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Skipper murdered, Venezuela

Discussion in 'Yacht Captains' started by aeronautic1, Sep 17, 2008.

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  1. aeronautic1

    aeronautic1 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2004
    Messages:
    201
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
    A French Catamaran skipper was shot dead during an attack last Sunday night – 14 September – on board his yacht at anchor outside Marina de Caraballeda, situated on the Central Litoral coast between La Guaira and Cabo Codera, Venezuela.:(

    Caracas newspaper "El Universal", report that four robbers attacked French yacht "Chrisalide", using a pirogue to reach the yacht at anchor. In resisting the attack, Skipper Philip Armand Leudiere, age 61, was shot several times in the head. The second crew member on board, Philip’s wife Catherine Marie Therese de Leudiere, remained captive until the robbers had finished their looting, taking an undisclosed quantity of money and equipment.

    It appears that the pirogue driver was scared on hearing the shooting down below and fled, leaving the remaining robbers to swim ashore. Mrs de Leudiere alerted police by firing a red flare when the robbers had left. It appears the couple did not hear the robbers board their yacht until they were down below.

    This is not the first robbery or attack on a boat near Marina de Caraballeda, which frequently suffers petty theft and occasionally violence towards crews during robberies. However it is the first with this sad outcome.

    Alfredo Penso of SV Irie, currently waiting for repairs to be finished to his yacht in Marina de Caraballeda, advises the following; "A note of caution to fellow sailors who visit our waters: Never, under any circumstances, anchor in the bay of Marina de Caraballeda for overnight stays. Please call VHF channel 16 to speak with the Marina Commodore or his assistant (they remain on duty during the daytime) and ask for help in anchoring. They will probably assign you a slip or even allow you to anchor inside the marina where they have security personnel".

    Marina de Caraballeda is for public use and state owned and is officially closed for repairs due to the damage suffered during the 1999 land slides. However a lot of boats remain in the marina waiting to finish their repairs.
  2. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2007
    Messages:
    2,937
    Location:
    Guernsey/Antigua
    Yes, you can anchor there but why, its horribley rolleyand dangerous.

    They should have entered the channel. If you enter, on the Port side of the entrance is the State owned marina (a bit run-down and damaged in the storm) but if you carry on up the channel ahead (avoiding the cement blocks just under the surface halfway up the left side of the channel) there is the Yacht Club (a bit snotty, but okay if you can get a berth. Watch out for dirty fuel there).

    Within the inlet are 4 private marinas/docks (one own by an American sportfishing nut) where at least 25 boats may berth stern-to. I spent almost 2 years there, on and off.

    Anchoring out off a major port, like La Guaira, anywhere in the world is pretty dumb. The port, major coke export area, is only 15 minutes away by pirogue and guns are easy to come by.

    Marinas in Ven may be $25/40 a night but it is worth it.

    Fish

    Ps. That storm mentioned killed 22,000 in just that small part of the coast, luckily I was out fishing that night.