How safe is Caribbean cruising? >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News: Providing sailing news for sailors (2024)

FAQs

How safe is Caribbean cruising? >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News: Providing sailing news for sailors? ›

Given the Caribbean's huge area and population, the relative poverty of the locals, and the thousands of visiting cruisers, these numbers indicate that theft is an issue we all need to be aware of, but violent crimes against cruisers are extremely rare.

Yes! Sailing in the Caribbean is a safe and enjoyable experience.

Engine failures, dragging anchors, broken stays, ripped sails, damaged rudders, and similar types of boat problems are also considered dangerous if unexpected. Know your abilities and plan.

A 30-40 foot boat is a good size for a couple to cruise the Caribbean alone, but if you want more space or plan on doing some ocean crossings, you may want to consider a larger boat. Whatever size boat you choose, make sure it's comfortable, easy to handle, and fits your budget.

Because of the way the Caribbean is laid out like a long selection of juicy islands on an ocean platter, you can feasibly travel from north to south over one sailing season.

Hurricane season technically runs June 1 – November 30. So this means don't book a Caribbean yacht charter then, right? I don't think so. In fact, if I could pick any time to sail, (notwithstanding any desire I have to escape snow and ice), it would be April – June.

The latest report is from 2022, and in that year reported crimes against cruisers for the entire Caribbean climbed from 102 to 122. Over the last decade, the fewest reported incident, 71, was in 2020 while the most, 140, was in 2019.

Piracy warnings are also meted out in parts of the Red Sea and along both the eastern and northeastern coasts of Africa. But it's important to know this: Cruise lines have prepared for many challenging scenarios, and ships are well-equipped to handle situations when pirates attack cruise ships.

Sailing-related injury rates vary from 0.29 to 5.7 per 1,000 hours which is lower than many other land-based sports. However, the fatality rate of 1.19 per million sailing-days is relatively high. The most common injuries are con- tusions and lacerations predominantly to the upper and lower extremities.

The ship reduces sail. Sails are reefed (rolled up partway) and then taken in completely until the sail area and location are appropriate for the conditions. The uppermost masts and rigging could be sent down and stowed away to reduce weight aloft (to improve stability) and provide less area for the wind to push on)

Can sailboats survive rough seas? ›

None of us particularly enjoys sailing in bad weather, but if you venture far enough offshore, you'll have to do it eventually. No one is safe from severe weather unless they have fifty feet or more of fiberglass beneath them. Being well-prepared is the key to a successful voyage through rough seas.

Typically, cruisers settle on yachts that are 40-42ft in length, as these are cheaper to moor while still comfortable to live on. Circumnavigating families opt for boats over 50ft.

There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a yacht, as opposed to a boat, such a pleasure vessel is likely to be at least 33 feet (10 m) in length and may have been judged to have good aesthetic qualities.

Caribbean: No sailing license or certification is required in the Caribbean, BUT you must have an adequate sailing resume. Pacific: No sailing license or certification is required in the Pacific regions such as French Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand or Tonga, BUT you must have an adequate sailing resume.

A passport isn't required on many cruises to the Caribbean, but consider bringing it along just in case. American Way, Hemispheres, CultureMap, JohnnyJet, and more.

Expect Rougher Caribbean Seas in the North and East

Rough Waters: When one body of water runs into another, waves tend to be higher and rougher. Although the Caribbean is generally known for smooth sailing, it can get choppy in areas where it meets up with the Atlantic Ocean.

Those risks include: (i) rising sea levels and the attendant beach erosion; (ii) increased surface temperatures; (iii) increased sedimentation of coastal waters; (iv) ocean warming; and (v) storms and hurricanes, with their associated displacement of per- sons living in coastal communities.

Safest Caribbean Islands and Crime Rates

Statistics show that violent crime rarely touches the 28 million or so tourists who visit the Caribbean every year. Reports of violence are mainly confined to inner-city areas which see few tourists. Like many vacation destinations, petty street crime does occur.

As already mentioned, sailing to the Bahamas is pleasurable but it is dangerous as well. The distance from the US to the Bahamas is 50 miles in its shortest distance, but it requires sailing in open ocean waters, often with no visual marks at all.