FAQ - Do you worry about pirates?

When we were in the Indian Ocean, David wrote a blog about piracy concerns in the area. Incidents of piracy in the Indian Ocean were all the news, especially after watching Captain Phillips.

We were very aware of potential problems off the Somalian coast. We planned to stay offshore well south of the questionable area. We were not particularly worried, nor did we have any problems, but we were certainly cognizant of the issues and aware of the four Americans aboard the yacht Quest who were pirated and murdered in 2011. When we were heading from the Guianas back into the Caribbean Sea, the questions were posed again. We received several inquiries from friends and readers about piracy in the Caribbean in light of several attacks near Trinidad and the Venezuelan coast, the area in which we would be sailing. This time we were more concerned.

Piracy has been a problem since men started plying the ocean waters. According to Wiki, “the earliest documented instances of piracy were in the 14th century BC” in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas. Certainly, Treasure Island and Pirates of the Caribbean has provided lots of piratical entertainment for audiences in a very romanticized way. In truth, however, the pirates who plied the Caribbean waters... and there were many... were known to be excessively barbaric and cruel. In the Golden Age of Piracy (1650-1730), L'Olonnais, Captain Kidd, Blackbeard and countless others wreaked havoc throughout the Caribbean. Some, like Sir Francis Drake and Henry Morgan, were sanctioned by the Crown.

Today's pirates of the Caribbean are not sanctioned by any government, but they are just as real and just as ruthless and bear no resemblance to Johnny Depp.

Statistically, piracy attacks are down worldwide, but that makes little difference to the individual yachts that are attacked. Actually, only larger ships are counted in the statistics and most yacht attacks are downplayed in the interest of local tourism.

Just after our passage from the Guianas to Trinidad in December, two yachts were boarded at gunpoint and robbed by pirates. The coast of Venezuela seems to be a particularly troublesome pirate hotspot at the present time.

So what can cruisers do to protect themselves against pirates?

1. Well, larger yachts hire armed security guards. We are not a larger yacht. We do not carry guns aboard. We figure we'd be outgunned anyway.
2. Officials say “avoid known pirate areas” (duh!). This makes sense if you're cruising and not passage-making. For sure, anchoring in known pirate areas is inviting problems.
3. Since we had no choice but to sail through an area known for piracy, we heeded the local advice. Most pirate attacks in the area have been in open boats with big, fast engines, so outrunning them is not a possibility. Instead, we stayed well offshore away from the Venezuelan coastline and away from the usual travel routes.
4. Traveling at night is recommended … on a multi-day passage this is kind of difficult, but if we were sailing between the islands, it's reasonable and would have done it.
5. Traveling in company is a recommendation. In our case, there was no one to travel with, so we traveled alone, but there's definitely safety in numbers. Forming a flotilla of boats to make a passage through a high-risk area makes good sense.
6. Some advocate “sailing dark” and “sailing silent”, ie no running lights, no radio communication. We did not opt to do this, but we've certainly done it on occasions in the past when sailing off the coast of Colombia into Cartagena.
7. Stay alert. I'm not sure what tactics you might employ to thwart a pirate attack, but you'd perhaps have more time to radio for help.
8. If you're accosted, don't fight. Your life isn't worth the gear the pirates steal. Easier said than done, perhaps, when you're the one being violated and it's your gear they're walking off with. Still, sage advice to live by.

Though the number of pirate attacks on yachts in the Caribbean seems to be increasing, we sometime wonder if part of the increase is due to the fact that more yachts are filing formal reports. Both the Venezuelan and Trinidadian national coast guards have increased their patrols in the area providing a bit more security, but caution and careful itinerary decisions rule.

We have been boarded while in a marina and while in a boatyard and had things stolen from the boat. Those are security issues, not piracy. The chances of being boarded by pirates, if reasonable common sense is used, are probably pretty slim, something like being car-jacked. Still, I'd say offhand, we're probably lucky. The only pirates we've actually encountered have been tradesmen and vendors who “saw us coming” in boatyards and a few friendly buccaneers in Charleston, South Carolina who politely reserved a boarding time in advance.

Yikes! We Bought a House

Talk about land anchors, we've got a big one now. Yes, the Nine of Cups crew just bought a house … in the middle of the Mojave Desert, no less. You can't get much further away from the sea unless you're talking man-made Lake Mead or the pre-historic North American Inland Sea. We've even got a giant cactus in the front yard … how desert-y is that?

Though Nine of Cups is still home, we've been thinking about and looking for a part-time place to leave our souvenirs and Las Vegas seemed as good a place as any since we have family here. We'll be sharing our new digs with David's sibs, so the house will be occupied when we're not around, but we'll always have a room (and clothes and a car) to call our own and waiting for us whenever we turn up. It's roomy enough for all with enough hideaway spots for everyone to enjoy their own space whenever they want to.

Since we're in a desert, we were looking for a small, xeriscaped yard and found one. It's will be a pleasant place to enjoy morning coffee on the patio without worrying about supplemental watering or much ongoing maintenance.

