Re: [Cal_Boats] Pirates and self defense on Cal boats

I've often wondered about that. Do you have a problem with rust in your bore? All in all, I bet it's your disarming smile that's kept you safe! From: Tom Vandiver <bs… [at] yahoo.com> To: Cal List <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, April 7, 2008 2:39:31 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Pirates and self defense on Cal boats Without starting a brouhaha about self, family, boat and home defense, I wish to share our experiences with attempted "piracy" at sea. While I will never admit to having weapons aboard, I think it is stupid to go to some of the places we have cruised without some means of defending yourself. In our nine years of cruising our Cal 46 from California, Mexico, Central and South America, Caribbean, etc. we have had some threatening experiences. We were prepared, Bobbie covers me from down below as I stand with a visible large machete and a smile. (She is trained also). Because we were not an easy target, they went away. In 1995 we had been hanging out in Venezuela, (before Chavez) and Trinidad and got to know a lot of fine cruisers and locals. We were offered a delivery job bringing a 85' Berger motor yacht from Trinidad to Ft, Lauderdale. You mean get paid to do something like that? Anyway, we were passing about 5 NM west of one of the islands noted for having nasty folks. Just before dark, a panga with several swarthy looking dudes fell in behind us about 100 yards astern. We had heard about these people sneaking up on larger power yachts, boarding via the aft swim step and attacking or killing the crew, then ransacking the boat or using it for one drug deal. As they got closer, I walked back on the after deck with a Winchester Model 94, 30-30, displayed it and levered one round in the chamber. Amazing how they did a 180. I grew up with guns, served in the Marine Corps and have always been a gun collector, NRA member, defender of the Second Amendment, hunter and target shooter. I have been trained and am prepared to protect my family and property. If you are not properly trained and/or not prepared to take someones life who would take yours, then I suggest you stay home and call 9-11, which can be as useful as writing a letter to Santa Claus. End of rant. Cal content: The painter who is almost finished with Bravura our Cal 25, slid out on his motorcycle and broke his foot, so she will not be ready for the Dauphin Island Race, 26 April. Oh well, we will find another Cal to crew on. Tom Vandiver ____________________________________________________________________________________ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

--- Lord Nougat <lo… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: > I've often wondered about that. Do you have a > problem with rust in your bore? ***Only in the 60 caliber muzzle loaders when I fail to properly clean them. > > All in all, I bet it's your disarming smile that's > kept you safe! > ***Si, es verdad Tomas > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Tom Vandiver <bs… [at] yahoo.com> > To: Cal List <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Monday, April 7, 2008 2:39:31 PM > Subject: [Cal_Boats] Pirates and self defense on Cal > boats > > Without starting a brouhaha about > self, family, boat > and home defense, I wish to share our experiences > with > attempted "piracy" at sea. While I will never admit > to > having weapons aboard, I think it is stupid to go to > some of the places we have cruised without some > means > of defending yourself. In our nine years of cruising > our Cal 46 from California, Mexico, Central and > South > America, Caribbean, etc. we have had some > threatening > experiences. We were prepared, Bobbie covers me from > down below as I stand with a visible large machete > and > a smile. (She is trained also). Because we were not > an > easy target, they went away. > > In 1995 we had been hanging out in Venezuela, > (before > Chavez) and Trinidad and got to know a lot of fine > cruisers and locals. We were offered a delivery job > bringing a 85' Berger motor yacht from Trinidad to > Ft, Lauderdale. You mean get paid to do something > like that? > Anyway, we were passing about 5 NM west of one of > the > islands noted for having nasty folks. Just before > dark, a panga with several swarthy looking dudes > fell > in behind us about 100 yards astern. We had heard > about these people sneaking up on larger power > yachts, > boarding via the aft swim step and attacking or > killing the crew, then ransacking the boat or using > it > for one drug deal. > > As they got closer, I walked back on the after deck > with a Winchester Model 94, 30-30, displayed it and > levered one round in the chamber. Amazing how they > did > a 180. > > I grew up with guns, served in the Marine Corps and > have always been a gun collector, NRA member, > defender > of the Second Amendment, hunter and target shooter. > I > have been trained and am prepared to protect my > family > and property. If you are not properly trained and/or > not prepared to take someones life who would take > yours, then I suggest you stay home and call 9-11, > which can be as useful as writing a letter to Santa > Claus. > > End of rant. > Cal content: The painter who is almost finished > with > Bravura our Cal 25, slid out on his motorcycle and > broke his foot, so she will not be ready for the > Dauphin Island Race, 26 April. Oh well, we will find > another Cal to crew on. > > Tom Vandiver > > > > > > > > > > > > > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one > month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. > http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

Tom, Sorry to hear about Paul messing up his foot. I know how much you were looking forward to Bravura coming home. You know that you are more than welcome aboard Celtic Naut. She'll be ready to sail before the race. I've been stripping the old varnish off of the wood on deck the last couple days and, once that is fixed, the deck painted and the stanchions and lifelines re-installed we'll go give 'em hell with an empty Cal 40. We should do well. It's going to be strange racing when the wind comes from the same direction for hours on end. I look forward to having a former Cal-25 National Champion aboard. Mike >End of rant. > Cal content: The painter who is almost finished > with > Bravura our Cal 25, slid out on his motorcycle and > broke his foot, so she will not be ready for the > Dauphin Island Race, 26 April. Oh well, we will find > another Cal to crew on. > > Tom Vandiver