Re: [Cal_Boats] Piracy & Weapons (Tom & Bobbie on Satori)

Thanks Tom, nothing better than hearing from someone with personal experience in these matters. My personal rule of life is that God helps those who help themselves, so whatever I can do to protect myself, I will. I'm not going to invite danger by sailing up the Somali Coast but I'm not going to let some punks with knives kill my family in the Bahamas or some other presumably safe port because I was afraid to carry a weapon. One of my favorite quotes and I don't remember who it was from is: "Fear the government that fears your guns." Paul In a message dated 1/20/2011 4:40:38 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, bs… [at] yahoo.com writes: Security while cruising is the name of the program we are presenting to our Emerald Coast Women Sailers group on Tuesday,Jan. 25. One of the ladies has been around the world twice. We enjoyed nine years of cruising after retiring in 1988 and since we can no longer roam around due to health issues we feel safe in sharing. Our attitude is that it is better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6, plus we have been properly trained in self defense and firearm use. When we felt threatened we always discussed the fact that we may have to take lives to preserve ours, then must get away from that area or country immediately. Fortunately that never happened, although we had several cases where our being prepared made a difference. No one should be more familiar with your boat than yourselves, so "hidey holes" that foreign officials cannot find should be your choice for concealing weapons on board. On our Cal Cruising 46, Satori we hid our stainless steel 12 gauge pump shotgun in an unused vent behind the fridge. The PO, Jack Jensen had a propane fridge with a vent. The vent was behind a cushion near the mast and close to the main companionway where we could easily access it and it was never discovered by Mexican, Costa Rican, Panamanian, Venezuelan, Trinidadian, or any of the many Caribbean island authorities. We always declared our weapons and had them prominently displayed for American inspections. The Bahamas permits you to be armed when in their islands. When we visited Cuba, we left all guns home except Mr. Beretta. For close at hand defense we had our Beretta 9mm semi-automatic pistol concealed in a book that I had carefully cut pages out of. It was on the bookshelf in our main cabin but went to the shelf by my bunk at night. We also carried a Winchester Model 94, lever action 30-30 rifle for long range. If discovered, I intended to claim it as a hunting gun. I believe a military type weapon such as an AR could have caused more problems if discovered. In our main cabin we have two rows of storage drawers with space alongside the hull where we concealed the rifle in it's case. By removing two drawers we could have it out and ready in about two minutes. We practiced getting these weapons out and firing them on a regular basis, going to a range whenever possible. It was a bit embarrasing for this old Marine when my left handed wife, Bobbie scored better with each weapon. I am not suggesting you have firearms on board, just reporting what we did. In our nine years of cruising, we had four incidents where we had guns in hand, usually Bobbie down below with the shotgun and me on deck with the pistol in my pocket and a machete partially concealed behind my back. When the "bad guys" saw we were prepared, they went away or asked if they could trade lobsters for gasoline. In 1994 we were hired to help deliver a 83' Berger from Trinidad back to Ft. Lauderdale. Knowing the reputation of St. Vincent, we elected to stay five miles offshore and transit that area at night. As dark approached, a panga with several swarthy lads fell in behind us, at first about 1/4 mile, then about 100 yards, just following. It was clear to us they intended to do harm. I went to the afterdeck with the 30-30 and levered in a round making sure they could see me. They immediately turned and headed back toward their $hit hole island. There are some places just too unsafe to visit, like parts of Los Angeles, off Somali, and others. Keep in touch with other cruisers on the Ham radio nets and find out about places to avoid. Your mileage may vary. Be prepared! Tom and Bobbie Vandiver, Cal Cruising 46, Hull #3, Satori, swallowed the anchor in Bayou Chico, FL N30 24.329 by W087 15.767 From: "pw… [at] aol.com" <pw… [at] aol.