5. February 2009 by admin.

* There’s a saying, I think, Don’t bring a Knife to Gunfight. The following comment came in from a Motor Yacht in the Carribean about the Antigua incident.

The one in Antigua was the Captain of a large yacht. He chased the robber after the first bullet grazed his girlfriends leg and was shot several times in the chest. It could have been avoided if he did not go to a gunfight with just bare hands.  The killer was caught and is facing public hanging.

—

From a M/Y in the Carribean

Name Withheld

—

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

Posted in Main | No Comments »

5. February 2009 by admin.

* We’re all about “making a difference” here at ASMT for our friends and customers in sail and motor yachting. So even if we could make one little suggestion, but we’ll make it out loud on the Web for everyone to see and discuss… maybe we can make a difference in the safety of yacht crews in the Carribean.

* I just posted to Popular Wireless - Marine Radio Forum…
http://www.popularwireless.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=94911&page=0#Post94911

Two yacht related murders - on Captain of a Mega Sailing Yacht in Antigua and another of a Chef in Puerto Rico, Associated Press is calling the 2nd one, a female, a “Tourist”.

http://www.the-triton.com seems to be following these stories. Several yachts left Antigua. Puerto Rico I’ve seen online already had a bad rap for murder rate (2004?) although online it is said that Carribean islands and such get unfairly rated because of smaller populations. But… for yacht crews to get murdered for no apparent reason (not drug related as you would expect in Puerto Rico) or robbery in Antigua) then this is reason for yacht crews and their vessel owners to be concerned.

Here’s a thought… since we’re a Marine Radio Forum… Most bigger yachts that I know of have handheld VHF Marine Radios … I don’t know what the law is in Antigua and Puerto Rico (well Puerto Rico is likely US FCC Rules) on carrying and using VHF Marine on land - but if it were for a safety-of-life of yacht crews there ought to be special provisions in any Communications Law, especially in recent noted dangerous areas like these, to allow hand held Marine Radio use. If criminals were to see professional looking handheld radio and communications perhaps in progress, they would think twice before committing a crime. If not marine radio perhaps SOMETHING like FRS, MURS, or GMRS (with appropriate licensing as required) could be used. The idea is that these crew persons do not appear like they are alone - but in constant communications with the Mother Ship and Other Crew Members. Perhaps the radios will even fool crooks into thinking they are Police. Anything to deter these kind of crimes or attempts I think is a good thing.

Carry some kind of professional working, and actually working/functional radio … at least carry the thing and keep releasing the squelch … let out that nice PRO RADIO squelch crash sound. Let anyone around know that you’ve got Radio Communications and help within ear-shot.

—
Alan Spicer (communications (at) marinetelecom.net)
http://www.marinetelecom.net/
http://www.wifiyacht.net/
Skype:alanspicertelecom
Amateur Radio (General): KA4UDX
Restricted Radiotelephone
GMRS: WQHB349

Posted in Main | No Comments »

5. February 2009 by admin.

www.the-triton.com

An American yacht chef was murdered near Puerto del Rey marina in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
Chef Sara Kuszak, five months pregnant and in town to help deliver a yacht, was kidnapped while out jogging in the morning.

According to several captains in the area and morning news reports in San Juan, she was stabbed and stuffed in the trunk of a car. She was able to call her fiancé, Capt. Cheshire McIntosh, and give him a description of the man and car.

The car was found about an hour later, according to an Associated Press report, and she was found dead, with her throat slashed.

AP story:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iL3Azk9OxlT5JN3IbHzKrIj1swDQD9652MAO0

* It’s not bad enough with Piracy off of the coasts of Nigeria / Africa / The Gulf of Aden? Then a murder in Antigua, and now Puerto Rico? It’s definately time for police and security to step up around the Carribean… and maybe time for yacht crews to be very careful and carry some kind of protection???

—
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Posted in Main | No Comments »