As previously reported on Noonsite, the security situation for yachts in Venezuela remains of concern with the number of boardings and attacks continuing. Details of the following incidents have been recently sent to Noonsite:

Week of April 9 (exact date not known): At about midnight the yacht “Petrona” anchored off Isla Cubagua was boarded by a swimmer. The captain shone a big spotlight on the border and fired off a flare. The boarder dove over the side and was picked up by a penero.

April 26, 2006, at 03:30 AM: Belgian yacht “Monika” anchored in Pampatar was boarded and robbed. A man and two boys, all armed with knives stole cash and some valuables. The captain resisted somewhat and received superficial cuts to his face and wrist. He felt that his resistance had kept his losses low.

April 28: Austrian circumnavigator Claus Gintner survived an attack of 5 gunmen who boarded his yacht Escapada which anchored off Isla Piritu, Venezuela. The attackers were armed with one rifle and one revolver. They shot several times, one bullet hitting him in his chest. After they shot him, he tried to save himself in his dinghy by making for the shore but was pursued by the attackers who beat him up asking for money. They eventually left him to die and fled, but fortunately, some locals found him and he was taken to a hospital. After two surgeries and the removal of one kidney, his condition is no longer life-threatening.