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, January 19, 2011 10:01:56 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Piracy & Weapons (Donald, Chris, Mike & Helen) Donald - I agree that shotguns would be a better defense, I was just thinking more in terms of being able to hide a pistol or two much easier. Helen and those of you who've sailed to Mexico or other countries - how hard do they search your boat and do they use any special equipment to detect a gun hidden in a secret compartment. I tend to live by the rule that it is easier to ask for forgiveness afterwards than to ask for permission beforehand. Chris - What is a Zarpa? And again, if you hide your weapons how do they know you have them? I'm not talking about hiding them in a locker I'm talking about creating a place that doesn't look like it opens or should open. There are lots of places like that on a Cal 39. Mike - Wonder if you could cut the barrel off a 12 ga shotgun and call it a flare gun? Could easily hide real 12ga shells with magnum loads. Thanks for your input - Paul In a message dated 1/18/2011 5:36:58 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, dn… [at] sbcglobal.net writes: I highly recommend that you skip the pistols and purchase one or two shotguns. If you talk to law enforcement officers who have fired their weapons under stress, they will tell you that the movies have made us all believe that you can hit a target with a handgun when the adrenaline is pumping. Real life tells of dozens of shots missing their marks. A shotgun, with a barrel as short as possible, will put up a pattern of defense that covers a relatively large area compared to the single bullet of a pistol. You are much more likely to stop your predator if you are armed with a scatter gun! Most cruising sailors that I have talked to started out carrying a weapon and then sold it due to all of the declarations and issues that arose as they tried to enter and leave countries with the weapon. I would rather choose my route to avoid trouble spots than have to go through all of the hassles that the governments of many countries put up to persons trying to carry arms with them on a cruise. Carry extra flares instead and plan on aiming a flare gun directly at someone who has approached you and threatened you within 5 or 10 yards. Well aimed flares have done a good job in cruising lore of fending off intruders. There is no real answer. This is truly a damned if you do, damned if you don't issue and there are stories that abound to support both sides of the argument. I have personally kept every flare I have ever bought and found that many that are 10 years out of active duty will still fire without incident. Donald Dutton, 1986 Cal 33-2, "Quantum Evolution" "Twenty Years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ........Mark Twain From: "pw… [at] aol.com" <pw… [at] aol.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, January 18, 2011 9:09:56 AM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Age and More Sailing Lore (was CAL33-2) I met a couple in their 80's that were ending their cruising life last summer. She didn't want to but he did as I assume (dangerous I know) he was just tired of doing all the heavy lifting so to speak. I wanted to take them to dinner and bleed their minds but they had to leave before I got the chance. Bums me out. RE: pirates . . . if/when we finally set out for a year or two on our cruise, I fully intend to carry one or two weapons (pistols) with me but also fully intend to stay out of areas where pirates have been reported. Maybe it's my Texas roots, but I'll be damned if I'm going to subject my family to violence that can be prevented or stopped with a show of force. I already know where I'm going to hide them where they'll be readily accessible. Most if not all episodes of pirating that I read about could have ended better had the sailors had a weapon. I realize others will not agree with this and that's their prerogative. Not trying to start a new thread or arguments just stating my opinion. Like the song says: "Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun, you might meet'em both if you show up here not welcome son" Paul

On Thu, Jan 20, 2011 at 11:37 AM, <pw… [at] aol.com> wrote: > > > Thanks Tom, nothing better than hearing from someone with personal > experience in these matters. > Very correct. One resource to consider is the local Rio Dulce forum for US xpats who live there permanently. The Rio D is not what it used to be. Read the last entry as it gives a good overview on what it going on down there, and the forum in general is good information on the state of affairs, and what folks are up against as well as the good side of life down there. Local knowledge is still the best source of information IMHO. Ref: http://riodulcechisme.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=5192 It also gives you a good overview on how the area has transitioned. What used to be protected by the local business of choice is now in flux. I for one would avoid that region completely. To each there own. Best regards /ch

