Would it be dangerous to sail around South Africa?

Question

I know Somalia is known for pirates, but what about South Africa?

Answer 1

My oldest son and I just got home a few months ago (November)... we sailed to Cape Town, So. Africa from Christmas Island in a 48 foot sloop. We saw no pirates, no storms... but an awful lot of seals, a few whales, and some dolphins... We also found the US Dollar streatched like a new pair of spandex when compared to the So. Africian rand.  We had a wonderful steak dinner, I had a bottle of wine, (So. Africa is like California's Napa Valley - Wine Country) my son had three cold beers, we had ice cream for desert, and the whole tab was less than $20.00... WOW!

We were warned not to sail between Africa and Madagascar - because of some drug wars... (but, we hadn't planned on doing that anyway). there were plenty (30 or more just Americans anyway) in Cape Town that had no problems...

So... to answer your question... if you look like a normal sailor, in a normal vessel... The opinion seemed to be (when we were there anyway... ) You have nothing to fear.

If you have a mega-yacht or a speedy 100 ft cigarette boat...

well, things might be different... don't know, as there were plenty of them there too.

Personally, I really believe your chance of getting mugged in any number of US cities is greater then getting "pirated" on any cruise... though I wouldn't advise going through the Suez Canal anytime soon... lol

Answer 2

i heard of an offshore oil rig being attacked off the coast of africa and everyone was killed except for i think one guy. there is not much money there and if you go sailing around then i would think there is a pretty good chance something bad could happen. africa is very poor. i worked for a guy who was from africa and he had gotten rich from oil. he moved to the u.s. and the country of africa wouldn't let him take all of his money out of the bank because it would bankrupt the country. So they only let him have so much every year, kinda like an allowance.

Answer 3

Bored you would not be while sailing around South Africa, due to weather, waves, the current, tanker and other traffic, plus keeping a eye out for pirates.

Pirates also abound in the South China Sea, around Madagascar, and in the Malacca Strait.

Happy Sailing!

Regards,

Dan

Answer 4

Not for pirates but for rough sea. YES

Answer 5

HAVE you heard about all the pirates in the waters around africa ? they hi jacked a cruise ship a month ago . Maybe if you had an escort or a cannon on board but other wise consult your embasy to check on the statis of the area you plan to go to , I'd say stay home .