Defensive encounter on the high seas

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parsimonious_instead

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Furled Sails podcast #48 had an excellent guest appearance by a fellow named Captain Jack - he and some friends sailed (with proper permission) to Cuba, and had a very interesting ship-to-ship encounter with some would-be pirates. Good thing they had an array of weapons aboard - I couldn't find a direct link, but it's easily downloadable from iTunes.
 
Should be at http://furledsails.com/article.php3?article=677, if my search-fu is working. I'll confirm in a bit after I listen in at the link... interview picks up after some yaddayadda at about 09:00...

Somehow I missed the explanation of what they did with the firearms while the Cuban customs inspector was on board... :D

ETA - That seems to be part one... part two should be at http://furledsails.com/article.php3?article=678 - begins at about 05:20

They did talk about the firearms in part two...
 
My son is in the Coast Guard and I work out of a small skiff (and have for quite a few years). I made a point of sitting him down and explaining just how little protection there is aboard small craft from incoming fire (from sidearms all the way up to more serious stuff...). In the event of an armed confrontation I'd want to be as close to below the water line as possible.... Yes, the best defense is a strong, quick offense but I'd rather not be on the water in any small craft (less than 100' for this discusion...) if there's the slightest chance of shots being fired, period.
 
And folks wonder why I carry good powerful rifles and good defensive handguns when I cruise...

Thanks for the link. I'll be in those waters myself in about three weeks (for five months).


Lemay, I'll be laying at anchor somewhere south of Miami for a few days waiting for a Gulf Stream crossing day in about three weeks. Run your skiff out and have dinner aboard.


Willie


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I grew up in South Florida. One of my dad's best friends married a Bahamian gal and he worked on board her brother's commercial lobster boat in the early 80s. They made weekly runs from the Bahamas to Florida. He said they carried quite an array of weapons on board including a few full auto. He says Customs knew all the boats carried arms but as long as they stowed them before coming into port and as long as they didn't think you were involved in anything illegal they recognized why you had them and left you alone.
 
The Bahamas allows temporary importation of firearms that are declared when you clear in thru customs. I do this routinely. No big deal. Bringing them back into the USA is no big deal either, just routine. Clearing in I hand the Bahamian customs guy a list with serial numbers and the ammunition count and that's that. Returning to the USA the answer to the question "do you have anything to declare" gets a "no" and that's that.



Willie

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On my last trip to the Bahamas, cleared Customs in West End. Filled out the paper work, including the make, model, S.N. and ammo for each firearm. The official wanted to know why I had so many weapons on board. My reply, I don't know how many "bad guys", I will encounter. He just laughed and cleared the vessel.
 
That's about right! They are pretty relaxed about it.

Fort Piece, eh? I'm down in Stuart.


Willie

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Thanks for the offer Willy but I'm booked up pretty steady right now - I've just completed four days out of Flamingo (today I'll be doing all the stuff you don't get to do if you're on the road before 5am and don't get home until nearly 7pm each day...) and this weekend I'm over out of Everglades City... Yesterday one of my anglers caught and released a tarpon we estimated at around 80lbs...
 
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