I was glad to hear of your experience as well. Having never owned a weapon until my grandfather passed away and I inherited his WWII collection of derringers, 45's, and a Luger, I always just relied on having my flare gun handy if needed. I can tell you of my boardings in Tampa Bay by the Coast Guard. The very first question that they asked once aboard was, "Are you carrying any weapons?" I got the very strong impression that should I answer no and they found one that I was going to be in BIG trouble. The second question they asked was, "Any storage compartments that were not standard on the boat when purchased?" They made it very clear that if they found a storage area that was designed to hide ANYTHING that we were headed back to port and a possible seizure of the vessel. There main interest was illegal drugs. Since I had neither and all of my safety equipment was in place and working, I got a solid handshake after their 3 hour visit with me! The officer told me that I was his first "all clear" report in his career. He had always found some missing safety equipment that was required on previous boardings that were handled with a "fix it and report back" report. After that boarding, we simply had to show the report to the officer in charge the next two times we were boarded and they simply said, "Have a nice day (night)!" and left without looking at a thing! But, the first question they asked on each successive boarding was, "Do you have any weapons on board?" And they expected a truthful answer. My comment about carrying a shotgun comes from personal experience and from tips from friends both in and out of law enforcement. When we were getting ready to start our aborted trip around the world via sailboat, we were actively debating carrying a weapon. Every book we read talked about the hassles of checking in and out of various countries with a weapon and how difficult it was. Back when we were planning our trip the pirating was not nearly at the level it is now. My own experience on firing ranges put me at a disadvantage of hitting a target with a pistol while I have been able to score a 23 of 25 on a skeet range with a shotgun. 'Nuff said. Were I to go cruising today I would not try to go "around the world." I would cruise to the Med and the South Pacific and skip the middle east altogether. I wouldn't decide to carry a weapon until shortly before I left, but, if I did, I would declare it. That is simply who I am and how I do things and I am NOT being critical of those who have said they have hidden weapons while traveling. We all pick and choose which risks we are willing to live with and how we handle them. I am pretty certain that there is no right or wrong way, just choices. Don Dutton, 1986 Cal 33-2, "Quantum Evolution" PS Boarded the first time while sailing under the I-295 Sunshine Skyway bridge in Tampa Bay while headed toward Sarasota Bay. Allowed to continue sailing due to our destination and arrival needs, but my wife was at the helm while I accompanied the officer for the entire 3 hour tour! Every cushion and bunk was inspected and every locker and drawer opened. Contents of the refrigeration were put on display. Second boarding at 12:45 am in Sarasota Bay on New Year's Day and five months after the first. All Coasties wee in a hard bottomed inflatable with a machine gun mounted on the bow and in black outfits and hats and blackface. They left after checking my previous report. They then spent many hours on a neighboring boat. I think I described this boarding in an earlier post. The third was on Tampa Bay on a day sail and lasted 10 minutes. "Twenty Years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ........Mark Twain From: "pw… [at] aol.com" <pw… [at] aol.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, January 20, 2011 8:37:49 AM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Piracy & Weapons (Tom & Bobbie on Satori) Thanks Tom, nothing better than hearing from someone with personal experience in these matters. My personal rule of life is that God helps those who help themselves, so whatever I can do to protect myself, I will. I'm not going to invite danger by sailing up the Somali Coast but I'm not going to let some punks with knives kill my family in the Bahamas or some other presumably safe port because I was afraid to carry a weapon. One of my favorite quotes and I don't remember who it was from is: "Fear the government that fears your guns." Paul In a message dated 1/20/2011 4:40:38 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, bs… [at] yahoo.com writes: >Security while cruising is the name of the program we are presenting to our >Emerald Coast Women Sailers group on Tuesday,Jan. 25. One of the ladies has >been around the world twice. We enjoyed nine years of cruising after retiring >in 1988 and since we can no longer roam around due to health issues we feel >safe in sharing. Our attitude is that it is better to be judged by 12 than >carried by 6, plus we have been properly trained in self defense and firearm >use. When we felt threatened we always