The Solomon Islands is a fabulous cruising destination.

However for now (Dec 2008) I suggest keeping Tulagi in the Florida group off your itinerary.

Over the past 5 months, I’ve known 6 boats that have been boarded there – including ours, Kuna.

These began as fairly innocent and the villains were easily chased off. However the past three, the skippers told me the villains, (I assume bolstered from their previous successes and apparent little response from Police despite the presence of the multi-million dollar Australian led RAMSI: Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands) are much bolder and have been armed with bush knives and possibly even a gun. The skipper who told me of the gun is a retired US Marine so I figure he knows a gun when he sees one.

Stay away from Tulagi is my advice. This is a shame because the area offers good anchorages, particularly outside of the SE season and there’s a shipyard there too.

DON’T LET THIS PUT YOU OFF THE SOLOMONS.

The country has lots to offer and aside from just a few places like Tulagi, is welcoming and secure.

I’m sure the Tulagi villains are just a few, but sadly their impact on the countries fragile tourism economy is potentially great.

Hopefully, the cops will round them up (we’re talking a small village here so their identity will be well known) and the place settles down again.

In the meantime though, I’m giving the place a wide berth and suggest others do the same.

Wade Fairley

SV Kuna

Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands.