Wintering in the Red Sea -anybody got any experience?

[silver-fox]

I read a post somewhere written by an American.

He reckoned that it was as cheap to pay the dues for the Suez canal and overwinter in a marina in the Red Sea as it was to stay (say) in Turkey.

I think I might like to have a go at this but I can't remeber where I read about it and despite Googles best efforts I can't find the damn post with the details in it! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Anybody here done this?

 

[Guest]

Did you mean this:

http://www.redseawinterrally.co.uk/NorthRedSeaF.htm


But picture this, 3 large yachts and 2 small ones leave the top of Suez at the same time. The youngest skipper comes on the radio and announces that she will never return to Egypt for as long as she lives. We all agree.

They blew up the museum crowds the week after we were there. One of the boats was rammed by the pilot for not paying enough. You are forced to had over the controls of your boat to "crane drivers" and labourers that have no idea about sailing. Ours nearly hit 2 buoys and a ship. Ours was genuinely a nice guy, but we learnt a lot about religion and uncontrolled hatred. Another yacht going through was not so lucky the pilot hit a big ship buoy and broke off the bow. We got "detained" at the police's pleasure. The fees were strange as they are some complicated volume measurement that stings the big boats. One of the boats that arrived after night got threatened by the canal security demanding money. I caught them dividing the days loot and was marched out.

We never planned to go that way and we never will again.

 

[Sea Devil]

So Strange the different experiences... My Suez canal pilot came aboard at 07.00 rather than 09.00 which was the booked time. He apologised for being early and took morning coffee' with us... He was helpful and charming and in no way interfered with operation of the boat except to indicate the 'route' he wanted me to take. At one point there was a control point and a pilot boat came out.. Our pilot said 'Look I know you do not understand the system but a small 'gift' will help us pass through quicker and also be considered polite... How small a gift? couple of packs of cigarettes or a couple of cans of coke.... OK I said...

When we got into Port Said I asked if we could carry on into the med without stopping and clearing... 'No problem' he got on the radio and cleared us out, got a boat to collect him and he shook hands all round and left... I gave him a few packs of cigarettes... Very nice experience..

Fuel in the red sea is 3-5 cents a gallon. Living is very cheap... very very cheap. Climate lovely, nice people and even the excellent Abu Tic Marina is cheaper and nicer than any comparable marina in the med.. Anchorages abound.

I am 100% certain that now the Med is so dreadfully overcrowded, so expensive the next development place is going to be the Red Sea.. The Egyptians will simplify the paperwork and frankly it is not that bad to have to pay $30 to get an agent to do it (£15 ish) -- in a few years it will be the cruising ground of choice for Europeans... and rightly so....

 

[silver-fox]

AhAA! Found it

http://www.ssca.org/aboutssca/sample.pdf

and then if you do a "find" for a boat called "SOLEIL SANS FIN" that's the post I read.

So now I have two totally opposing opinions/experiences....

I must admit that much as I am attracted to the Red Sea the Egyptians do seem to run amok with the old palm grease and that slows me down a bit!

 

[Guest]

The boat, that was rammed, had 2 boats worth of "gifts" on board as they were sharing a pilot that day. He was given both envelopes of US dollars plus cartons of cigarettes and still got angry and yelled at them for more.

You went through 4 years ago at the start of the war. Times change.

 

[graham42]

bit odd. both mentioned email address are participants in www.vascodagamarally.nl

it looks as if their running a rally within a rally.

if your uncertain, why not sign up with above rally and get first hand knowledge. Lo Brust, the organiser arranges special rates for boats in the rally.

im boat 41

 

[Sybaris]

Hi Silver Fox,
We wintered in Egypt 2006-2007. All of us there decided to tell everyone asking that it "is really bad".

We are going back next year so you decide how to read between the lines. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[pyrojames]

I had experiences covering both perspectives. The first day of transit, thepilot turned up at 5 am, not 9 as arranged, because "We had a small boat and we must catch the tide". He was correct, very polite, immaculately presented and very friendly.
The second day was the complete opposite. The pilot would not turn up until we had paid for the "Yacht Club" that we didn't use, he was slimey, made passes at my girlfriend when ever I turned my back, wanted to steer all the time and seemed to enjoy playing chicken with the channel marks, and demanded cigarettes and money.

I wouldn't do it again. The trouble and cost that Egypt may cause you outweighs the extra cost of the med IMHO.

 

[ccscott49]

Stay in Egypt?? Are you off your head completely! Not a bloody chance!

 

[JoeQ]

[ QUOTE ]
Stay in Egypt?? Are you off your head completely! Not a bloody chance!

[/ QUOTE ]
Why not, I love the place. Been loads of times. The people couldn't be nicer. If you have issues with staff at various facilities then make a formal complaint after the event so something can be done about it, if you don't then it just gets worse if they think they can get away with it.

 

[ccscott49]

I have worked there extensively, there is no way I would go there for holidays or take my boat there, I do not, and have very good reasons to, not trust them, some I have met are fine, but very few.