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Everyone is encouraged to report incidents of which you have knowledge. Please try to report facts, and not assumptions, when making a report. For example, reporting that a merchant ship "had no one on the bridge" is different from reporting that "we could see no one on the bridge", and lends an entirely different slant to your account.

Nicaraguan Banks - 24 Sept 2005: s/v Feisty and s/v CherokeeII reported being "stalked" by fishing vessels, while enroute to Providencia from Honduras. CherokeeII reported a large steel hull fishboat "missing them by feet". Read what Feisty and CherokeeII have to say.

NICARAGUAN BANKS - Feb 3, 2006 - S/Y Queen Mary reported being stopped and questioned by a US Navy vessel while enroute from the San Blas to San Andres at 11/45N 080/45 W on 3 Feb. The warship was operating without lights, and was first noticed on the yacht's radar when about 2 miles away. The yacht then turned off its lights and took evasive action. At that point the warship illuminated the yacht with a spotlight and questioned them on vhf. Queen Mary reported that the questioning was polite, and no boarding occurred.

BOAT BURGLARY IN UTILA ....

s/y Haliai reports a well planned theft March 24 in East Bay. While ashore, the captain made the mistake of pointing out his sailboat to some locals, and before he returned to the boat, and the burglary took place before he returned . This MO seems to coincide with others who have been robbed in Utila lately. Winterlude had a computer stolen before Christmas, and Serena was burgled on Feb 20.

Easter robbery season is approaching.

26 Feb - the third theft in the Drowned Cay area near Belize City was reported, this time a 40hp outboard. (It must have been a large dinghy) Queen Mary reports San Andres is actually a very safe place if one takes the normal precautions.

13 March - Fishermen adrift assisted by sailboat: Last night three fishermen were assisted by a sailboat about 60 miles offshore Grand Cayman. The three were in a 30 foot open boat, had little fuel or water, and had been adrift for a week. Their GPS failed and they did not know their position. Expectations, Victoria, Insatiable 1, Kristiana and others maintained comms and made telephone calls to the US and Cayman Coast Guard to ensure that the fishermen were indeed from Cayman. About midnight, the Caymanian rescue vessel Cayman Protector arrived on scene and took the fish boat in tow. Thanks especially to Expectations for making several satphone calls to authorities on Grand Cayman.

14 April - Paws reports an incident on the Nicaraguan Banks. At about 0130 local time 14 April they were approached by a vessel about 50 meters long. The vessel was showing nav lights. It approached on their port bow, showing both sidelights as it came. It turned and paralleled their course at about 1.5 miles distance, then turned away. It did not answer hails on vhf. Visually it showed a low profile which made them think it could be a warship. Paws' reported position at 1400z was 11/30N 080/18W.

24 April - relayed from Queen Mary.... THEFTS IN UTILA: "Yamana talked to the mayor of Utila about the robbery there. He says he has people watching the anchored boats, but everyone needs to anchor close together. Carmalita talked to some of the businesses there and they say they are bringing in professionals to take care of the situation." Here is an email from s/y Isle concerning this problem, and suggests watchmen for hire.

07 May - s/v Tania Jane reports yet another burglary in East Bay UTILA. They locked the boat and went ashore last night for a few hours. When they returned the boat was broken into - a computer and other items were stolen.

UTILA - A PLACE TO BE AVOIDED?

The 2006 sailing season has seen Utila become the highest robbery risk area in the Northwest Caribbean. Boaters should consider avoiding the island until authorities there find ways to control crime. Customs and immigration officials have often been reported as unavailable. Yachts anchored in the main settlement of East Bay are watched by thieves, and are boarded when the crew goes ashore. Here is a summary of thefts aboard yachts as reported to the net this season. These are only reported thefts and not the actual number.

Winterlude - laptop and cell phone stolen

Andiamo - two laptops stolen and the boat totally ransacked

Serena - $1000 worth of equipment stolen

Haliai - over $7000 worth of cash, radios, computers and more

Haliai - robbed a second time a few days later

Yamana - four computers, cash, camera lenses, Ipod

Carmelita - no info on losses

Tania Jane - computer and other items stolen

An experienced cruiser familiar with Utila has counted seventeen burglaries aboard yachts in Utila over the last two years. Here are two typical reports, written by Tides End and Andiamo.

RIO DULCE: THEFTS AND GUNSHOTS

July 5th - The cutter Isle reports three outboard motors were stolen in the area of "Shell Bay" and Mario's Marina about 10pm last night. One motor was stolen from Isle, whose owner was aboard at the time. The dinghy was chained into davits. As the theives departed in an unpainted cayuco, they fired four shots at Isle from a small caliber weapon. There were no injuries. No details of the other thefts were reported on the net.

Nov 10: Distant Drummer is safe at anchor in San Andreas, Colombia. Brazen reports a dinghy (with new 15hp Yamaha) stolen overnight at West End, Roatan. The boat was locked and chained to its parent vessel.