Revised guidelines for Yacht Skippers considering a passage through the Gulf of Aden, its approaches and the Indian Ocean north of 12 degrees south and west of 78 degrees east, have been published by ISAF, prepared by a Working Party comprising representatives from the OCC, RYA, CA, RCC, RYS, Blue Water Rallies, World Cruising Club and the Volvo Ocean Race.

See the Revised Guidelines here [broken link]

The advice from the Military remains ”Do not sail in the western Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Somali Basin and the Gulf of Aden” as the risk of attack is regarded as high and the consequences are dire.

For those who decide to take the chance, there is much practical advice in these guidelines, presented in a question and answer format and supported with charts and diagrams to demonstrate the extent of the area in which pirates are now operating.