I want to go too! But I understand independent travel is still difficult. However Gadaffi's son is intent on developing the area around Cyrene for tourism including a marina, so visits by yacht will no doubt be allowed in the not too distant future.
I see in the latest issue of CA magazinethere is an article on visiting Benghazi ,they claim to be first private boat there in thirty years.Guys name is Mike Yendell.
Getting a visa alone is a major undertaking, SPLAJ is a difficult country to visit even if you are invited, check it out, but do they even have an embassy yet in London, we used to go to Athens or Malta, even then very difficult.
There is a Libyan embassy in London (it was reopened in 2003) at 15 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LY. Also there is a state tourist agency, Libtra, you could google. Either should be able to advise. Certainly Libya seems to be opening to tourists now, and it is off the Foreign Office's "do not go" list, apart from the southern border.
The CA have appointed an HLR (local rep): see reference above, as a result of that visit. A fellow cruiser (Norway) tried hard to get permission to visit early this season, but received no response. Try the CA. By all accounts its worth it if you can get there.
Cruising association. Lime house basin, London, I think.
The libyan people were always quite friendly, dont know about now, but when I was there in the army and then much later in the oilfield, they were fine.
Cyrene, betweenTobruk/benghazi or tripoli, is a fabulous place, full of the most amazing roman ruins and the most fantastic mosaics I have ever seen.
Im happy to know that many are intersted to sail to Libya & visit it. Actualy I own the company that managed Dr. Yendell visit to Libya and which was written about it in the CA magazine.
It was realy one of the best things I have ever done.. & happy to assist any one wish to do the same trip.
A magazine published for members of the Cruising Association (CA) every two months.
The CA website is http://www.cruising.org.uk/ . Their library includes world wide pilot books and charts - a world class resource for sailors planning to cruise anywhere.
I contracted to the National Oil Corporation in 98 -99, based in Benghazi. Had a wonderful time, the people are very friendly, I could walk around the Souk on my own without any hassle.
I had a good look at the Harbour, but taking pics of it were frowned on, though I think I did manage one. I will see if I can find it.
Certainly no marinas in those days, and no Internet access, I used to type up a letter and fax it to the wife at the local phone shop. She would fax me a reply, I would pop into the phone shop "Any fax for me?" No fax.
Next day - same
And the next, so I would go and thumb through their pile of received faxes, pick out my two day old one and say "shucran" smile and leave.
One totally illegal practice that 'visitors' also participated in, was to use a 'recommended' local shop to exchange dollars. If you did it officially, the rate was terrible and it would cost a fortune to live.
I am sure things will have changed a little in the interim, but not much!
Well .. Libya did change a lot.. and still visitors can enjoy it the same.
Sailors can visit Libya with special arangment before hand...and now Libya is realy going threw big developments & there are plans to buidl marinas