discussed the fact that we may have to >take lives to preserve ours, then must get away from that area or country >immediately. Fortunately that never happened, although we had several cases >where our being prepared made a difference. > >No one should be more familiar with your boat than yourselves, so "hidey >holes" that foreign officials cannot find should be your choice for concealing >weapons on board. >On our Cal Cruising 46, Satori we hid our stainless steel 12 gauge pump >shotgun in an unused vent behind the fridge. The PO, Jack Jensen had a propane >fridge with a vent. The vent was behind a cushion near the mast and close to >the main companionway where we could easily access it and it was never >discovered by Mexican, Costa Rican, Panamanian, Venezuelan, Trinidadian, or >any of the many Caribbean island authorities. We always declared our weapons >and had them prominently displayed for American inspections. The Bahamas >permits you to be armed when in their islands. When we visited Cuba, we left >all guns home except Mr. Beretta. > > >For close at hand defense we had our Beretta 9mm semi-automatic pistol >concealed in a book that I had carefully cut pages out of. It was on the >bookshelf in our main cabin but went to the shelf by my bunk at night. We also >carried a Winchester Model 94, lever action 30-30 rifle for long range. If >discovered, I intended to claim it as a hunting gun. I believe a military type >weapon such as an AR could have caused more problems if discovered. In our >main cabin we have two rows of storage drawers with space alongside the hull >where we concealed the rifle in it's case. By removing two drawers we could >have it out and ready in about two minutes. > >We practiced getting these weapons out and firing them on a regular basis, >going to a range whenever possible. It was a bit embarrasing for this old >Marine when my left handed wife, Bobbie scored better with each weapon. > >I am not suggesting you have firearms on board, just reporting what we did. > >In our nine years of cruising, we had four incidents where we had guns in >hand, usually Bobbie down below with the shotgun and me on deck with the >pistol in my pocket and a machete partially concealed behind my back. When >the "bad guys" saw we were prepared, they went away or asked if they could >trade lobsters for gasoline. >In 1994 we were hired to help deliver a 83' Berger from Trinidad back to Ft. >Lauderdale. Knowing the reputation of St. Vincent, we elected to stay five >miles offshore and transit that area at night. As dark approached, a panga >with several swarthy lads fell in behind us, at first about 1/4 mile, then >about 100 yards, just following. It was clear to us they intended to do harm. >I went to the afterdeck with the 30-30 and levered in a round making sure >they could see me. They immediately turned and headed back toward their $hit >hole island. > >There are some places just too unsafe to visit, like parts of Los Angeles, >off Somali, and others. Keep in touch with other cruisers on the Ham radio >nets and find out about places to avoid. > >Your mileage may vary. > >Be prepared! > >Tom and Bobbie Vandiver, Cal Cruising 46, Hull #3, Satori, swallowed the >anchor in Bayou Chico, FL N30 24.329 by W087 15.767 > > > > > From: "pw… [at] aol.com" <pw… [at] aol.com> >To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >Sent: Wed, January 19, 2011 10:01:56 PM >Subject: [Cal_Boats] Piracy & Weapons (Donald, Chris, Mike & Helen) > > >Donald - I agree that shotguns would be a better defense, I was just >thinking more in terms of being able to hide a pistol or two much easier. > > >Helen and those of you who've sailed to Mexico or other countries - how hard >do they search your boat and do they use any special equipment to detect a >gun hidden in a secret compartment. I tend to live by the rule that it is >easier to ask for forgiveness afterwards than to ask for permission >beforehand. > >Chris - What is a Zarpa? And again, if you hide your weapons how do they >know you have them? I'm not talking about hiding them in a locker I'm >talking about creating a place that doesn't look like it opens or should >open. There are lots of places like that on a Cal 39. > >Mike - Wonder if you could cut the barrel off a 12 ga shotgun and call it a >flare gun? Could easily hide real 12ga shells with magnum loads. > >Thanks for your input - > >Paul > > > >In a message dated 1/18/2011 5:36:58 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, >dn… [at] sbcglobal.net writes: > >>I highly recommend that you skip the pistols and purchase one or two >>shotguns. If you talk to law enforcement officers who have fired their >>weapons under stress, they will tell you that the movies have made us all >>believe that you can hit a target with a handgun when the adrenaline is >>pumping. Real life tells of dozens of shots missing