08/14-20/2006
Chaguaramas, Trinidad
10.40.822N
61.37.899W
Happy Birthday to our daughter, Michelle and my sister Pam!!!
Well, the luck for our anchorage wore out. In the wee hours of Thursday morning, a new boat to the anchorage (Vespa) was boarded, attacked and robbed.
Six young people had just returned from the airport when a fishing boat with 3 men approached them as they sat in their cockpit catching up with their friends. The description of the thieves (except for the different dinghy) appeared to be the same as the previous armed robbery in the next harbor over. They were robbed of radios, cameras, computers, cash and credit cards. A couple of the men were hit with the handles of the guns and machetes and their dinghy was slashed dropping their engine into the water.
They radioed a mayday over the radio as soon as the thieves left. Dale and I both heard it and were scrambling for clothes when we heard that the thieves appeared to be heading towards the fishing village, which is just past us. Our slip is directly across from the customs dock in the area which naturally narrows before you enter the fishing village.
I grabbed the flashlight and ran topside ready to catch the bad guys as they entered their lair but suddenly realized that I made myself a target to thieves who were reportedly carrying guns and knives. I suddenly understood why people stand by when crime is being perpetrated right under their noses. What was I going to do if I did see them? Shine my light on them? So I sat, watched and listened to the updated information coming across the radio. No boat ever approached from the direction of the anchorage; however, 5-6 boats did leave from the fishing village; none fit the description of the thieves’ boat. I still don’t know what I would have done if I had seen them, I feel like such a wimp.
Of course, by daylight the radio was buzzing. The biggest concern being that it took a couple hours for the Coast Guard to respond. It was even considered that it wasn’t the “real” Coast Guard who responded to the radio call and directed the victims to another radio channel. Whoever answered the call wasn’t as professional as the ones who responded to the previous robbery the next harbor over. Was it just a coincidence that the Coast Guard showed up 10 minutes after a telephone call was placed?
At this point, a lot of us feel trapped. If you have insurance, you are required to be outside the “hurricane box”. That means, here, Venezuela (which is worse), or further south or west which doesn’t have the marine support most cruisers are looking for. Dale and I have decided that if things don’t resolve themselves soon, we’ll head back to Grenada and take our chances that a hurricane doesn’t head in that direction again and force us to take to the sea heading south.
Another problem was that people tend to turn off their radios when they go to bed. So, we’ve all decided to sound our air horns in addition to radioing a distress call. I’ve put our air horn right next to our floodlight so next time, hopefully, I’ll be braver and shine my light and sound my horn if I really do see a bad guy. If nothing else, I’ll wake up everyone on our slip and get everyone shot at!
Also, we’ve finally been able to get the local American Embassy to at listen to us. A meeting has been set up for Thursday of next week.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
08/07-13/2006
Chaguaramas, Trinidad
10.40.822N
61.37.899W
The big topic this week has been the speeding fishing boats. Rainbow Rider caught a flight out Friday morning and by 5pm that evening, the boat that had taken their mooring ball, Odyssey, had been struck by a speeding fishing boat.
The family of 4 had just returned to their boat when a fishing boat (who claimed problems with a stuck throttle) slammed into their dinghy throwing the father out. The mother had already climbed out onto the main boat and was in the process of transferring the children from the dinghy to the boat when it was struck. Thankfully, no one was injured but needless to say, the mother and children were hysterical when the father didn’t bounce back right away. (He intelligently stayed below the waterline until the props were cut.)
There was some damage to the swim platform on Odyssey and a police report was filed. However, the owner of the fishing boat, who wasn't the driver, didn’t appear to be concerned and claimed that she had no insurance and no money to compensate the family (according to the father who reported the follow-up the on the next morning net.)
On a happier note, we went to town and saw the movie, The Devil wears Prada and had dinner at a Ruby Tuesday. We’re still very concerned about security, so (don’t worry Mom) we took a marina taxi instead of a regular one; more expensive but definitely more secure.
Chaguaramas, Trinidad
10.40.822N
61.37.899W
The big topic this week has been the speeding fishing boats. Rainbow Rider caught a flight out Friday morning and by 5pm that evening, the boat that had taken their mooring ball, Odyssey, had been struck by a speeding fishing boat.
The family of 4 had just returned to their boat when a fishing boat (who claimed problems with a stuck throttle) slammed into their dinghy throwing the father out. The mother had already climbed out onto the main boat and was in the process of transferring the children from the dinghy to the boat when it was struck. Thankfully, no one was injured but needless to say, the mother and children were hysterical when the father didn’t bounce back right away. (He intelligently stayed below the waterline until the props were cut.)
There was some damage to the swim platform on Odyssey and a police report was filed. However, the owner of the fishing boat, who wasn't the driver, didn’t appear to be concerned and claimed that she had no insurance and no money to compensate the family (according to the father who reported the follow-up the on the next morning net.)
On a happier note, we went to town and saw the movie, The Devil wears Prada and had dinner at a Ruby Tuesday. We’re still very concerned about security, so (don’t worry Mom) we took a marina taxi instead of a regular one; more expensive but definitely more secure.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
08/01 - 06/2006
Chaguaramas, Trinidad
10.40.822N
61.37.899W
Nothing much new to tell you about.
Linda and I swim laps every morning, or as many mornings as we can. She and Gary are returning to California for a few weeks and are putting Rainbow Rider on the hard. We helped them take down their sails one morning. They have been kind enough to offer to take with them mail and lists from various boats for items to bring back. Ours was among them. Dale needed more twizzlers.
Our little neighborhood dinghy watch appears to be working. Unfortunately for the next harbor down, the thieves have moved on to their area as there was an armed robbery of a boat in their anchorage. The boat owner reported on the morning radio net that three men, who appeared to be locals, brandished small hand guns when they boarded their boat. Luckily, they were able to fend them off with “knives and clubs”. The organizer of our neighborhood watch said that he would let them know how we were doing ours. Hopefully, this will work.
Chaguaramas, Trinidad
10.40.822N
61.37.899W
Nothing much new to tell you about.
Linda and I swim laps every morning, or as many mornings as we can. She and Gary are returning to California for a few weeks and are putting Rainbow Rider on the hard. We helped them take down their sails one morning. They have been kind enough to offer to take with them mail and lists from various boats for items to bring back. Ours was among them. Dale needed more twizzlers.
Our little neighborhood dinghy watch appears to be working. Unfortunately for the next harbor down, the thieves have moved on to their area as there was an armed robbery of a boat in their anchorage. The boat owner reported on the morning radio net that three men, who appeared to be locals, brandished small hand guns when they boarded their boat. Luckily, they were able to fend them off with “knives and clubs”. The organizer of our neighborhood watch said that he would let them know how we were doing ours. Hopefully, this will work.
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