Icelandic coastguard chasing drug running yacht

Great job by the coastguard!

But I think it puts a bad light on those sailing to Iceland without any criminal intentions.... a destination I am longing for to visit by boat!

As there seem to be a few sailors from Iceland on this thread, does anyone of you know by chance a possibility to charter a yacht somewhere on Iceland? PM if you like.

Thanks, Holger
 
having visited Iceland by air & hire car a year or so ago, I did not find the climate, shores or weather conditions encouraged me to want a boat. Harbours seemed to be far apart, the coastline was evil, lots of rocks & steep to shingle, very little shelter, lots of cold mist, rain & gales. I was far happier in the volcanic pools than even walking on the beaches/ sea walls etc. We did find lots of nice churches in remote spots erected by a handful of shipwreck survivors. But most don't seem to have been that lucky.
 
I have sailed around the Faroe Islands last June, and have thorougly enjoyed the great landscape (which is also steep and rugged) and the scenery. Therefore I thought (after reading the excellent Imray pilot) that Iceland could be to my liking - but thanks for your input, I will double check my oilies...!
 
for some reason I am drawn to rough weather... dunno there is something about the hard times making the good times even better!!!

I'll let you know how I feel when I've got more sea time under my belt and been through some rough patches /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Andy
 
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Looks like the yacht is an Océanis 43 named Sirtaki perhaps from an establishment "Channel Sailing BVBA" which deals in skippered and bareboat charters from Zeebrugge and Breskens.

I don´t expect they´ll see their craft for a wee while now....

[/ QUOTE ]Gosh, I've chartered a Bavaria 34 from them in 2001. I bet Channel Sailing didn't guess what his customer had in mind.
 
Don't get me wrong I am not supporting these people but in my speculation this incident could merely be some poor bankrupt icelandic bankers trying to earn a more honest living and look what happens to them!

A lesson to us all stick to big crime - bankrupt a bank (or if an MP fiddle your expenses) and leave with millions in pensions!!

Thank god our crime enforcement agencies have got it right and concentrating on people that are trying to provide the goods that others want to buy!!
 
FWIW, and to put a slightly more positive angle on this tale, the Oceanis 43, Sirtaki, has now been returned to her "rightful" owner in Zeebrugge.

A former cop and experienced yachtsman, Eiríkur Beck, together with three sailing companions, was given the pleasant task of delivering the released yacht, all expenses paid, south via Tórshavn Faeroe, Kirkwall Orkney, Peterhead, Hartlepool and Lowestoft. They experienced generally favourable weather, with only a bout of 25 knots on the nose south of Faeroe, and saw over 10 knots on the dial on the last leg crossing the Channel, arriving in Belgium after ten days on 30th. May.

Despite belonging to a nation of financial terrorists (courtesy of Brown and Darling), they met warm welcomes in every port when their mission was explained, and on leaving Harlepool, the harbour master even came running after them to return their £20 for dues!

The majority who spoke to them were surprised to hear that that the yacht was being returned, as legally speaking she could have been impounded and sold, indeed people were queuing here to put in offers for a near new Oceanis 43.

However, it was decided to return the craft, probably in an effort to improve our country´s reputation; perhaps the resolution of the Icesave dispute announced today may help as well.

One slightly humorous incident involved a lost memory chip for a camera on board. A chip was found, but revealed a photographic log of the drug smuggling voyage north this spring! A further search turned up the other lost chip. Obviously, the three now in custody in Iceland wanted to look back on their attempt to smuggle the largest amount of drugs in one haul that Iceland has seen to date, with an accurate log of the trip - snaps for the grandchildren?

Thrall
 
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was given the pleasant task of delivering the released yacht, all expenses paid, south via Tórshavn Faeroe, Kirkwall Orkney, Peterhead, Hartlepool and Lowestoft.


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I thought you said it was a pleasant trip.

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Komdu sæll, Dyflin.

In the newspaper article, there was no criticism of Peterhead, merely a mention in passing of a brief sojourn in the town/harbour.

Why the doubt Dyflin; was your stretch there not so pleasant? Not at her majesty´s pleasure, I hope.

Thrall
 
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Thanks castaway, have just ordered Cunliffe's book....

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and enjoyed reading it! However, it did not fulfill the purpose to put me off from visiting Iceland by yacht, and already some arrangements have been made for a atrip next summer....
 
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