their marks. A >>shotgun, with a barrel as short as possible, will put up a pattern of >>defense that covers a relatively large area compared to the single bullet of >>a pistol. You are much more likely to stop your predator if you are armed >>with a scatter gun! >> >> >>Most cruising sailors that I have talked to started out carrying a weapon >>and then sold it due to all of the declarations and issues that arose as >>they tried to enter and leave countries with the weapon. I would rather >>choose my route to avoid trouble spots than have to go through all of the >>hassles that the governments of many countries put up to persons trying to >>carry arms with them on a cruise. Carry extra flares instead and plan on >>aiming a flare gun directly at someone who has approached you and >>threatened you within 5 or 10 yards. Well aimed flares have done a good >>job in cruising lore of fending off intruders. >> >>There is no real answer. This is truly a damned if you do, damned if you >>don't issue and there are stories that abound to support both sides of the >>argument. I have personally kept every flare I have ever bought and found >>that many that are 10 years out of active duty will still fire without >>incident. >> >> Donald Dutton, 1986 Cal 33-2, "Quantum Evolution" >> >> >>"Twenty Years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you >>didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail >>away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. >>Dream. Discover." ........Mark Twain >> >> >> >> >> From: "pw… [at] aol.com" <pw… [at] aol.com> >>To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com >>Sent: Tue, January 18, 2011 9:09:56 AM >>Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Age and More Sailing Lore (was CAL33-2) >> >> >>I met a couple in their 80's that were ending their cruising life last >>summer. She didn't want to but he did as I assume (dangerous I know) he >>was just tired of doing all the heavy lifting so to speak. I wanted to >>take them to dinner and bleed their minds but they had to leave before I >>got the chance. Bums me out. >> >>RE: pirates . . . if/when we finally set out for a year or two on our >>cruise, I fully intend to carry one or two weapons (pistols) with me but >>also fully intend to stay out of areas where pirates have been reported. >>Maybe it's my Texas roots, but I'll be damned if I'm going to subject my >>family to violence that can be prevented or stopped with a show of force. >>I already know where I'm going to hide them where they'll be readily >>accessible. Most if not all episodes of pirating that I read about could >>have ended better had the sailors had a weapon. >> >> >>I realize others will not agree with this and that's their prerogative. >>Not trying to start a new thread or arguments just stating my opinion. >> >> >>Like the song says: >> >>"Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun, >>you might meet'em both if you show up here not welcome son" >> >>Paul >> >>

Donald A question. In discussion with the coast guard auxillary in Rock Hall I was informed that having the boat inspected and passed would result in decal issued that would avoid the complete 3 hrs inspection. You could still be boarded but it would be the cursory inspection, not the full monty. This applies to both national and foreign flagged vessels. Is that an accurate representation of the state of affairs? The only time I was approached by Coasties, was in Baltimore harbor in the middle of winter as Obama was in town, and we were flying a quarantine flag to check in with the customs house. Really nice ladies work at the location. Will never forget those two, what a blast. The coasties were extremely polite, professional and armed to the teeth. The interview was conducted while staring down a 50 caliber machine gun. No one boarded. Everyone had smiles on their faces and it was kept light. With the appropriate response from our end they moved off some 100m and maintained a watch on us till the harbour was cleared for civilian traffic. /ch

What caliber flare pistols were used in WWI & WWII. Presumably these were made of hevier gauge metal. Would customs officials be likely to complain about an antique flare gun? How difficult would it be to combine the propellant charges from two or three flares and pack some fishing sinkers or ball bearings on top of them. Do Coasties, customs ever ask: "Do you have the capability to manufacture any weapons on board?" A length of pipe could be used to make a single shot shotgun without too much difficulty, you could assemble two or three each time you left port. Of course they might be more dangerous to operate than a store bought piece. One might remember that children, spouses and friends are sometimes shot by accident. Are we getting close to a Bronson vigilante scenario? Nip Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless