Theft from Yachts and other boats

From the folks at Noonsite - http://www.noonsite.com/ - a brief article about theft from vessels in East Malaysia/Borneo.

My reason for sharing this? To reinforce the concept of always taking care of your belongings. Most people that had items stolen had not locked their vessels hatches/doors. Also, they vessels were part of a large group, which may have lent an air of security to the participants.

A quote - "The lesson being that security is a major concern when cruising these waters and the thieves are quite bold in the way in which they operate."

Theft/thievery and other criminal acts will only increase as the economy worsens globally. It is not just a regional (Caribbean, S. Florida) issue - there are bad people everywhere, and it is up to you to prevent/deter the thieves.

Two articles for you

From PANBO, a review of a stabilizer for your electronics. Although aimed at the larger (and more expensive) end of the recreational cruising market (or super-yachts), it makes sense to better utilize your electronics.



And from FerFAL - a nice set of tips to help prevent crime, which can be tweaked to help keep cruisers and yachtsmen safe as well (looking at a larger picture).

Reality Check

Reality Check -, from the Expat Daily News blog for Aug 18, 2011.

Good article, along the same lines as what we try to stress here and at Yau Kung Mun - be aware of your surroundings, don't succumb to paranoia and quit living.

Not much more needs to be said - but plenty more needs to be done.

Situational Awareness

Came across this post about Situational Awareness on Stratfor.


If the examples given in the article help you understand the concept better, or allow you to explain them to loved ones, it is well worth the re-posting.

Self-protection is not just fists, feet and conditioning the body. Mindset plays a very important part.

As an added benefit, if you are more aware, you will discover more wonderful things about the world around that you may have been missing.

The No Bull**it Guide To Self Defense For Ladies

The No Bull**it Guide To Self Defense For Ladies

Found this today, and feel it is quite to the point. Not just for ladies, either; for all who may feel the need for self protection.

He has written a companion piece (more for the boys out there) about fist fighting.

The Passive Radar Reflector Solution for Sailboats

From Panbo - a great idea for increasing your visibility to the larger ocean going vessels during periods of reduced visibility.

Security is not always about out-gunning the pirates. Sometimes it is simple things to keep everyone safe, so they can enjoy the voyage.

“Killing hostages is now part of the rules”

WARNING LETTER: “Killing hostages is now part of the rules” gCaptain

While ISAF recognises that the final decision on whether to enter any area where pirates operate and how to conduct a vessel in those waters remains entirely the responsibility of the master of each vessel, the current advice from the military is simple:

Do not sail in the western Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden.



While many cruisers take offense at any government agency telling them what to do and where to do it, it may be good advice to heed at times. The other side of Africa (Gulf of Guinea) seems to be heading down violent path as well.

Houseboat Safety - drive safely and confidently using night vision cameras

Houseboat Safety - drive safely and confidently using night vision cameras.

Night vision devices are a great way to keep you and your vessel safe and secure.



With the integration of electronics these days, it makes sense to use all the tools available. Portable devices are also good, and may be the right piece of kit for a smaller vessel.