This certainly isn’t the first time we’ve heard of an armed robbery on board in the Caribbean, but it’s the first time one for Tyrrel Bay has been reported to the Caribbean Security and Safety Net, so it’s worth noting.
Shortly after midnight on December 14, four masked men armed with at least one machete boarded a yacht anchored in Tyrrel Bay just after the crew returned from shore.
The boarders tied up the captain, beating him severely, and tied a plastic bag over the head of the woman. They then proceeded to ransack the boat, looking for money and threatening more bodily harm to both. Eventually, they left with a computer, a cell phone, and cash, taking the larger dinghy with outboard to shore, where they carefully clipped it to a mooring line.
The captain broke his bonds, rescued the woman and the two rowed over to a nearby boat in their small dinghy. The captain of that boat phoned the police, who came on scene promptly to investigate.
Just after daybreak, the larger dinghy was found on the beach, with a machete left inside. The police were again called and they came out a second time, retrieving the machete as evidence. The injured captain did not need hospitalization but visited a local doctor that morning.
Anyone visiting Tyrrel Bay is warned to use the utmost precautions until the perpetrators are caught.
Courtesy of www.noonsite.com.
Regulations regarding firearms in the Caribbean vary but most are quiet restrictive and make it impossible to defend oneself even if you had a firearm on board. This of course makes any criminal’s job much easier, far less stressful and gives the authorities more practice (if they show up) doing investigations (after-the-fact). Unless the authorities (the ones who cannot prevent the crime) catch and thoroughly punish these culprits and make an example out of them, this type of crime will increase just as it has off East Africa. Go to the following website for a more thorough explanation by individual Caribbean country. Bob
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f57/firearms-regulations-by-country-1641.html
Where was the crew? It says they just came back. If the dinghy was carefully clipped to a mooring line why was it then found on the beach?
Sarah you need to read what you write before deciding to publish.
The crew had just come back to the boat from shore when they were attacked. The attackers took their larger dinghy with a motor back to shore with the stolen goods where the dinghy was found on the beach. You are correct that clipping the dinghy to the mooring line doesn’t seem to be consistent, but this is how the incident was reported, and that doesn’t seem to make too much of a difference when what’s important is that we’re warning people to be aware of an attack in this area.
It would have been helpful if this story had mentioned on what island Tr
Tyrell Bay is to be found.
Hi Bill. Tyrell Bay is on Carriacou in the Grenadines.
My wife Nancy and I have sailed extensively throughout the Caribbean on bareboat charters and have on occasion felt the possibility of being boarded by thieves or worse. You should consider yourself lucky that no further harm came to you. We have consistently sailed “on the beaten path” and have been lucky. We felt the highest risk in the bay at the island of Mayreau. I was constantly on guard. Best of luck to you and thank you for the story.
Regards,
David
S/V Safari
This bay is frequented by many many charterers and cruisers. It’s sad for everyone, but crime in the Windward Islands is just getting worse and worse. Thanks, Sarah for posting this to keep us aware.