Venezuela - safe distance offshore?

[scr0che]

Leaving the Caribbean in the next week bound for Bonaire. Currently in Grenada, plan to head north to clear out in Carriacou before taking a WNW track for 300nm until 100nm north of Los Roques, before turning SW to round the bottom of Bonaire, 135nm.

I'm reading about pirates, crime and general safety for this passage, hence this route, most information is old though. What do others do in this area? Keep more than 100nm north of the coast and/or islands? AIS and lights off at night?

 

[Yngmar]

Do like the Sicilian fishing boats sneaking around in Tunisian waters: AIS set to receive only, all lights off. Don't forget to take down the radar reflector if you have one. Nobody will find you in the night. Problem is the mast and sails sticking out in the day!

 

[capnsensible]

I'm out of date too......well information wise!

We stayed about 50nm offshore. Around 15 years ago though. The only boat that approached us was a single handed fisherman who wanted to swap a fish for cigs.

Stop offs in Cumanogato, isla Margarita and the Tortugas. Beautiful.

 

[geem]

We last did that route about five years ago. No need to give Los Roques a wide berth. We just straight lined it from Bonaire to Grenada. Some sailors turn off the Ais transmit. I haven't heard off any issues lately on that route. We also visited Los Roques. Fantastic place but unfortunately we can no longer get insurance to visit

 

[billskip]

Leaving the Caribbean in the next week bound for Bonaire. Currently in Grenada, plan to head north to clear out in Carriacou before taking a WNW track for 300nm until 100nm north of Los Roques, before turning SW to round the bottom of Bonaire, 135nm.

I'm reading about pirates, crime and general safety for this passage, hence this route, most information is old though. What do others do in this area? Keep more than 100nm north of the coast and/or islands? AIS and lights off at night?

Knowing the area very well, 17yrs experience, its dangerous. Staying at the distance you mention is safest bet. Many can sail the area and its beautiful location,and many will say they didn't see a problem,ok, but I would give it a wide berth unless you have your own automatic weapons aboard and are prepared to use them.

 

[ChromeDome]

Knowing the area very well, 17yrs experience, its dangerous. Staying at the distance you mention is safest bet. Many can sail the area and its beautiful location,and many will say they didn't see a problem,ok, but I would give it a wide berth unless you have your own automatic weapons aboard and are prepared to use them.

Prepared to use them... and have the fire returned at you. Not a pleasant view, IMO

 

[billskip]

Prepared to use them... and have the fire returned at you. Not a pleasant view, IMO

It's not a pleasant view agreed, but you are assuming that you were not fired upon first... it's a beautiful part of the world and Venezuela scenery is good.....but its dangerous.

 

[billskip]

 

[geem]

It's not a pleasant view agreed, but you are assuming that you were not fired upon first... it's a beautiful part of the world and Venezuela scenery is good.....but its dangerous.

Do you know of anybody that has been fired upon? When was the last time it happened? Are you grouping all the off lying islands together? You say you know the area well but you are making no distinction between Margarita and Los Roques. Islands that are 150nm apart with very different issues. Los Roques is 70nm from the Venezuela mainland and doesn't suffer the same issues as the islands close to the mainland to the East

 

[billskip]

Do you know of anybody that has been fired upon? When was the last time it happened? Are you grouping all the off lying islands together? You say you know the area well but you are making no distinction between Margarita and Los Roques. Islands that are 150nm apart with very different issues. Los Roques is 70nm from the Venezuela mainland and doesn't suffer the same issues as the islands close to the mainland to the East

Ok whatever you say....yes I know someone who has been fired upon ,I also know someone who was killed..
However you carry on ..

 

[Stingo]

@billskip, isn't that where you had a wife and a girlfriend, and you all lived under the same roof? No wonder you think the place is dangerous!

 

[billskip]

@billskip, isn't that where you had a wife and a girlfriend, and you all lived under the same roof? No wonder you think the place is dangerous!

Sailing to and around LosRoques, Aruba, Granada
Was quite a regular occurrence...so not all time under the roof.....

 

[AndrewB]

The number of recently reported incidents involving yachts is not actually all that high: see Noonsite | Venezuela. (Of course, that might be because few now sail that way, or maybe those that do, don't live to tell the tale!)

I sailed to the Paria peninsula about 15 years ago, stopping a couple of nights on nearby Chacachacare Island, when the area was also considered dangerous. However to some extent it seemed the dangers were being exaggerated by US sailors at Chaguramas who seemed overly obsessed by safety, and would cite incidents of many years previous as if they had just happened.

So take care, but don't let it stop your plans.

 

[billskip]

The number of recently reported incidents involving yachts is not actually all that high: see Noonsite | Venezuela. (Of course, that might be because few now sail that way, or maybe those that do, don't live to tell the tale!)

I sailed to the Paria peninsula about 15 years ago, stopping a couple of nights on nearby Chacachacare Island, when the area was also considered dangerous. However to some extent it seemed the dangers were being exaggerated by US sailors at Chaguramas who seemed overly obsessed by safety, and would cite incidents of many years previous as if they had just happened.

So take care, but don't let it stop your plans.

Yes, 15 years ago things started to decline more, and of course there will always be exaggerated tales....three years ago was the last time I was sailing there, and the risk was pretty high for "strange vessels" because there is very little income and publicly said he would go and rob if that's what was necessary to survive.
The vast majority of Venezuelans are exceptionally good nice decent friendly people. Sadly life is cheap there and it doesn't look good for the immediate future.
Friends from Scotland are there touring at the moment and said that many of the Venezuelans have fled the country.

 

[Roberto]

to some extent it seemed the dangers were being exaggerated by US sailors

The idea of "sea of tranquillity" for a number of them seems to be to anchor somewhere, fire a couple of rounds of M16 to let others know how friendly they are, eventually enjoy the scenery. Then recount how they braved the danger.
On noonsite there were US sailors descriptions of "piracy" in Brazil which were plain ridiculous: "I hailed them on the radio, as they did not answer I began shooting", as if any brazilian boat had a vhf or was supposed to understand English.

To the OP, this is usually more updated than Noonsite
CSSN - Caribbean Safety and Security Net - Crimes Against Yachts
I went a couple of times Trinidad/Grenada, navigation lights and ais turned off, an occasional flash of white light just in case. In case of what I do not know

 

[steve yates]

View attachment 150748

Bermuda? Is that in case sailors are kidnapped by aliens?
Though your advice about avoiding the coast there is probably wise.

 

[billskip]

Bermuda? Is that in case sailors are kidnapped by aliens?

And planes...they are not fussy....

 

[scr0che]

Leaving the Caribbean in the next week bound for Bonaire. Currently in Grenada, plan to head north to clear out in Carriacou before taking a WNW track for 300nm until 100nm north of Los Roques, before turning SW to round the bottom of Bonaire, 135nm.

I'm reading about pirates, crime and general safety for this passage, hence this route, most information is old though. What do others do in this area? Keep more than 100nm north of the coast and/or islands? AIS and lights off at night?

Stuck to this plan, left AIS and lights on, no issues at all.