Richards Bay: Not piracy but an invasion of our privacy

Created by doina. Last modified on 2008-01-29 11:44:57
Countries: South Africa

Not a pirate attack but an invasion of our privacy. We were moored in Richards Bay South Africa in Zululand Yacht Club. We were moored between other yachts and as everyone not that concerned with safety because there were guards at the gate and the club is fairly well secured behind security fences. Late last year we decided to go away for about two weeks and packed and locked up to go about 1000 hours. We were closely watched by some workers hired by yachtsmen in the vicinity and at the time I felt very uneasy about the workers watching us go. We carefully hid a key in the cockpit for a friend to get access in case of fire or emergency. My wife returned a few days before me and when she entered she noticed that someone ate some food, had some drinks, also that our DVD recorder and VHF player was missing. Some money that was collected on behalf of the club for a party and not yet paid in was also missing. It looked like they were in quite a hurry as a lot of other valuables were left behind. They seemed to have scratched around in my wife’s underwear and this certainly made us feel abused in every sense and you felt like scrubbing the whole inside of the boat before sleeping there again.

After this incident I installed a simple alarm bought in the security shop for about $120. It has two movement sensors and two door magnets. I installed one motion sensor inside and one in the cockpit. One door magnet I installed on the main sliding hatch and the other I use on a long piece of gut that I loop around all processions on deck. The idea is that you remove anything you break magnet loop and set the alarm off. The alarm is made by a waterproof horn siren and red strobe light fitted on top of the mizzen mast. When you step into the cockpit you also trigger the motion sensor or if you open the sliding hatch. If you managed to get past it all you will trigger the inside motion sensor. When the alarm is triggered an audible sound is heard and this gives you 30 seconds to switch off or else the big alarm will be raised. When you are inside you can set it with the cockpit alarm and sliding hatch as well as deck magnet active so that you can rest in peace. In spite of this we also installed burglar bars everywhere that can be removed while sailing.

During December we again left the yacht to go and visit my son. While away the thief again saw us leave and took his chance after a few days to come and finish the job. He arrived about 2000 hrs when other people where still up and about. The alarm went off, I think he started running after he set the alarm off when stepping into the cockpit and heard the audible sound warning that the alarm was going off because various people heard the alarm and saw the red strobe light on the same walk on but only saw the back of him running away. One yachtsman gave chase and nearly caught him but he got away. Hooray for our friends and other yachtsmen in general.

No other incident has taken place and the yacht club jacked up security. The lesson learned is lockup and be security conscience at all times.

Skipper Connie Muller on S/V Silver Cloud