747542222910572011-02-12T12:41:45.490+00:002011-02-12T12:41:45.490+00:00Hi.
I was in a similar predicament to you this ti...Hi. <br />I was in a similar predicament to you this time last year. I thought it was crazy to sail thru this pirate infested waters at 5 / 6kts when ships doing 20kts are being seized. <br /><br />I had a plan to get my 32ft boat on as deck cargo on a ship heading for the Med. I work on merchant vessels and this didn't appear to be a problem. <br /><br />So I sailed from Langkawi to Cochin. I then visited the shipping agents who were friendly and helpful. They took my details and contacted head offices etc. But it all came to nothing. The conclusion was you should go to Mumbai or Colombo or Port Klang. So in the end I continued to Salalah, Oman which is a major container port. Of course to get there meant sailing thru the N Indian ocean where the pirates are. Other yacties thought that this section is safe.... I'm not sure but anyway nothing happened to me or any of the other 150-200 yachts that year.<br />Salalah was great - easy atmosphere, friendly people. So again I visited the shipping agents. The container ships heading to Med leave frequently. I just had to chose which ship / date I wanted and what destination in the Med I wanted. The price seemed good also. My boat is shorter than a 40ft container but it is wider. So then you have to pay for the containers either side of mine. OK. And rent a flat rack container. OK. And then build a cradle. But it doesn't need a cradle (just put it on the flat rack and weld on some supports). The answer to this was no. You must have a cradle. Sit the boat in the cradle and then lift boat + cradle onto flat rack. Then you need a surveyor to verify it is secure ($1000 for this service!) and then there is the paper work. 'You will need a separate agent for this as this is a "Export from Oman" compared to a "trans-shippment" ' The agents normally only deal with trans shipments. <br />So in the end I joined a small group of yachts (7) and sailed along the Yemen coast to Aden. We stopped at 3 places on the way and it was a very good trip. We found the Yemen people very very friendly. Helpful all the way. The Gulf of Aden is probably the safest part of the trip as there are so many military ships there patrolling. <br />Obviously this year you have the added problem of trouble in Egypt. But I don't think it will affect the Suez canal - that's too important. <br />There are some good marinas in Egypt now. I left my boat in Hurgada marina for a month when I flew home. Marina berth and flights to Europe were both cheap. And the transit thru the Suez was OK. Bureaucracy in Egypt was bad so was delighted to get into the Med.<br /><br />Kim <br />PS. I see that there are yacht transporters this year. I'd have done that if they were available at convenient ports last year.<br /><br />kimhind@hotmail.com<br />SY Rival ChiefAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2151800050737906706.post-49339300467945071992011-02-03T20:46:11.874+00:002011-02-03T20:46:11.874+00:00Glad you weren't caught in quite the same kind...Glad you weren't caught in quite the same kind of storm as a few weeks ago! Be safe, as the situation in Egypt seems to be getting worse.Mid-Life Cruising!http://www.mid-lifecruising.comnoreply@blogger.com