On 28th March 2011, I left Ismailia with, for a change, a nice, competent, polite and honest pilot. The previous day, however, clothes I had left drying overnight on the railings were stolen in the marina together with my national flag, probably a prank from youngsters. Still, rather unpleasant …..

I arrived in Port Said (i.e. Port Fuad Yacht Club) at night. I moored alongside the southern quay and was told to wait for the coast guards and police for checking out of Egypt. Half an hour later I spotted a large Zodiac making for the marina at full speed. It entered still at very high velocity, turned sharply to stop and, in doing so, slid and hit my boat on the port side with its steel stern platform, badly denting the hull.

I did not manage to obtain a written statement of the young Navy officers manning the Zodiac. I was threatened to be arrested if I took photographs. I phoned Mr Mohsen of Felix Agency and explained the incident. He called me back 15 minutes later saying that he had asked the officers to apologise. That’s all I obtained!

Then I had to wait half an hour more to obtain the green light from harbour control. In fact, this time was necessary to impose on me a pilot who as soon as he had stepped aboard asked for money. I offered 10 dollars. He argued that it was too small an amount but finally agreed to leave my boat. This pilotage did not last more than 300 meters.

So it is with a sigh of relief that I left Egypt.

Gilbert Hutin

SY Jacaré II

(Agios Nikolaos Marina, Crete)