From: chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, Jan 20, 2011 17:50:28 GMT+00:00 Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Piracy & Weapons (Paul, Tom & Bobbie on Satori) Donald A question. In discussion with the coast guard auxillary in Rock Hall I was informed that having the boat inspected and passed would result in decal issued that would avoid the complete 3 hrs inspection. You could still be boarded but it would be the cursory inspection, not the full monty. This applies to both national and foreign flagged vessels. Is that an accurate representation of the state of affairs? The only time I was approached by Coasties, was in Baltimore harbor in the middle of winter as Obama was in town, and we were flying a quarantine flag to check in with the customs house. Really nice ladies work at the location. Will never forget those two, what a blast. The coasties were extremely polite, professional and armed to the teeth. The interview was conducted while staring down a 50 caliber machine gun. No one boarded. Everyone had smiles on their faces and it was kept light. With the appropriate response from our end they moved off some 100m and maintained a watch on us till the harbour was cleared for civilian traffic. /ch

Chris, I have been told many times by many people that the Coast Guard Auxiliary sticker is the equivalent of our full search in avoiding a long boarding. I have numerous personal conversations that this is so, however, all of them were US flagged vessels. I don't have any experience or know anyone else who has had a safety inspection decal and is foreign flagged. You would be my first! I suspect that it would work, though. It certainly shows them that you respect the law and your vessel is in compliance. I miss the politeness of the Delaware/Maryland officials. A short cross into New Jersey and New York and it all becomes hard-ass and rude. Amazing difference in a very short space. One of my best cruise-vacations ever included the Baltimore Inner Harbor and tours of the sub, the lighthouse ship, and the Aquarium! It was my oldest daughter's 7th birthday and it was her desire to be in Baltimore. We also watched a filming session of the police show that used to be based there. They made the street look exactly like the middle of winter with snow on the ground even though it was the end of July! I was extremely impressed with the men that boarded, their politeness, and their professionalism. The only thing that ever bothered me was the second boarding, but I can understand the reasons why they did what they did. I was putting the girls to bed down below after watching the fireworks displays of three different towns that we could see from the anchorage in a mooring field. It is a well known place to anchor and is in all of the cruising guides. Suddenly, the whole world lit up from astern and I thought a very large motor boat must be trying to anchor and saw us at the last minute! I rushed up on deck, half dressed, only to see a 50 caliber machine gun and three men in black hats, black face, and rifles slung over their shoulders and loosely pointed in my direction. As soon as I asked they killed the light and showed their badges and asked to board. Only one boarded, looked at my report, and apologized as he left and my daughters cried down below. The next vessel they boarded was a houseboat that had anchored well before us. They left with the captain in handcuffs and I later heard that he had marijuana plants growing in the main salon. They were on board for 3 hours there as well. I know because I couldn't sleep after the boarding while my wife and kids drifted off to a pleasant sleep. I finally fell asleep under a blanket in the cockpit -- sure miss the warm nights of Florida! Sarasota was my all time favorite place to sail. Good wind, great anchorages, white sand, clear water, and a great downtown that was only a half mile from the dinghy dock at the marina! I suppose that the Coasties didn't do a thorough search of you in Baltimore because there larger mission was the security of the entire harbor during Obama's visit. The larger mission when we were boarded was drug interdiction in Florida plus Cuban refugees. We never sailed to Cuba, but many of my neighbors in The Harborage sailed to the Dry Tortugas on a regular basis. Always sorry that we never made that trip..... Love your stories and ambition to cruise. Hope to keep following you as you prepare. Sincerely, Don Dutton "Twenty Years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ........Mark Twain From: chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, January 20, 2011 9:50:24 AM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Piracy & Weapons (Paul, Tom & Bobbie on Satori) Donald A question. In discussion with the coast guard auxillary in Rock Hall I was informed that having the boat inspected