Many years ago our boat was boarded once — in Portland, Maine, USA, we were tied up to a dock and I think a drunk thought it looked an appealing place to sleep it off. When he saw we were aboard, he fled. So crime can happen anywhere.

In general I have felt quite safe in the Caribbean, but there ARE places that I personally would not sail now. For example, I have spent quite a lot of time in Venezeuela, but I wouldn’t cruise there now. The risks are just too high. There have been quite a few violent crimes there and I see absolutely no reason to risk my life there. There are other ports that I would avoid, eg some St Vincent ports, because I have heard of thefts and boardings there.

The important thing is to get good information before visiting an area. Much of the Caribbean is quite safe, but I think it’s very important to get information on the specific areas before you visit. Fortunately we do have good information: the Caribbean Compass, the Caribbean Safety and Security Net, Noonsite. The Caribbean Safety and Security net comes on right before the weather on SSB. I don’t listen to it every day by any means, but if I am going to a new area, I might get on and ask if there have been any problems in the area I am thinking of visiting. And if we don’t like what we hear, we choose another destination.

Of course, there are things that we do in almost every port to deter theft: lock the boat when we leave it, lock the dinghy and outboard, carry our money ashore in a money belt, etc.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Caribbean, and wouldn’t hesitate to head that way again. But just as there are dangerous areas of many US cities, there are certainly dangerous areas in the Caribbean, and I choose not to cruise them. There are too many other wonderful places in the Caribbean! Enjoy! Go cruising!