I was planning to write a blog on the “tiny house movement” soon … living aboard a sailboat qualifies, for sure. This house, however, is as far away from the “tiny house movement” and living aboard a sailboat as you can get. In fact, we all refer to it as “the big house”. The sibs of the Lynn clan haven't all lived together for over 60 years. It'll take some getting used to and we all realize it won't be Utopia. With some reasonable compromise, however, it might be close though.

The closing isn't scheduled till early March, but there's plenty to do in the meantime to prepare. Honestly, though we've purchased several houses in the past, after nearly 20 years without a house or a mortgage, the current process has been like slaying a new dragon, only this one's on land. We're wielding our swords one day at a time.

Las Vegas for Non-Gamblers

Since we've just returned to Las Vegas, I thought I'd dredge up a blog post from a couple of years ago that proves Las Vegas is a fun place to visit … even if you're not a gambler. There are plenty of activities in town and nearby for you and the family without losing even a penny in the slots!

A trans-con plane trip and here we are in Las Vegas. No, we’re not gamblers, but there’s something electric and exciting about being in Las Vegas anyway. Although it’s a destination spot for folks around the world, it’s home to David’s mom and sister. It’s just “the hood” to them … a place to live, shop and work. And, yes, sometimes play … they enjoy the slots once in awhile as a diversion and you can’t beat the buffets.

So what can you do in Vegas if you’re not a gambler? Here’s our best picks of 13 fun, free or relatively low cost things to do:

1. Experience The Strip

There’s lots more to Vegas than gambling. Even if you’re not a gambler, you need to spend a little time on The Strip just seeing the lights of this neon megalopolis. Take in all the thematic hotels and casinos from pyramids to the Eiffel Tower and from the Statue of Liberty to the Venetian canals. Watch a pirate ship battle, see a fountain light show. It’s amazing and it’s free.

2. Fremont Street Experience

This is a huge pedestrian mall in downtown Vegas and there’s always something going on in the evenings … free stage shows, street entertainers, bars, gambling casinos, shops. It’s a hopping place to visit.

3. Catch a show or be amused

Vegas is a mecca for hot talent. There are shows galore, world class boxing matches, amusement parks and magic shows … whatever floats your boat. If you’re saving money by not gambling or if you came out of the casino ahead, you might as well spend a few bucks on top shelf entertainment.

4. Hoover Dam

There are tours available, but it’s a quick drive (32 mi/50km) to this national landmark which straddles the Colorado River on the Arizona-Nevada border. There’s a Visitor’s Center, dam tours and great views of dam.

5. Valley of Fire State Park

Only 55 miles (88km) northeast of Vegas, Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park. It offers a Visitor’s Center, a scenic drive that showcases the park’s outstanding sandstone and limestone formations, diverse desert fauna and flora, petroglyphs, fossils and breathtaking views. The small admission fee ($10/car) is well worth it.

6. People watch

Las Vegas must have the biggest collection of odd people per capita than any other place in the world. People watching is free and amusing and you just never know what you’re going to see.

7. Mount Charleston

At nearly 11, 916′ (3,632m) Mount Charleston is the highest of the Spring Mountains in Southern Nevada and stands sentinel over the Sin City. You can drive to the top for great views and a pleasant, mountain respite from the heat and frenzy of the city below.

8. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

We visit this tiny preserve in the middle of the Las Vegas Wash every time we’re in Vegas. The bird viewing, especially in morning and evening, is outstanding. Besides the 288 identified species you might spot, we’ve seen lizards, coyote, desert cottontails and snakes. Free entry and lots and lots of well-maintained trails.

9. Ethel M Chocolate Factory Tour & Cactus Botanical Garden

Believe it or not, the factory is right in the middle of town. This is a fun, free tour and great for adults as well as kids. The cactus gardens surrounding the factory are beautifully maintained and the self-guided tour of the chocolate factory is free … and so are the samples!

10. Clark County Heritage Museum

This is a funky little, open-air museum with a Visitor’s Center that features the history of Nevada from pre-historic to modern times. The highlight is Heritage Street with actual period buildings and bits of Americana from different decades of local history. The $2 admission fee is a bargain.

11. Lake Mead activities

The largest man-made lake/reservoir in America, formed by the damming of the Colorado River (Hoover Dam), this national recreation area offers all sorts of lake and water activities, plus picnicking, hiking, biking and sightseeing. Entrance fees apply, but NPS Senior Pass holders get free entry.

12. Conservatory at the Bellagio

If you’re on the Strip, this is a particularly lovely place to visit in the Bellagio Hotel. The floral displays and themes change with the season. Sometimes nearly overwhelming, they are knock-your-socks off imaginative and beautiful … and of course, free.

13. Take your picture next to the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign

Prove you’ve been here! There are several signs actually, but the “official” sign and most convenient for photo-taking is the one just south of the Strip on Paradise Road. There’s a small parking lot so you can get up close and personal.

Look for a whole e-book about Las Vegas for non-gamblers in the near future.