Daring 'pirate' attack mars beautiful Cartagena

4:33 AM Mon 7 Dec 2009 GMT

'Attack will no doubt deter visiting sailors' .

This week a sailing boat was robbed by daring 'pirates' while entering the main shipping channel into the port of Cartagena in Colombia.

The audacious group of four men carrying guns and machetes robbed the boat of electronic equipment, computers, money and other saleable items, while in full view of all other shipping in the channel, which is marked clearly by buoys and is the easiest entrance to Cartagena.

The port of Cartagena is visited by hundreds of sailing boats every year, those making a circuit of the Caribbean, world circumnavigators on their way to the Panama Canal, and local cruisers. The Boca Grande Channel is a smaller channel suitable only for sailing boats and with a limited draft of only 8 feet, but will now become the favoured alternative.

The incident was reported immediately to the Colombian Guardia Costa on Channel 16, who responded instantly but by the time they arrived the speedy robbers had disappeared. The Coast Guard then escorted the boat into the harbour, and are investigating the incident.

The Boca Grande channel is narrower and can be difficult in a swell, is known to have an underwater wall outside where the channel is marked, but is marked by red and green buoys which show the safe route into the harbour.

Cartagena has been burgeoning in popularity with cruising sailors, as the town is charismatic, lively and reeks of the history of the region. It has a good harbour very suitable for sailing boats, and good services in the town. The incident will no doubt dampen enthusiasm for visiting sailors.

by Cruisers Network Online/Sail-World

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