and passed would result in decal issued that would avoid the complete 3 hrs inspection. You could still be boarded but it would be the cursory inspection, not the full monty. This applies to both national and foreign flagged vessels. Is that an accurate representation of the state of affairs? The only time I was approached by Coasties, was in Baltimore harbor in the middle of winter as Obama was in town, and we were flying a quarantine flag to check in with the customs house. Really nice ladies work at the location. Will never forget those two, what a blast. The coasties were extremely polite, professional and armed to the teeth. The interview was conducted while staring down a 50 caliber machine gun. No one boarded. Everyone had smiles on their faces and it was kept light. With the appropriate response from our end they moved off some 100m and maintained a watch on us till the harbour was cleared for civilian traffic. /ch

Thanks for your detailed response Donald.. Im not sure yet if the boat will remain under US flag of Canadian. At this time, she proudly flies the Stars and Stripes, hand made, cost me 50 bucks no less...:) and will get the sticker before leaving NJ. It will depend on two things, what Canada customs has to say, and secondly the status of Cuba. With my friends passing my plans have changed as to destinations. My initial intend was to catch up with him and rub some salt under his nose with turn of speed of the 29 against his Ericson, I was so waiting for that day. Well thats not gonna happen now, so there is no longer any need nor desire to go that far south, Cuba is fine for me. Its a nice run from Nova Scotia or the great lakes, down the eastern seaboard, into the keys and then the hop to Cuba. That may require a Canadian flag. Dont know. The other area that I have been researching is the Maritimes. Lots of good water down east and friends have moved there recently so a home port in Shelburne NS would not be a bad thing either. The nice thing about a sailboat and not having land holdings anymore, you are free to travel where you desire provided the kitty is there. Secondly, running support for him throughout his travels, the area has dramatically changed from the time he entered the region two years ago. The forces that gave the area stability have changed or are in transition. It was bad for business of all sorts to touch the international sailing community that wintered there and move further south to Honduran Islands during the sailing season. While once pristine, these are now dangerous waters, where human life has no value. Similar to places in the mid east where I traveled for work and pleasure. Hence my comments about weapons as you have no need for them, You simply dont stand a chance, so the only prudent thing is to stay away. And the word is getting out, with a dramatic drop not only in cruisers but vacationers as well. In Canada, travel alerts have been issued for Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. This is for standard commercial tourism. Changes are underway. I have never had an issue with Coasties, they are extremely good at what they do in a climate that has changed in the States as well. One area that is challenging is the need for both US and foreign nationals to report in with HS every time a vessel is moved. Each States office addresses this requirement differently so its very necessary to document all conversations with names or ID numbers as its subject to a 5K fine. Not fun and very different regs in different States. With respect to attitude and manners, it ends once you leave Delaware and enter NJ. Individuals are cool, business owners and authorities are well different to stay polite. But thats all part of the experience I guess. The two gals who work the custom house in Baltimore are worth the trip alone. Ms Betty and Ms Jane. Wonderfull ladies, had me in stitches. On the return trip. I exchanged the favor and we laughed till the tears were rolling. The plans to cruise are moving forward. Slower then expected and in different directions then expected. The new engine has been purchased thanks to Joe, and will be installed in the late spring. From there its back to Canada via the Hudson to hang out on Lake Ontario and learn to sail this vessel in all weather conditions. If I can get a part time job at Westmarine for the summer the employee discount will cut the outfitting expenses in half and extend the cruising budget. Where the boat will be moored for the summer, the store is less then 30 minutes away. Most things are either in progress or in the planning stages, so Im looking forward to the summer to sail and sail in familiar waters. Lake Ontario is a great place to hang out, as its bordered by two countries. Get bored on the North side, its a days run to US for cheap beer, greasy food and a different attitude and sense of humor. Life is good. /ch